How to Cope After Rehoming a Dog?

When you rehome a dog or give your dog away, you are almost guaranteed to experience profound sadness and guilt. Let’s have a conversation about how you cope with rehoming dog guilt.

man sad about rehoming his dog

The feeling of guilt that comes with rehoming a dog, or even just thinking about doing so, is a natural response to losing a much-loved companion. Accepting the reason (or reasons) why you have to find a new home for the dog is the most effective strategy for dealing with the guilt associated with having to do so. Instead of grieving surrendered pet or wallowing in self-pity, you should think about the things that led up to the decision.

5 Reasons for Rehoming a Dog?

Here are the top 5 reasons for rehoming a dog:

  1. Behaviour Problem: Bad or aggressive behaviour is the main issue why you have to rehome your pup. Other unbearable behaviour issues such as being scared, having housetraining problems, or escaping problems also lead to rehoming.
  2. Time Management: The next reason is time. If you haven’t enough time to give to your pup, you may think rehoming is the best solution.
  3. Family Members Are Not Happy: Sometimes your family members, including your spouse or children, are unhappy with your pet. So, you have to sacrifice your feelings for your family.
  4. Getting Old or Sick: Due to the dog’s advanced age or the fact that it is ill, you may have to rehome it. You may also not have the financial resources necessary to treat or manage the dog’s health problems, so you may decide to rehome it for a better future.
  5. Location change: Your family may be relocating because they are either trying to better their financial situation or due to any other reason. So, you have to rehome your pet.
sad feelings

7 Ways to Cope After Rehoming a Dog

  1. Brought happiness to another family
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The act of rehoming your pet may bring happiness to the other family. So, accept it and be happy. You have given away your pet, and it is a reality. Acting like it didn’t happen is one of the worst things you can do with the situation.

  1. Give yourself time

Try to give yourself as much time as possible. Additionally, time can heal every wound. So,  letting go of a pet from your mind was something you could quickly get over. But the reality is that it may take a very long time for these emotions of guilt and sadness to dissipate once you have done so. When there’s nothing you can do to speed up the healing process other than wait and be patient, it may be quite irritating. Take a few good, deep breaths, and just keep reminding yourself that there is a light at the end of the tunnel.

  1. Ignore other people’s opinions

You should make peace with what you must do and then let it go. Don’t get caught up in “what if” scenarios. The guilt that comes with giving up a pet to a new home is very real; yet, because you cannot alter the events that took place in the past or the factors that led to this, carrying this around with you and holding on to the guilt would only make you feel worse.

  1. Focus on your own work

Whether you are forced to give up your pet due to financial constraints, behaviour problems, or medical concerns, know that you are acting in a way that is in the animal’s best interest. Your pet will only be affected if you cannot provide them with the appropriate level of care and food, as well as meds if they are experiencing any kind of medical concerns. So, after rehoming your pet try to focus on your work as much as possible.

  1. Give a tour
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Give a tour to go on tour, whether abroad or to go anywhere with your friends, to keep yourself busy.

  1. Betterment of the dog

Rehoming your dog may be the best decision for the betterment of your pup. If you are busy, have financial issues or cannot give enough love to your puppy, rehoming them is the best solution.

  1. Create a memorial for your dog

When everything else fails, try to create a memorial for your dog. It may be a poster or sculpture, but it can keep you motivated and help with the guilt of rehoming a pet.

FAQ

Question: Is It Normal to Feel Sad After Rehoming a Dog?

Answer: It is normal to experience grief, and you must make space to do so. Your feelings of grief are justified; a loss is a loss, regardless whatever the circumstances. 

Question: Do Dogs Forget Their Previous Owners?

Answer: The majority of dogs do not immediately forget about the people who previously had them. The longer a dog spends with a person, the closer they are likely to develop bonded with that person. When unexpectedly removed from their comfortable environment, some dogs may exhibit signs of depression at first.

Question: Should I Feel Guilty for Rehoming My Dog?

Answer: You should make peace with what you must do and then let it go. Don’t get caught up in “what if” scenarios. The guilt that comes with giving up a pet to a new home is very real, yet you cannot alter the events that took place in the past or the factors that led to this.

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Verdict

We sincerely hope that reading this essay has helped bring some comfort to your heart and someone else’s heart. You may have stumbled onto this article about rehoming pets while looking for methods to console a friend or family member who just had to give up their much-loved animal companion. It’s ok to take things one step at a time if that’s all you can manage! It’s not perfect, but it’s a step in the right direction. Be nice to yourself, and realize that the healing process will eventually occur.