SIX SHELTERS HAVE PARTNERED WITH HOME TO HOME REHOMING SERVICE – PUTTING ANIMALS ARE RISK
Oh sure, Home to Home https://home-home.org/about has all the legal disclaimers and even provides safety tips – but they are providing a service (for a fee) that supports vulnerable animals being given to another person with no checks/balances for FREE.
Similar to Kijiji – but the animals are FREE!!!
- AURORA ANIMAL SERVICES
- BRAMPTON ANIMAL SERVICES
- CALEDON ANIMAL SERVICES
- HUMANE SOCIETY OF KITCHENER, WATERLOO & STRATFORD
- MISSISSAUGA ANIMAL SERVICES
- TORONTO HUMANE SOCIETY
All 6 of these shelters that the public expects to protects animals is endorsing a company that puts them at grave risk.
These 6 have partnered with Home to Home, a USA based company (that has also partnered with VCA who owns many vet clinics in Canada).
FOLKS – THIS IS NOT OKAY!!!!!
Shelters – YOU know the risks out there to animals rehomed in this manner! We know you are full but you do not intentionally endorse something like this!
Demand Home to Home add safer owner transfer steps (vetting, reference checks, adoption fees etc).
Making the decision to have to give up a beloved pet is a very very difficult and heartbreaking decision.
There are many reasonable situations that might make rehoming the only decision you have available – your health, your financial ability to care for your pet.
Lack of time, desire to exercise or commitment to train is NOT one of those reasons.
But you have made the decision to rehome. Perhaps you have heard the dangers of rehoming sites like Kijiji or FB Marketplace so you don’t go there.
So you take your pet to the large shelter in your town believing they will be safe, but are told the shelter is full and is not accepting any owner surrenders.
Ontario (and elsewhere) is in the midst of an animal welfare crisis that is unimaginable to most people. Many rescues, shelters and advocates see no light at the end of this tunnel unless something drastically changes in the animal protection laws, legislation and animal welfare enforcement models.
This simply cannot and must not be allowed to continue. Animals are dying and suffering at levels beyond our comprehension.
Then you are told by the staff person that the shelter has partnered with Home to Home – (a US based non-profit that provides rehoming services) and why not contact them.
Many people would feel confident in reaching out because this well known shelter has partnered with them right?
Rehoming your pet is exposing this animal to unspeakable risk:
- puppy millers/backyard breeders
- dog fighting rings
- dog flippers that buy low/sell high
- animal abusers
It is critically important the people rehoming their pets do their due diligence:
- Have the person fill out an application
- Do a vet reference check
- Conduct a home visit
- Have a legally binding contract (you can write one yourself)
- and never ever – give an animal away for FREE!!!
- You are not trying to “profit” you are adding a layer of protection against bad actors taking your pet
- Donate the fee to a rescue if you like but don’t just give your pet away for free – unacceptable!
Information available on the Home to Home website:
Do I fully understand that shelters are at / over capacity? Yes, absolutely. But shelters – partnering with and ENDORSING a service such as this is irresponsible of you!
Like Kijiji – BUT CHEAPER!
SOLUTION:
All of us: the public, shelters, rescues and advocates need to stop putting and permitting the application of mere bandaids on a system so broken.
Ontario’s Animal Welfare System is not working! Animals are being allowed to suffer horrendous abuse, neglect.
We need to use our voices, our pens and keyboards and DEMAND the government of this province to fix this and that these shelter stop endorsing and promoting people us Home to Home.
May I ask all of you to take just a few moments?
At the top of this post, alongside each of the shelters I have included their email address. May I ask that you contact each one to indicate Home to Home is not following safe rehoming practices.
Many thanks!