Rehoming Support & Services

Dog Adoption

We understand there may be issues that arise in your home that force you to question whether you are able to keep your pet. Making this decision is difficult and we are here to offer guidance and support. Our goal is to help you as you navigate this decision, and give you the resources you need to ensure your pet is rehomed to a wonderful family.

Keep 'Em Together, KC

If you are interested in exploring options that would allow you to keep your pet, our Keep ‘Em Together, KC program is designed to help you. For more information on this program, please visit our Keep ‘Em Together, KC page.

We urge you to exhaust all other resources and alternatives before surrendering your pet to KC Pet Project. While KC Pet Project does everything we can to ensure animals in our care are comfortable, we average anywhere from 30-50 intakes a day and care for over 15,000 animals each year. An animal shelter is a stressful environment for any animal, but especially for owned pets. Our state-of-the-art shelter cannot compare to the love and care that a pet receives at home.

Rehoming Support

As an alternative to relinquishing your pet to KC Pet Project, we encourage you to rehome them privately. By rehoming your pet privately, you prevent them from ever having to enter a stressful shelter. As their owner, you are the best person equipped to match them to their new home as you know them best and can advocate for their unique qualities and personality.

Rehome Playbook

When rehoming your pet, it is important to be thorough and patient; finding the right home takes time. Investing time into the rehoming process increases your chance of successfully placing your pet in a loving home that is not only a great fit, but also a safe place for your pet. Use the guidelines included in this packet to help support you in rehoming your pet. If you ever have any questions, we are here to help and only a phone call or email away!

Looking for assistance for your family?

We know how overwhelming life can be. Here are some human support service tools and resources for you to explore:

Rehome Service

KCMO residents can list pet(s) on KC Pet Project’s website to privately rehome them. If you live outside of KCMO your pet will not be posted on the KC Pet Project website but you can still list your pet on Rehome and have them posted through the national database. 

Rehome can help you manage your pet’s adoption and safely find a new home for your pet. All you need to do is to set up your pet’s profile which takes less than ten minutes. Once complete, your pet’s profile will be posted on Adopt-a-Pet.com and will be seen by millions of visitors each month! You can review more information about this option, and get started here.

Rehome your pet

Kansas City, MO Residents

KC Pet Project offers a complimentary service to Kansas City, MO, residents looking to rehome their pet(s). As an alternative to relinquishing your pet to KC Pet Project, you can now list your pet(s) on KC Pet Project’s website and rehome them privately without them ever having to enter a shelter.

KC Pet Project representatives are not responsible for any communication between the potential adopters and you the guardian, but our team is happy to answer any questions and provide guidance for how to best handle the adoption process of your pet, as well as provide a list of resources available to you.

To post your pet(s) on Rehome:

  1. Step 1: Create an account through our partner at PetBridge. You will be asked for your contact information (which is used internally), and then be able to select how you would like to be contacted by potential adopters (phone, email or both). Only the information you select will be shared publicly on the website.
  2. Step 2: Select “Create Listing”, and then select what type of animal you are posting for (dog, cat, or other). Please complete only one (1) listing per pet.
  3. Step 3: Tell potential adopters all about your pet! Fill out as much information as you can on the form; the more you share about your pet the better the potential match will be! If you need some guidance on how best to share information about your pet, check out our Rehoming Playbook. Photos are required for listings posted to the KC Pet Project website.

All listings are approved by a KC Pet Project representative and a staff member may reach out to you for suggested edits to help your pet get adopted quicker. Your posting will be published for 30 days. If you rehome your pet, you will reach out to our Rehome team and they will remove the posting for you. If you need an extension beyond 30 days the team can assist you with that as well!

After you’ve created your listing with us, we also recommend adding your pet to Rehome by Adopt-a-Pet.com for additional exposure through this national search site.

Nonresidents of Kansas City, MO

If you do not live in Kansas City, MO, you’ll be unable to post your pet(s) to the KC Pet Project website. However, you can still list your pet(s) for adoption through the national Rehome by Adopt-a-Pet.com & Petco Love site. This free program has millions of visitors to their website each month, and is a great option for a simple, reliable and stress free rehoming experience.

ReHome by Adopt-a-Pet.com only offers listings for dogs and cats, and will not list small mammals or exotic animals. However, Home to Home is another private rehoming service that does offer this option (and can be an additional option for posting your dog or cat!).

Get the Word Out!

Give your photos, story and email to everyone you know asking for their help in finding a new home for your pet. Use your Facebook profile or Twitter account to ask your network to share your pet and assist in the search for a new, loving home. Advertise through your community bulletin board, neighborhood association Facebook pages, or your local NextDoor app. Ask friends, co-workers, and family members if they are looking to add a companion to their family. Placing your pet with someone you know will ease the transition for you, the new guardian, and for your pet!

Simple templates can be found online to create a rehoming flyer or poster. If you are the creative type, there are several free graphic design resources available to create something that may be more pleasing to the eye and grab more attention. Checkout sites like Canva or PicMonkey. You can share your rehoming flyers and posters online and in the community. If you are posting them around town, be sure to place posters at the library, pet supply stores, community centers, veterinary offices, and grooming salons, where pet owners and pet enthusiasts may visit.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQS)

What are the Benefits of Rehoming Privately?

Rehoming your pet privately has many benefits. The first being you’re preventing your pet from having to enter a stressful shelter environment. Many owned pets have a difficult time transitioning in a shelter due to the sounds, smells and new interactions. This stress can impact how potential adopters view them, and prolong their stay in the shelter. Privately rehoming a pet can also help owners transition after giving their pet away. The guilt that can accompany the unknown outcome of your pet is no longer present as you are able to meet their new family, and maybe even stay in contact to see how the pet is doing in their new home. Lastly, privately rehoming gives shelters the ability to reserve open kennels for animals who truly need shelter services and prevents organizations from having to make difficult decisions regarding the animals in their care due to capacity issues.

Can I introduce My Pet to a Potential Adopter at KC Pet Project?

If you do not feel comfortable having the potential adopter come to your home to meet your pet, you are welcome to use KC Pet Project as a meet up spot. Please note, we are unable to accommodate meetings inside the shelter. This option would only be available outside of the shelter (for example in the parking lot, or a grassy area), and is not a suitable option for cats. All dogs must remain on leash at all times while at the shelter. KC Pet Project also would not have any involvement with the potential adopters that contact you about your pet. We are unable to facilitate the meet-n-greet or assist with the transfer of ownership.

Meeting new people in a new space can cause stress to your pet which in turn may cause them to act differently than they normally would. It’s important to keep this in mind when setting a meeting place. Bringing your pet into a shelter environment for introductions may not be the best option for your pet. When at all possible, we highly recommend introducing your pet to their potential new owners in an environment that is already familiar to your pet.

Will KC Pet Project Screen Potential Adopters Interested in My Pet?

No. KC Pet Project does not have any involvement with the potential adopters that contact you about your pet. You are responsible for screening potential adopters, determining if they will be a good match for your pet and completing the adoption process. We offer resources on how to screen potential adopters and are also available to answer any questions you may have about the process.

How do I Edit/Update My Listing?

You can edit/update your listing by logging into your ReHome account. If you have forgotten your password, you can use the “Forgot Password” link on the account page, or reach out to our team at [email protected] for additional help.

Why Am I Having Trouble Uploading Photos to My Listing?

Photos cannot be any bigger than 1MB or 1000KB. If you’ve resized the photos and are still having issues, or if you need help resizing your photos, please reach out to our team at [email protected] with your listing information and your photos.

How Do I Renew My Listing?

Renewing your listing is easy! Listings are active for 30 days. If you need to renew your listing, just complete this survey!

What kind of documents do I need to transfer ownership?

All the documents you need to privately rehome your pet are available in the Rehoming Playbook including questionnaires you can request the potential adopter complete and the Transfer of Ownership Agreement. The Transfer of Ownership Agreement will not only provide record confirming you no longer own the pet, but it will also give the new owner the ability to update any information associated with the pet (ex: microchip information, licensing or medical records).

Have questions about the ReHome program, or need assistance with navigating the website?

Don’t hesitate to reach out to our team at [email protected].