If you are reading this, something has probably gone wrong — illness, a move, a bereavement, money, or a dog whose needs outgrew what you can give.
None of that makes you a bad owner. Recognizing it early and planning properly is the responsible thing, and it produces a far better outcome than waiting until there is no choice left.
The short version
- You usually have three routes: breed rescue, private rehoming, or a shelter.
- Breed rescue is generally best for a Westie, but places are limited and there may be a wait.
- Start early. Emergency rehoming produces worse matches than planned rehoming.
- Honesty about problems increases the chance a placement holds, it does not reduce it.
The three routes compared
| Breed rescue | Private rehoming | Municipal shelter | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Who screens the adopter | The rescue | You | The shelter |
| Where the dog waits | A foster home | Your home | A kennel |
| Stress on the dog | Low to moderate | Lowest | Highest |
| Medical needs handled | Yes, before placement | Depends on the buyer | Varies |
| Typical wait | Days to weeks | Weeks to months | Usually immediate |
| Fee to you | None | You may charge one | Sometimes a surrender fee |
| Safety net if it fails | Dog returns to the rescue | Usually none | Returns to the shelter |
| Best for | Purebred or breed-typical dogs, medical cases | Healthy, easy dogs with time to spare | Genuine emergencies |
The University of Florida’s shelter medicine program publishes research on why pets are rehomed, including how often the underlying problem turns out to be solvable.
Before you decide: is it actually solvable?
A meaningful share of surrenders are for problems that have a cheaper answer than rehoming. It costs nothing to check.
| The problem | Worth trying first |
|---|---|
| Cost of veterinary care | Charitable veterinary funds, payment plans, breed-specific health funds |
| Barking, digging, destruction | These are usually terrier boredom — see our behavior guide |
| House soiling | A vet visit first — urinary infection and Cushing’s both present this way |
| Moving home | Pet-friendly rental lists, temporary boarding, a foster arrangement |
| Allergies in the household | Allergist advice, air filtration, grooming frequency |
| New baby | A behaviorist consultation, management routines |
| Grooming or skin costs | Clipping instead of stripping, and managed skin care |
What to prepare
Whichever route you take, the same information makes the placement work. Gather it before you make contact.
- Veterinary records, including vaccination history, current medications and any diagnoses.
- Microchip number and the details currently registered against it.
- An honest behavior summary. How the dog is with children, other dogs, cats, strangers, being handled, being left alone.
- The daily routine. Feeding times, food brand, walk pattern, sleeping arrangements.
- What triggers problems. Resource guarding, noise sensitivity, fear of the car, whatever it is.
The behavior summary is the part people are tempted to soften. Do not. A dog placed on inaccurate information usually comes back, which is worse for everybody, and worst for the dog.
How to check an organization before handing over a dog
Most rescues are exactly what they appear to be. A few are not, and once a dog has gone you have no control over what happens next.
| Green flag | Red flag |
|---|---|
| Registered nonprofit you can verify independently | No verifiable registration or address |
| Asks detailed questions about the dog | Takes any dog, no questions |
| Uses foster homes, or lets you see the facility | Will not let you see where dogs are kept |
| Has a written adoption contract | Nothing in writing |
| Takes dogs back for life | No return policy |
| Says no when full | Always has space, however many dogs |
| Spays and neuters before placement | Rehomes intact dogs |
Our own adoption terms and conditions and statement of principles are published for exactly this reason — so you can check them against anyone else you are considering.
If you go the private route
- Never advertise a dog as free. It attracts precisely the wrong responses.
- Screen properly. Ask about their household, other pets, hours away and previous dogs.
- Visit their home, or at minimum meet more than once.
- Put it in writing, including an agreement that the dog comes back to you if it does not work out.
- Transfer the microchip at handover, not later.
- Send the records with the dog, not a summary of them.
What happens if you contact us
We cover New England and take West Highland White Terriers and Westie mixes, with a particular focus on seniors and dogs with medical needs.
You tell us about the dog. We tell you honestly whether we have a foster place and how long it might take. If we cannot help, we say so and point you somewhere that can.
There is no fee, no judgment and no pressure. Our surrender and rehoming page is where to start, and the veterinary care every dog receives shows what happens to your dog once it is with us.
Frequently asked questions
Where can I surrender my Westie?
A breed-specific Westie rescue is usually the best option, followed by private rehoming with proper screening, then a shelter. Contact breed rescue first, because places are limited and there is often a short wait.
Will a rescue judge me for giving up my dog?
A good one will not. The most common reasons are illness, bereavement, housing and money, and rescues see all of them constantly. Contacting us early is the responsible thing, not the opposite.
Does it cost money to surrender a dog to a rescue?
Not with us. Some organizations request a donation toward veterinary costs, and municipal shelters sometimes charge a surrender fee, but no reputable breed rescue will refuse a dog because you cannot pay.
Should I tell the rescue about my dog’s behavior problems?
Yes, in full. Placements fail when information is withheld, and a returned dog is worse off than one placed accurately in the first place. Nothing you disclose will make us refuse the dog.
Can I stay in touch after my dog is rehomed?
Often yes, if the adopter is willing. We cannot promise it, because it depends on the new home, but many adopters are glad to send updates.
If you are not sure yet
Talking to us does not commit you to anything. Sometimes the outcome is advice, a referral to a behaviorist, or help with a veterinary bill through our sponsorship program rather than the dog leaving at all.
If the issue is age or a long-term diagnosis, our long-term care and hospice program exists for exactly those dogs, and our adoption success stories show where most of them end up.