Rehoming Your Akita

    First, PLEASE do not take your dog to the pound/shelter/Humane Society.  No matter
    how nice the dog is, the Akita breed has gotten an unfairly deserved reputation.  
    Shelters are very unfamiliar with the Akita breed and they are likely to label your dog
    as aggressive and kill it. That is typically what happens to Akitas turned into most
    shelters in Southern California including the Humane Society and some shelters do
    not work with most rescue organizations. Many people do not understand that the
    shelters are VERY overcrowded and even the most perfect dog only has about a 15%
    chance of making it out alive, even less if it is a large dog, a dominant breed dog, or a
    dog that may be blacklisted by insurance companies.  Akitas fit all of those criteria
    and they only have a 5% chance or less.  Plus, if you do turn your dog into a shelter
    that we cannot work with, or they label the dog as "aggressive", or the dog fails the
    temperment tests that the shelter administers, then it will be killed and we will not be
    able to save it.  CLICK HERE TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS TO MANY SHELTER DOGS --
    WARNING GRAPHIC AND DISTURBING PHOTOS!!
Euthanasia Death Toll
since Oct 27, 2001
provided by Pet-Abuse.Com
    BUT MY DOG IS A PUREBRED AKITA (WITH/WITHOUT PAPERS)...

    If you did get the dog from a breeder, a REPUTABLE and LEGITIMATE breeder
    stands by their dogs and will take them back if there is a problem.  Contact them
    first.  A Passion for Paws does not support backyard breeders, pet stores, or puppy
    mills who only contribute to the problem of pet overpopulation.

    The article below is about Boxers, but it pretty clearly explains the difference between
    a legitimate breeder and a backyard breeder.
    WHY CAN'T I JUST GIVE MY DOG TO YOUR RESCUE?

    Our rescue is currently FULL and we are not accepting owner
    relinquished dogs. We currently do not have a foster home available or
    enough space in our boarding facility to take in your dog at this time.  We
    normally only take dogs in danger of imminent death in the shelters
    (again, we cannot help shelter dogs in certain areas) and since your dog
    currently has a home and you are taking good care of it, we hope that
    you use your best efforts to find your dog a new home.  Reach out to all
    of your family, friends, and any other people you might know or come
    across to see if they might be able to help.  There is a website with a lot
    of valuable information here:

    http://www.wonderpuppy.net/canwehelp/index.html

    and also

    http://www.wonderpuppy.net/canwehelp/1rehome.php
    SO WHAT CAN I DO ABOUT MY DOG?

    If you do ultimately decide to rehome your dog, please provide us with a couple of
    appealing pictures (not blurry, good lighting, preferably the dog looks awake and
    friendly) of your dog and as much information about your dog as possible, and we
    will gladly post your dog on our website and refer all possible adopters to you.  
    Please see the attached sheet for all of the information that we need for your dog to
    have the best chance of finding an new home.

    When answering the questions and providing the information about your dog,
    honesty is the best policy -- that will help us keep from sending potential adopters
    that will waste your time.  If your dog hates cats and they have 3 cats, then obviously
    that won't work.  


    Sorry, but due to the number of flakes asking us to courtesy post their dogs and then
    yelling at us because they have already found their dog a home but never bothered to
    tell us and are still getting calls months later, we are now requesting a $25 tax
    deductible donation for courtesy posts. Bandwidth isn't free and every adoptive home
    that goes to a courtesy posted dog takes a home away from one of our rescue dogs.

    We ask that you complete the following form and submit at least 2 good quality
    pictures of your dog before you make the donation since there is no way for us to post
    the dog on our website without this information.  E-mail the Dog Profile form and
    pictures to adoptanakita@gmail.com. Once we receive your dog's information,
    pictures and the donation, you can expect to see a courtesy post on our website
    within 24 hours and we will send you the link.  
    BUT MY PROBLEM IS SERIOUS...

    We don't mean to be rude, but we have heard every story in the book.  The only
    excuse we are likely to believe is a good reason to relinquish your dog is if we are
    contacted by one of your surviving relatives. You took the dog and the associated
    responsibility and we are not going to be enablers that quickly fix your problem and
    allow you to walk away scot-free. Your dog currently has a home and someone to
    take care of it.  Your dog is not at risk of dying.   Most of the dogs we take in have
    between 24-72 hours left to live when they are brought into rescue .You may only be
    dealing with one or 2 dogs.  We are dealing every day with anywhere from 25 to 50
    abandoned dogs who have health issues, behavioral issues, and need homes.   
    And as the person who knows your dog best, you are in the best position to find your
    dog a home.

    If you are considering relinquishing your dog due to a behavioral issue please also
    consider that your dog will not know how to act if you don't teach him/her.
    Undesirable behaviors do not just develop in a vacuum, they need to be dealt with
    immediately and the time to seek help is as soon as it happens. We have referrals to
    trainers in the Riverside and downtown Los Angeles areas

    IF YOUR DOG HAS BITTEN A PERSON AND HAS AN ACTIVE BITE REPORT OR
    CASE WITH ANIMAL CONTROL WE ABSOLUTELY CANNOT AND WILL NOT TAKE
    YOUR DOG! In California, a biting dog must be held on a 10 day rabies quarantine.  
    We recommend that you see if home quarantine is an option with your local animal
    control authority.  If your dog simply made a mistake, then going to the shelter will be
    a traumatic experience and your dog may not be the same if he comes back to you.  If
    your dog must go to the shelter and you don't reclaim your dog after a bite quarantine,
    your dog will be euthanized once the quarantine is over.   If your dog bites you or
    anyone else, seek professional help IMMEDIATELY.

    We have no special funding for medical bills or veterinary care. If you are wishing to
    rehome your dog due to a medical issue you can't afford, please consult the
    following resource:
    The economy has caused an exponential increase in the number of homeless and
    abandoned pets.  All shelters and rescues are extremely overcrowded due to the
    number of people losing their jobs and homes. The following organization deals
    specifically with rehoming pets due to foreclosure:
what we truly hope for all Akitas is that their families will show the same
loyalty and love for them that Hachiko showed to his owner.
    Below are pictures of
    Akitas that were
    abandoned by their
    owners or left in shelters.
THE BOTTOM LINE:

WHAT WE CAN'T DO:
TAKE YOUR DOG

WHAT WE CAN DO:
HELP YOU FIND YOUR
DOG A NEW HOME
YOURSELF.
REALITY CHECK
WHY CAN'T I JUST GIVE MY DOG TO YOUR RESCUE?
BUT MY DOG IS A PUREBRED AKITA WITH/WITHOUT PAPERS...
WHY CAN'T I JUST GIVE MY DOG TO YOUR RESCUE?
WHY CAN'T I JUST GIVE MY DOG TO YOUR RESCUE?
BUT MY PROBLEM IS SERIOUS..
SO WHAT CAN I DO ABOUT MY DOG?
WARNING:  The
video on the right
contains adult
language.  If you are
offended by curse
words or are in an
environment where
obscenities are not
acceptable, then please
do not click.