Quick answer
How can I rehome my dog or cat?
You have two responsible options in the UK. Contact a rescue charity such as the RSPCA, Dogs Trust, Cats Protection or Blue Cross — they assess, foster and match your pet, though most run waiting lists. Or rehome directly to a home you have vetted yourself, which is faster and less stressful for the animal. If you rehome directly, use a platform where the other side is identity-verified, ask for a home check, transfer the microchip, and charge a small rehoming fee to deter the wrong sort of enquiry.
- Charity route
- Waiting list
- Direct route
- Days, not weeks
- Rehoming fee
- £20–£150 typical
- Seller checks
- Photo ID required
Rehoming step by step
1. Be sure rehoming is the answer
Many rehomings are triggered by a fixable problem — a behaviour issue, a landlord dispute, a temporary money worry. Speak to your vet, a qualified behaviourist, or a charity helpline first. Charities such as the RSPCA and Blue Cross run pet food banks and temporary fostering schemes for owners in crisis.
2. Try a rescue charity first if your pet has complex needs
If your pet has medical or behavioural problems, a rescue is far better placed than a private buyer. Contact several — waiting lists differ wildly by area and by species. Be completely honest about the pet's history; a rehoming that fails is worse for the animal than a wait.
3. Gather the paperwork
Vaccination card, microchip number, neutering record, vet history, insurance details, food and medication routine. A new owner who gets a complete history is far less likely to give up on the pet later.
4. Write an honest advert
Include the pet's age, breed or type, temperament, whether it is good with children, cats or dogs, and any behaviour or health issue. Hiding a problem gets the pet returned. Use several recent, well-lit photographs of the actual animal.
5. Charge a sensible rehoming fee
A fee of roughly £20 to £150 depending on the animal filters out impulse takers and people looking for free animals to resell. Free-to-a-good-home adverts attract exactly the wrong audience. State clearly what the fee covers.
6. Vet the new home
Ask why they want this particular pet, who is home during the day, whether they have other animals, and whether they rent or own. Ask for a home visit, or meet at their home. Never hand a pet over in a car park.
7. Transfer the microchip and keep in touch
Update the microchip database with the new keeper's details on the day of handover — legally the keeper's details must be current. Offer to answer questions for the first few weeks, and ask that the pet be returned to you rather than passed on again if it does not work out.
UK rescue charities worth contacting first
If your pet has behavioural problems, complex medical needs, or you are in crisis, a charity is usually the better answer. They are free to approach and will be honest with you about waiting times.
- RSPCA — England and Wales, all species
- Dogs Trust — Dogs, UK-wide
- Cats Protection — Cats, UK-wide
- Blue Cross — Dogs, cats, horses and small pets
- Battersea — Dogs and cats, London and the South East
- Scottish SPCA — Scotland, all species
- USPCA — Northern Ireland
- World Horse Welfare — Horses and ponies
Rehoming directly on PetTrader
When you create an advert you choose Rehome or Adoption instead of For sale. The advert is shown to people specifically looking to take on an existing pet rather than buy a young animal, and you can set a rehoming fee or leave it free. We ask every seller and rehomer to complete a photo-ID check, and you can message applicants through the site without giving out your phone number or address.
Rehoming a pet: common questions
How can I rehome my dog near me?+
Start with local rescue charities — Dogs Trust, the RSPCA and regional breed rescues all cover most of the UK, though most operate a waiting list. If you need a home sooner, advertise the dog for rehoming on a marketplace where the people enquiring are identity-verified, then vet the home yourself with a visit before you hand the dog over.
Is it legal to rehome a pet yourself in the UK?+
Yes. Private owners are free to rehome their own pet directly. You must keep the microchip record accurate — the new keeper's details have to be updated on the database. You cannot rehome a dog or cat under eight weeks old, and if you are regularly breeding and moving on animals you may need a council licence instead.
Should I charge a rehoming fee?+
Yes. A modest fee, usually £20 to £150 depending on the animal, deters impulse takers and people who collect free animals to resell. It also tends to attract owners who are prepared for the ongoing cost of a pet.
How long does rehoming take?+
Through a charity it can be several weeks or months depending on your area and the animal. Rehoming directly to a home you have vetted yourself usually takes days for common pets, and longer for older animals or those with medical needs.
What should I ask someone who wants to take my pet?+
Why this pet specifically, who is at home during the day, what other animals and children are in the household, whether they rent or own and have permission for pets, what they will do about holidays and vet costs, and whether they will return the pet to you rather than pass it on if things go wrong.
Can I rehome a pet for free on PetTrader?+
Yes. Choose the rehome or adoption listing type when you create the advert and you can set the fee to nothing. Identity-verified private members currently get their first advert free.
Selling rather than rehoming?
If you are selling a litter or a young animal, the rules and the best places to advertise are different — see where to advertise pets for sale in the UK.