How Does Rehome Work?

When you bring a pet into your life, you imagine a lifetime of walks, snuggles, and shared memories with your best friend. But sometimes life’s circumstances put you in a difficult situation, and doing what’s best for your BFF might mean helping them find a new home where they can keep thriving.

That’s where Rehome by Adopt a Pet comes in. Rehome makes it simple and safe for pet parents to find a loving new family for their dog or cat without turning to a shelter or online classifieds.

TL;DR: Rehome helps pet parents connect directly with adopters through the Adopt a Pet platform. You’ll create a profile for your pet, review applications, and finalize the adoption through a secure process that helps you vet adopters, recommends safe meet-and-greet options, and provides a helpful legal agreement.

How to use Rehome by Adopt a Pet

Rehome will support you through the process — from listing your pet to safely transferring ownership to a new family.

Step 1: Create your pet’s profile

Start by visiting Rehome by Adopt a Pet and clicking “Get Started.” You’ll be asked a few questions about your pet’s age, size, personality, and medical history. The more details you share, the better chance you’ll have of finding the right match.

Be honest about your pet’s needs, routines, and quirks — including things like whether or not they get along with other pets or children. Transparency helps ensure your pet finds a home where they’ll truly thrive.

Step 2: Add photos and a great description

Photos make all the difference. Choose clear, well-lit pictures from multiple angles that show your pet’s face, body, and personality. A short video clip can help, too. Then, write a warm description that gives adopters a sense of who your pet is. Mention what they love (walks, toys, naps on the couch) and what kind of home you think would be the best fit.

Step 3: Pay the listing fee and set the adoption fee

Rehome charges a small, one-time fee to post your pet’s listing. This helps us verify and manage listings safely, reduce spam, and support the tools that make the rehoming process secure for both sides.

The fee for listing your pet for rehoming depends on the type of pet. Don’t worry, you’ll see the exact amount before you pay anything. This small cost helps keep Rehome free of scammers and ensures each listing is from a verified pet parent.

Adoption fee

You can also set and collect your own adoption fee for your pet: 100 percent of the adoption fee you set goes to you, and can be used to offset the listing fee or any other expenses related to the pet’s care. We suggest researching the adoption fees charged by local shelters and using that information to determine your pet’s adoption fee.

Step 4: Review applications

Once your listing is live, you’ll start receiving adoption applications from Adopt a Pet users. Each application includes questions about the adopter’s home, experience with pets, and lifestyle.

Rehome by Adopt a Pet provides question-by-question screening guidance at the bottom of the application page, so you can see which answers are great, which are not-so-great, and which might require follow-up questions.

You can get applicants’ contact info from their Rehome applications to learn more about them and decide who might be the best fit. There’s no rush — you stay in control of the process from start to finish.

Step 5: Arrange a meet-and-greet

After reviewing applications, choose one or two adopters you’d like to meet. Rehome encourages safe, neutral meet-and-greet locations whenever possible.

If you live in California, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, or Texas, you can use Rehome at PetSmart®. This is a safe, private meeting space available in select stores. (PetSmart also provides adopters with an adopter kit valued at more than $350 in savings and coupons.)

Step 6: Finalize the adoption

Once you’ve found the right match, you can complete the adoption through Rehome. You have access to a digital adoption agreement that each party signs, transferring ownership legally and protecting both sides. The adopter will make their payment directly to you, the private owner, at the time of pet handoff, using a method you both agree on in advance.

Why Rehome works

Adopt a Pet has spent years helping millions of pets find homes, with an understanding of how important it is to make rehoming safe, simple, and supportive for both pets and people. With that in mind, Rehome gives pet parents a reliable alternative to surrendering their pets to a shelter or listing them on unverified marketplaces.

A better experience for pets and people

When you use Rehome by Adopt a Pet, your pet can stay in their familiar environment while you search for a new family. That means less stress, fewer illnesses, and an easier transition. Plus, because you know your pet best, you can share personal insights that help adopters understand the pet’s personality and daily needs.

More visibility, without the worry

Every Rehome listing appears on Adopt a Pet, reaching millions of active adopters each month. Many of Adopt a Pet’s shelter and rescue partners also feature Rehome pets on their own websites, which means even more exposure through trusted channels.

Unlike social media or classified ads, Rehome is built for safety. Your information stays private until you decide to connect with a potential adopter, and every adoption has access to a legal agreement for peace of mind.

Good for families, great for shelters

Every successful Rehome adoption helps reduce overcrowding in shelters. By finding adopters directly, you’re giving shelters and rescues more space to focus on pets who need hands-on care — such as strays, sick animals, or pets recovering from neglect.

Rehome also helps make adoption more inclusive. Rehome allows them to connect directly with individual pet parents while still going through a secure, guided process.

Because Rehome is part of Adopt a Pet, each listing continues to support the wider animal-welfare community.

Built by the team at Adopt a Pet

Rehome was created by the team at Adopt a Pet, the same group that’s spent decades helping families and pets find each other. Each feature — from the application process to the adoption agreement — was designed by people who care deeply about making the experience safe and humane.

Adopt a Pet built this tool to give pet parents confidence and compassion throughout the rehoming process. It’s an extension of Adopt a Pet’s mission to help every pet find a loving home — one responsible adoption at a time.

Rehome by Adopt a Pet was built to make rehoming safer, simpler, and kinder. Whether you’re helping your pet transition to a new chapter or welcoming a new one into your home, we’re here to make sure every adoption leads to a happy, well-matched family.

Commonly asked questions

How can I ensure I pick the right home for my pet?

Take the time to review applications, and trust your instincts. Ask follow-up questions about the adopter’s daily schedule, home setup, and past pet experience. You can also request a video tour of their home or yard before meeting in person.

Does Adopt a Pet review adoption applications?

No, Adopt a Pet does not review adoption applications. You, as the private owner, review and approve applications for your pet. However, Rehome provides tools and guidance to help you spot strong candidates and make informed decisions.

What if I find an adopter outside of Adopt a Pet?

That’s okay: If you’ve already found an adopter, you can still complete the adoption through Rehome for documentation and legal protection. This ensures a safe, transparent transfer of ownership.

What happens if I can’t wait and need to surrender my pet ASAP?

The Rehome process can take days, weeks, or months, depending on what adopters are looking for in your area. If you’re in an emergency situation and can’t wait for the rehoming process, contact shelters or rescue organizations in your area to see if they’re able to help.

What if the adoption doesn’t work out?

If an adoption through Rehome doesn’t go as planned, the adopter may reach out to you to ask about safely returning the pet. If you agree to accept the returned pet, reach out to us to reactivate their profile. If you decline to accept the returned pet, the adopter can post the pet on Rehome to find a new home for them. The adoption agreement should outline how to handle returns, keeping both sides protected.

How can I do meet-and-greets safely?

Always meet in public, pet-friendly places such as parks or pet stores. If available in your state, Rehome at PetSmart® provides a secure, private meet-up space for Rehome users.

How much does it cost to rehome a pet?

The cost to list your pet for rehoming on Rehome by Adopt a Pet varies by pet type and will be clearly shown before you provide payment details.

How do I transfer ownership of a pet?

When you finalize an adoption through Rehome, both you and the adopter sign a digital or printed adoption agreement. This legally transfers ownership and confirms that the adopter is now responsible for the pet’s care and well-being.