Surrendering your dog can be a difficult decision. Often, people believe they must give up their dog because they do not know how to handle a particular issue; however, most issues such as time allocation, housing options, allergies, and behavioral problems can often be addressed and improved or corrected with the assistance of a professional. Asking for help does not make you stupid or a bad pet owner. On the contrary, there are typically people out there that have gone through something similar to what you are faced with and they can many times offer a great recommendation to assist you if you would just be willing to accept and implement their recommendations.
If you have determined that you must surrender your dog, you have several options. Please examine each carefully to decide what is the best solution.
1) Surrendering your Lab directly to L.E.A.R.N. – If you are considering surrendering your Lab and want L.E.A.R.N.’s assistance, please complete our intake form.
L.E.A.R.N. will need basic information about your Lab, as well as photos for consideration. We do accept Lab mixes into our rescue; however, we do require that all Lab mixes look like a purebred Lab and have the labby features, personality and interests. We do not accept Lab mixes with guardy breeds per the desires of our adoption base.
Since we are an all-volunteer organization, one of our intake volunteers will get back to you as soon as possible if we feel that your Lab will be a good candidate for our program.
If we feel that your Lab will be a potential fit for our program after reviewing the information you provide, we will contact you to set up a time to assess the dog in person. We cannot commit to helping your dog until it has passed a L.E.A.R.N. behavioral assessment. After a successful assessment, we will then attempt to find a foster home for your dog. We will contact you when we are able to make arrangements with you to take your dog. This could realistically take weeks to months. If you need an immediate solution to your rehoming problem, a shelter will probably be your best option. Since Labs are the most popular breed and have been for the last 20 years, we often receive many, many requests on a daily and weekly basis.
If your Lab is ultimately surrendered to L.E.A.R.N. you will be required to complete binding surrender/release paperwork. We cannot advise you of any information on the Lab or placement once you have surrendered your dog. No additional information will be provided to you and you will not be contacted or communicated with further on the dog.
Note: L.E.A.R.N. cannot accept any dog that has bitten, displays aggression or is unfriendly with other dogs.
We request a tax deductible donation to help defray some of the costs associated with taking your dog – Veterinary, additional training or other associated costs. In 2010, our average cost per dog while in L.E.A.R.N.’s care was $500.00. At the time of surrender, you will be required to fill out and sign a surrender form, a release form and provide us with copies of your dog’s veterinary records.
To help with the dog’s successful transition into a new home, we request that you send along some of its current food, favorite toys and bed or blanket if it uses one.
Your surrendered dog will stay in foster care for a minimum of 14 days. During this time, the dog will have a thorough Veterinary examination, receive any necessary vaccinations, blood and fecal tests and be spayed or neutered if applicable. The foster home will get to know the dog, its personality as well as strengths and weaknesses. They will then review and work with an assigned Lab Match coordinator to select a home that is the best match for the dog.
We require that all of our adopters provide us with specific application information and references as well as discuss at length their wants, needs and what they have to offer a rescued Lab. There are also specified criteria that are required of all adopters before being approved to adopt a L.E.A.R.N. Lab.
There are things that you can do as a Lab owner to make your dog’s rehoming transition more successful. Working with your dog when in your care to crate train them, socialize them properly with all ages of people and other dogs, exercise them properly based upon their individual energy level and provide a stable environment with discipline and then reward.
If you feel that you are able to provide a good home for your Lab, want to keep them but need some assistance at understanding why your Lab currently has issues and are willing to listen and implement a correction plan, please contact us or a qualified behaviorist or trainer in your area. Most successful Lab owners will tell you that adequate exercise and rules/discipline along with follow-up rewards for a job well done are keys to a great and lasting relationship.
2) If you would like assistance with the rehoming of your Lab, please visit and consider our referral page for assistance. Utilizing our referral page for a reasonable donation will allow you a large audience of Lab lovers and potential adopters along with the comfort of knowing that you make the final decision on the family that will be your Lab’s new home.
Before contacting L.E.A.R.N. or another organization for surrender assistance, please realize that your dog is your responsibility and we will try to help you and your dog if at all possible. Many, many issues with dogs can be resolved by proper exercise and by providing a consistent and disciplined routine. Please visit our Education Section for additional behavioral and training information and suggestions. We also strongly encourage you to seek professional behavioral and/or training assistance with your dog to achieve a successful lifetime relationship.
