April 8, 2022 10:20 a.m.  

Saving Grace Pet Adoption Center has signed up as a new partner shelter for a new national program called Home to Home.

Executive Director Megan Gram said it gives pet owners who can no longer keep their pets the opportunity to find new, loving homes for them without having to surrender them to the shelter. Pets are able to go from one home to another, which means less stress for animals and humans alike. Gram said in addition, direct re-homing offers potential new owners the opportunity to communicate directly with the current owners, providing firsthand information about the animal.

Home to Home is a rehoming website for owners who need to surrender their pets, which can include dogs, cats and other small animals. Those needing to rehome pets can easily register and fill out a brief profile, upload a picture and information on their pet, and click submit. For those seeking a pet, there is also a search feature.

Gram said there has been a steady increase in owner surrenders over the past few months. She said, “it is always heartbreaking to see that bond broken”. Gram said her teams works hard to make the shelter a happy place for animals, but at the end of the day, it is not the same as being in a home. Gram said one of the main reasons that pets are surrendered is because a person’s living situation has changed. She said a perfect opportunity to use the Home to Home tool would be within the time frame of finding out relocation is necessary and the actual moving date. If the pet isn’t re-homed before the moving deadline, he or she can be brought to Saving Grace and adopted out through the shelter.

Gram said shelter personnel will monitor the site to ensure that the rules are followed and that postings are appropriate. Home to Home pet postings are promoted on Saving Grace’s website as well, to help generate more interest.

Saving Grace is the only Oregon shelter currently using the Home to Home platform.

Go to: www.savinggracepdetadoptioncenter.org for more information.