This article was co-authored by Beverly Ulbrich and by wikiHow staff writer, Jennifer Mueller, JD. Beverly Ulbrich is a Dog Behaviorist and Trainer and the Founder of The Pooch Coach, a private dog training business based in the San Francisco Bay Area. She is a Certified CGC (Canine Good Citizen) Evaluator by the American Kennel Club and has served on the Board of Directors for the American Humane Association and Rocket Dog Rescue. She has been voted the best private dog trainer in the San Francisco Bay Area 4 times by SF Chronicle and by Bay Woof, and she has won 4 "Top Dog Blog" awards. She has also been featured on TV as a dog behavior expert. Beverly has over 18 years of dog behavior training experience and specializes in dog aggression and anxiety training. She has a Master of Business Administration from Santa Clara University and a BS from Rutgers University.
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When you adopt a pet, it becomes like a member of the family. But sometimes, for reasons beyond your control, you have to let someone else take ownership of your pet. A written contract is a good way to transfer pet ownership if you want to specify care and treatment. If your pet is microchipped, that ownership also must be transferred, along with local licenses. Pedigreed pets, particularly cats and dogs, should have their ownership transferred with the pedigree association as well.
Transferring pet ownership, particularly of a dog, is an weighty ethical and emotional choice impacting the animal, current owner, and new owner. Ensuring the pet will have a safe, caring new home meeting all physical and emotional requirements is critical. Candid communication about the animal's tendencies, needs, and medical background facilitates an easier shift. The pet's wellbeing must remain the foremost consideration when making these judgments. More than a transaction, rehoming a pet affects lives profoundly.
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