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It was supposed to be just a meeting.

I wasn’t even sure I wanted a dog yet. I had just moved into my condo, still finding my feet, still grieving the cat I’d lost. But I figured I’d start looking. Not adopting. Not yet. Just seeing what was out there.

I found a little ad in the local merchandiser — a printed Craigslist-meets-penny-saver. The dog listed was a Lhasa Apso. Not exactly what I was going for. I had envisioned a sturdier, more practical dog. Something mixed-breed. Heinz 57. Medium to large. Maybe with a little bully in the bloodline for protection. I lived alone, after all. This? This was a purse dog.

Still, something nudged me. So I called.

She answered. Friendly enough. She said she was fostering for an organization called PAWS. She had to rehome the dog because her husband had cancer. She was also pregnant. Life was overwhelming. She needed help.

I agreed to meet her in a parking lot.

When she arrived, she opened the door and out hopped this little white mop. He sniffed my shoes, circled once, and blinked up at me like I had already disappointed him.

I asked to walk him around the backyard. I wanted her to see where he live. He stretch his legs and get a sense of the place. She waved it off. “He’ll be fine,” she said. “It’s going to be great.”

I tried again. “No, really. Let’s go see the yard.” We did. He trotted around dutifully. I asked a few questions. Got some vague answers. Then we walked back to her car.

That’s when she started unloading.

Not talking. Unloading.

Leash. Dog food. Bowls. Papers. All thrust into my arms. I protested. “I haven’t even said yes. I haven’t written a check.”

“No, it’s fine,” she said. “I trust you. He’ll be so happy here.”

And then she drove away.

Just like that.

I looked down at the dog. He looked up at me.

We were both confused.

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Later, as I sifted through the paperwork she left behind, things got sketchy fast. There were documents from three different veterinarians across the state, none of them consistent. I called one of them — Falls Road Animal Hospital in Baltimore. Coincidentally, it was my old vet. I learned that while the vet’s name was real, the records weren’t. They had no actual history on the dog.

Monet, as I would come to call him, a puppy mill pup. Passed off as a rescue. Unneutered. Full of worms. Unvaccinated.

Grace, my cat, was not amused.

Neither was I.

But I couldn’t return him. There was no organization. That woman didn’t volunteer for PAWS. I suspect she never did. She just needed to unload the dog.

He was an accident. But he was never a mistake.

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Fifteen years later, he’s still with me. A little lump of loyalty and attitude. He’s not a show dog. He’s not a guard dog. He’s not the dog I planned for. He is, though, my dog. And I am his human.

But I never forgot the way he came to me: confused, dumped, without warning. It was cruel. He adapted, because he had to. But he deserved better. He deserved transition, reassurance, and care. He deserved a choice.

So here’s the moral:

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If You Need to Rehome a Dog, Please Don’t Be Like This Woman.

1. Be honest. Don’t fabricate connections to rescues or fake paperwork. The truth will come out and it can affect the dog’s future care.

2. Use real resources. Reach out to reputable rescues, breed-specific organizations, or local humane societies. Many offer rehoming help.

3. Vet the adopters. Ask questions. Visit their home. Meet their other pets if possible. Make sure it’s a good match for the dog’s needs.

4. Offer a trial period. Offer to check in, answer questions, and be available. Leaving someone your dog’s entire life in a grocery store parking lot is not a loving goodbye.

5. Be transparent about medical history. Don’t lie. If there are issues, be honest. It helps the new owner plan and give proper care.

6. Leave instructions, not just stuff. Dogs aren’t starter kits. Tell the new family about their routines, fears, favorite toys, allergies, quirks, and history.

7. Above all: Put the dog first. This isn’t about your convenience. This is about doing right by the living creature who trusted you.

You don’t just hand off a soul like you’re donating old furniture.

Dogs are not disposable.

Do better.

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And in case you’re wondering? He grew into his name. Because even when life hands you a mess of broken lines and unplanned brushstrokes… sometimes what you end up with is a masterpiece.

Extra Resources

For readers who want to rehome a pet responsibly, ethically, and safely, here are excellent guides and organizations to consult:

• American Kennel Club – Rehoming a Dog Responsibly: Covers ethical rehoming, safety, vetting adopters, and being honest en.wikipedia.org+11akc.org+11petsforpatriots.org+11.
• Pets for Patriots – How to Rehome Humanely: Emphasizes local shelters, vet offices, and avoiding risky social media posts petsforpatriots.org.
• Petfinder – Assess Your Dog’s Needs: Offers step-by-step vetting and matching tips petfinder.com.
• The Rescue Train – Trusted Home-to-Home Transfers: Explains alternatives like returning to breeder, trusted networks, and listing cautions therescuetrain.org.
• Best Friends Animal Society – Rehoming Pet Guide: Walks through preparing your pet, screening adopters, and adoption finalization s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com+9bestfriends.org+9bestfriends.org+9.
• We Foster Dogs – Read This Before Rehoming: Highlights support options and humane alternatives wefosterdogs.org.

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