Need Help Finding Your Small Dog a New Home?

Life can change in unexpected ways, and we understand that surrendering a beloved fur baby is an incredibly painful and difficult decision. We are here to support you without judgment. Our goal is to ensure your little one finds a safe, loving home through verified networks.

Referral Platform Disclosure: Small Dog Rescue South Africa is a guidance and referral platform. Adoption, surrender, screening and placement decisions are managed by the individual rescue organisation responsible for each application.

Are You in an Urgent or Emergency Situation?

If a dog is in immediate physical danger, has been abandoned, or requires emergency veterinary care, please do not wait for a referral application. Contact your local SPCA (Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) or a veterinary clinic immediately. Our rescue partners run on volunteer foster homes, which means placement is not instantaneous and depends on foster space availability.

Compassionate Guidance (No Shame, No Judgement)

People surrender dogs for many valid, heart-breaking reasons—financial hardship, serious illness, death of an owner, divorce, emigration, or unsafe changes in living conditions.

Please know that making the decision to rehome your dog safely through an ethical rescue is a responsible, caring act. You are ensuring they get the vetting, care, and family match they deserve.

What to Avoid

For the safety of your little one, please NEVER:

  • Give a dog away for "free to a good home" on social media or classified websites. Dog fighters, dog brokers, and abusers look for free animals. Scammers may also pretend to adopt your dog only to resell them.
  • Abandon a dog at an empty property. This is illegal, cruel, and puts the dog's life at immediate risk.
  • Hand the dog to an unregistered "shelter" without verifying their veterinary care policies and legitimacy.

Preparation Checklist for Rehoming

To make the rehoming transition as smooth and fast as possible, please gather the following details before contacting a rescue:

  1. Vaccination & Medical Record (Vet Card): Rescues need to know if your dog's vaccinations are up to date and if they are sterilised. If they are not, the rescue will arrange vetting, but having the card helps enormously.
  2. Clear Photos & Video: Take high-quality, clear photos of your doggy in good lighting. Showing their face and size helps the rescue evaluate and showcase them to potential foster homes.
  3. Behavioral Profile: Be completely honest about their personality. Do they get along with cats? Are they comfortable around toddlers? Are they house-trained? Do they have separation anxiety? Honest profiles prevent failed placements.
  4. Dietary & Routine Notes: Write down what food they eat, their sleeping habits, and any specific fears (e.g., thunderstorms or vacuum cleaners).

How the Rescuing Process Works

When you submit a surrender request to one of our partners, here is what happens:

  • Review: The rescue team reviews the details and medical records.
  • Foster Matching: Because our partners use foster homes rather than cages, they must wait for a suitable, secure foster space to open up.
  • Vetting: The dog will be taken to a partner veterinarian for health checks, vaccines, and sterilisation if not already done.
  • Matching: The rescue coordinates applications and visits to match your doggy with a permanent new home.

Please note: We can never promise placement or specific timelines. Volunteer foster spaces are always limited.

Contact a Verified Rescue Partner to Rehome

Select the breed-specific or general rescue partner that matches your dog's breed and location to submit a secure surrender request.

Little Doggy Rescue

All Small Breeds & Mixed Breeds

Ideal for general small dogs. They coordinate home-to-home rehoming so your dog can stay with you until an approved new home is verified.

SA Yorkie Rescue

Yorkshire & Biewer Terriers

Specialized care for Yorkies and Biewer Terriers. They place dogs into verified breed-experienced foster homes during the transition.

Maltese Rescue

Maltese & White Toy Dogs

Offers safe, breed-appropriate rehoming paths specifically for Maltese and Maltese mixes across Gauteng, WC, and KZN.

English & English & French Bulldog Rescue SA (EFBRSA)

French Bulldogs & Boston Terriers

Handles specialized surrenders for Frenchies and Boston Terriers, addressing any medical, brachycephalic, or behavioral needs.

Rehoming & Surrender FAQ

Will my dog be put to sleep if I surrender them?

No. Our verified partner rescues operate on a strict no-kill policy for adoptable animals. They only euthanise in extreme circumstances under veterinary guidance if a dog is suffering terminally or has severe, unmanageable aggression that poses an active danger to the public.

Can I stay in contact or get updates on my dog?

Once you sign the surrender form, legal ownership transfers to the rescue organization to protect the adoption process. Many rescues will provide an initial update when the dog is adopted, but to protect the privacy of the new family, direct contact is not allowed.

How much does it cost to surrender a dog?

Our referrals are 100% free, and our partners do not charge a fee to take in a dog. However, if you are able, a voluntary donation to help cover the dog's veterinary and food costs while in foster care is highly appreciated.

What if my dog is not sterilised or vaccinated?

You can still surrender your dog. The partner rescue will take the dog to their vet to be vaccinated and sterilised. However, please share this honestly so they can prepare isolation space if they are unvaccinated.