How Do I Surrender My Bull Mastiff?

Surrendering a dog can be an emotional process, even if you know that you’re doing what’s best for your dog. You may need to surrender your Bull Mastiff if you don’t have enough time to care for them, lack the money to buy their food and pay for medical care, or if there’s simply not enough space in your home. Read on to learn how to responsibly surrender your Bull Mastiff so they can finally find their forever home. 

What does it mean to rehome a dog? 

Rehoming refers to transferring your dog from your home to a new home. Adopting your Bull Mastiff may have seemed like a great choice at the time — or perhaps a dream — but you’ve found that your energy does not match your dog’s. Maybe your funds are stretched, and you can’t afford their care. Or perhaps you don’t have the space suited to large dog breeds. 

There are lots of reasons you may want to rehome your dog, and this is perfectly understandable. Rehoming your Bull Mastiff means responsibly seeking a better-suited household to take in your pet for the rest of their life. 

How to rehome your Bull Mastiff 

It’s important to put some careful thought into how you go about rehoming your dog. Here are some avenues to pursue. 

Find someone you already know to adopt 

The first thing you should do is ask around to friends and family to find someone you already know — not a random person, but someone you can vet — to adopt your Bull Mastiff. This way, you can be sure they will be safe and happy in their new home. Never give away your dog for free on sites such as Craigslist or Facebook — there are people who check these sites looking for pets to treat badly. 

A Bull Mastiff is a working dog bred to be a guard dog. Your Bull Mastiff requires regular daily exercise, socialization, pet training, and plenty of grooming care. If you are unable to provide this care to your Bull Mastiff, try to place your pet with a friend who has more time or finances to dedicate to their wellbeing. 

Look into pet adoption sites 

Various pet adoption sites, such as Rehome by Adopt a Pet, help you list available dogs. You can create a profile for your pet on Rehome, for instance, which also offers expert advice and helpful tools.

Always pick an adoption site with a solid reputation. It’s important to be vigilant when it comes to online scams, which may include places with suspicious communication or fake photos. And avoid social media or classified sites such as Craigslist, Facebook, and Nextdoor — where you’ll have a harder time vetting prospective adopters, some of whom could be scammers looking to breed or abuse your dog. 

Surrender your dog at an animal shelter or animal rescue 

Surrendering your Bull Mastiff to an animal shelter or animal rescue should be your last resort. First, try to find an animal rescue — especially a breed-specific one — which will often be able to keep your dog as long as it takes to find them a new home. Some Bull Mastiff rescues include AZ Mastiff Rescue and the American Bull Mastiff Association Rescue Service. 

In contrast, animal shelters may be at capacity or unable to care for your dog. So it’s best to avoid them. But if you do choose to surrender your dog to a shelter, you’ll likely have to make an appointment, pay a fee, and sign your pet over to them. 

Do you have to pay to rehome a Bull Mastiff? 

If you find a new family for your Bull Mastiff on your own, you won’t have to pay a rehoming fee. However, if you are surrendering your pet to a local animal shelter or rescue, they may charge a rehoming fee, which can average $50 to $250. The fee goes towards operational costs at the shelter or rescue.

What is a rehoming fee?  

A rehoming fee is a payment you make to another person or organization when you are either surrendering or adopting a pet. This payment typically covers previous care expenses for the pet, including food and vet care. For a prospective pet parent, a rehoming fee proves they can afford to adopt the animal, and discourages people from adopting dogs for harmful purposes such as dog fighting or breeding. If your Bull Mastiff is a young puppy or purebred, you may want to charge a greater rehoming fee to make sure the pet parent is serious about inviting the dog into a loving home. 

What is a reasonable rehoming fee to adopt a Bull Mastiff? 

Bull Mastiffs are larger dogs, which means they may have higher feeding and healthcare costs. While most rehoming fees sit between $50 and $250, you could charge up to $300 as a rehoming fee for a young, healthy Bull Mastiff. 

Should you charge rehoming fees? 

If you’re rehoming your pet to a trusted friend, you won’t need to. But if you are rehoming your pet to someone you have vetted but don’t know personally, you should charge a fee. This helps reduce the risk of your dog going to a home where they won’t be loved and cared for. 

What about rehoming with pet adoption sites? 

Rehoming your pet through pet adoption sites is a great way to make the process safe and simple. Rehome by Adopt a Pet allows you to create a profile for your dog (complete with photos and videos) that millions of pet adopters will see. You can add important information about your Bull Mastiff there, so adopters will clearly understand if their household is a good fit for this pet. Using an adoption site, which will guide you through the rehoming process, can help ease the stress of rehoming your pet. Those who want to adopt your dog will pay a small fee, similar to what they would pay at a shelter. 

Commonly asked questions 

Can you get in trouble for surrendering a dog? 

You won’t get in trouble for surrendering your dog to an animal shelter. Giving up a pet does not mean you are a bad pet parent: In some cases, it’s the kindest thing you can do, to give them a better life. However, once you surrender them, your dog’s fate is out of your hands. Unfortunately, many shelters put pets at risk of euthanasia if they aren’t quickly adopted. If you can find a new home for your dog on your own, via adoption sites or rescues, try that first. 

Where can I put up a Bull Mastiff for adoption? 

You can put up your Bull Mastiff for adoption on sites such as Rehome by Adopt a Pet and at breed-specific rescues such as Bull Mastiff Rescuers. Never put your pet up for adoption on classified sites such as Craigslist or Facebook, and never give away your dog as “free to a good home.”