What’s a Courtesy Listing?

If you’ve browsed the adoption pages on a shelter’s or rescue’s website, you may have come across listings with “courtesy listing” or “courtesy” in the title. Although courtesy listings may look similar to other shelter and rescue listings, the adoption experience, fees, and process can differ quite a bit. Here’s everything you need to know about courtesy listings to decide if this adoption route is the right fit for you. 

What is a courtesy listing?

Courtesy listings offer pet parents a way to find a pet a new home without subjecting them to the stress of a transitional kennel environment. A courtesy listing is posted by a shelter or rescue on behalf of an animal’s current pet parent. The pet parent does the rehoming themselves, while the rescue or shelter simply lends their platform to help spread the word. 

These listings are a great way to keep animals out of shelters and keep rescue spaces open for strays in need. 

How a courtesy listing differs from a shelter or rescue listing

For most pets, being rehomed directly is a much gentler process. Pet parents may also prefer to use courtesy listings so they can be directly involved in deciding who can adopt their animal. This provides them with a lot more reassurance and comfort. 

Here’s what you need to know about courtesy listings.

Who you’re contacting

The process of adopting through a shelter or rescue is more predictable. In these cases, you’re reaching out to an organization with staff, protocols, and a standardized adoption process. With a courtesy listing, you’ll be directed from the shelter or rescue to a private individual. Some pet parents looking to rehome their pets will be thorough and communicative, while others may be less so.

Related article

The Surprising Perks of Adopting a Pet Directly From Another Family

Pets being rehomed often come with helpful history that makes matching easier.

What the adoption process looks like

Shelters and rescues typically have a structured process that involves an application, references, sometimes a home check, meet-and-greets, and a formal adoption agreement. The process for courtesy-listing adoptions depends on the preferences of the potential adopter and current pet parents. 

The process of adopting from a courtesy listing will be different every time, but here’s a general idea of what to expect.

1. Reach out to the current family: Contact the current pet family through the information in the listing. 

2. Initial screening: Expect an informal (but potentially thorough) screening. The current family may have just as many questions as you do. Prepare to ask and answer questions about your routines, lifestyle, and living situation. Because the current pet family has lived with the animal (potentially for a long time), they may have more detailed information to share about their history, personality, preferences, and routine. 

3. Schedule a meet-and-greet: Figure out a good time and place where you can meet the animal, chat with their family about them, and see if things feel right. 

4. Consider scheduling a trial period: A trial period is a good step to make sure an animal will fit well in your home and family. Make sure you get the logistics and length of the trial in writing beforehand. Two days to a week is common for a trial.

5. Lock down the details: Ask about medical records, rehoming fees, and a rehoming agreement. Get the technical questions sorted out. Fill out a rehoming agreement and have it signed by both parties. 

6. Finalize the adoption: If all goes well, you’ll bring home your new friend and help them get settled. Previous pet families may want to keep in touch for questions and updates.

Fees

Shelters and rescues have established adoption fees, typically based on the kind of animal and their age. The rehoming fee for courtesy listings, however, is entirely up to the current family. A portion or all of the rehoming fee may go to the shelter or rescue, or it may go to the current pet parent. The fee may be for the animal only, or it might include toys, treats, food, meds, and/or other supplies.

Related article

What to Ask the Shelter Before You Take Your Pet Home

Asking all the questions is a great way to set you and your pet up for success.

What to ask before you commit

An important part of adopting an animal privately is making sure that you’re comfortable asking the current pet parents questions. Some questions may be specific to your family and situation, but all the following are generally good to ask.

• Why is the pet being rehomed? Sometimes people need to rehome their pets due to circumstances outside of their control, and sometimes they decide an animal is no longer a good fit for their home due to certain needs or behaviors. Knowing why an animal is being rehomed can help you decide if they will be the right fit for your family. 

• What does a typical day look like for this pet? Knowing an animal’s daily routine can help you decide if their schedule will fit with yours. Being able to rely on a familiar routine can also comfort an animal as they’re going through an unfamiliar, stressful transition. 

• Are vet records available? Ask for documentation of vaccinations, any diagnoses, medications, and spay-neuter status. It’s important to know which medications or procedures they will need before committing to an adoption. You may need to schedule a spay or neuter, plan for their next dose of preventatives, or make sure that any daily meds they take can fit within your budget. Unlike when adopting from a shelter or rescue organization, the pet may not have a certain level of health care provided before adoption. 

• Have they lived with kids, other pets, or in specific environments? If you have children or there are often children in your home, make sure an animal does well around them. If you have cats, make sure a dog doesn’t have a strong prey drive. Ask questions relevant to your home and lifestyle.

• Can you do a meet-and-greet? It’s important for you (and your current pets) to meet an animal and their current family before making any commitments. You may even ask to bring the pet home for a trial period if a meet-and-greet goes well.

• Is there a rehoming fee? What does it cover? Sometimes rehoming fees include toys and supplies, sometimes they don’t. These familiar items can offer comfort to pets who are transitioning into new homes, so it is a good idea to ask about them.

• Will the previous family be reachable after the adoption if you have any questions or concerns? Some situations are hard to predict and prepare for. Being able to ask questions as they arise can really help ease a pet’s transition into a new home. 

• Are the current pet parents willing to sign a rehoming agreement? Rehoming agreements protect both parties. If someone is unwilling to sign a rehoming agreement, it’s important to consider why.

Is adopting a pet right for you?

Neither type of adoption is inherently better than the other. They’re just different. Deciding which parts of the adoption process are most important to you can help you choose whether you prefer to adopt from a shelter, adopt from a courtesy listing, or keep your options open to either. 

Adopting from a shelter or rescue

If any of the following are important to you, a shelter or rescue listing might be your best adoption option.

• You want the peace of mind that comes with a formal process, often including health checks and behavioral assessments.

• You’d like support from an organization if things don’t go smoothly.

• You’d like to help get an animal out of a stressful shelter environment, while also opening up the space for another animal in need.

Adopting from a courtesy listing

If any of the following are important to you, adopting from a courtesy listing might be a good choice.

• You’re comfortable doing your own vetting and asking the right questions.

• You want to know a pet’s detailed history.

• You’re open to a more flexible, relationship-based adoption process.

• You want to help keep a pet out of the shelter system during a tough transition.

Commonly asked questions

Are courtesy listings free to adopt?

Courtesy listings are sometimes free to adopt, but not always. Some pet parents charge a rehoming fee, while others don’t. It’s entirely up to the individual or organization hosting the courtesy listing. 

Can I still do a trial or meet-and-greet with a courtesy listing pet?

Yes, you can, and should, ask for a meet-and-greet or a trial period with a courtesy listing pet. To protect both parties, these should be agreed upon with a rehoming agreement.

What’s the difference between a courtesy listing and a rescue listing?

The difference between a courtesy listing and a rescue listing is who the animal is in the care of. The animal in a rescue listing is in the care of a shelter or rescue organization (sometimes in a foster home). The animal in a courtesy listing is still with their current pet parent, who is handling the rehoming independently. 

References

Abbott, S. (2025, June 20). Welcoming a new friend: tips for introducing a rescue animal to a home with pets. Ferne Animal Sanctuary. https://www.ferneanimalsanctuary.org/45603-2.

Ly, L. H. (2025). Investigating owner relinquishment to animal shelters through data practices, self-rehoming outcomes, and community surrender pathways. cIRcle (University of British Columbia). https://doi.org/10.14288/1.0448595.

The power of supported self-rehoming. (n.d.). HumanePro. https://humanepro.org/magazine/articles/power-supported-self-rehoming.