The short answer
Before you rehome your dog for a move, try the option that fits your situation. If it is a no-pets rental, apply early with a pet resume and check the current renting-with-pets rules for your state with the tenancy authority, which in New South Wales is NSW Fair Trading. If you are moving interstate or overseas, research airlines and pet-transport services early. If your new place has a short gap, ask about temporary fostering. If none of those fit and the move genuinely leaves no room, rehome kindly: owner-to-owner rehoming is free on LocalPetFinder and keeps your dog at home until you choose the family, or you can surrender to a welfare organisation. Either way, transfer the microchip to the new owner through the NSW Pet Registry.
Have to rehome before you move?
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List your dog free →A move is one of the most common reasons, and it isn't a failure
Housing and moving sit near the top of the list of reasons dogs are surrendered or rehomed in Australia every year. A rental that will not take pets, an interstate job that starts next month, a relationship ending, a place that is genuinely too small for a large dog. These are circumstances, not character flaws. If you are reading this, you are already trying to do right by your dog, and that counts for a lot.
The move can make giving up the dog feel like the only choice, especially when the deadline is close. Often it is not. The rest of this guide walks through the alternatives that tend to work, in the order worth trying them, and then how to rehome well if the move really does leave no room. If you are still weighing up the decision itself, our honest self-assessment helps you think it through.
Renting with a pet: the alternative most people give up on too soon
If the reason you are rehoming is a rental that will not accept pets, this is the alternative worth the most effort, because it can solve the problem outright. Many rentals restrict or refuse pets, but the answer is often about how you apply, not whether pets are allowed at all. The two things that move a landlord from no to yes are applying early and making it easy to say yes.
Put together a pet resume and send it with your rental application. Include a photo, your dog's age, breed, and size, proof it is desexed and microchipped, a note that it is house-trained, a reference from your vet, and references from past landlords or agents confirming no damage or complaints. That single document answers a landlord's biggest worry before it is even raised.
The rules around renting with pets can change over time and differ by state, so check the current position with NSW Fair Trading, the tenancy authority for New South Wales, rather than assuming. Ask your property manager directly, apply well ahead of your move date, and give yourself enough runway to find a place that works.
Moving interstate or overseas: your dog can probably come
If you are moving away rather than just to a new suburb, it can feel like the dog simply cannot come. Usually it can. For an interstate move within Australia, a dog can travel by car, by air with an airline that carries pets, or through a pet-transport service that handles crates, bookings, and connections for you. It costs money and takes planning, but it is a solved problem that many families manage every year.
Overseas moves are more involved because quarantine and import rules vary by country and can take months to arrange. That is exactly why the answer is to research early. Get quotes, confirm the requirements for your destination, and start the paperwork as soon as the move is real. Leaving it late is what turns a workable move into a forced rehoming, so treat the dog's travel as part of the moving plan from day one.
A short gap between homes: temporary foster instead of goodbye
Sometimes the problem is not permanent at all. You are waiting on settlement, staying somewhere temporary, or facing a few weeks between leases where you have nowhere to keep the dog. A short gap does not have to mean giving the dog up for good.
Some rescues offer temporary fostering or safekeeping: your dog is cared for while you sort out housing, then returned to you once you settle. Boarding kennels and pet-sitters can also bridge a short stretch. Ask local rescues whether they run a temporary foster arrangement, and set it up before your move rather than at the last minute. If a short-term option covers the gap, you keep your dog and skip rehoming entirely.
If the move genuinely leaves no room: rehoming kindly
If you have tried the alternatives that fit and the move truly leaves no place for the dog, rehoming is a fair and caring decision. Doing it kindly comes down to two choices: how you place the dog, and taking the time to place it well even when the move is bearing down on you.
Owner-to-owner rehoming keeps your dog in your home the whole time. You list the dog, review the people who apply, choose the family you trust, and hand the dog over directly with its records. It is free on LocalPetFinder and it lets you control who the dog goes to. If your move is a few weeks out, this is usually the kindest path. Our guide to rehoming a dog for free covers the whole process, and our before-you-rehome checklist covers the records and prep to have ready.
If the move is sudden and you cannot place the dog safely in time, surrendering to a welfare organisation such as RSPCA NSW, Animal Welfare League NSW, or Sydney Dogs and Cats Home is the responsible fallback. They take custody and screen adopters, usually for a fee. Our full guide to surrendering a dog walks through how that works and what to expect.
The moving-with-a-dog checklist
Work down this list in order. Most owners find one of the first three steps solves the problem before they ever reach the last two.
| Step | What to do |
|---|---|
| Apply for pet-friendly rentals early | Lead with a pet resume: vet reference, desexing and microchip proof, past-landlord references. Check current rules with NSW Fair Trading. |
| Research transport for interstate or overseas | Look into airlines that carry pets, a pet-transport service, and any quarantine rules for your destination. Start weeks ahead, not days. |
| Line up temporary foster for a short gap | If the new place is not ready, ask local rescues about temporary fostering so you can reclaim the dog once you settle. |
| If you must rehome, do it owner-to-owner | List free on LocalPetFinder, screen the people who apply, and choose the family. Keep shelter surrender as a backup. |
| Transfer the microchip at handover | Update the registration to the new owner through the NSW Pet Registry, and pass on vet records and the dog's routine. |
Rehoming responsibly under a moving deadline
A move puts a clock on everything, and that is exactly when good rehoming can slip. Gather the dog's vaccination and medical records, microchip details, and desexing status. Write down its routine, diet, personality, and any fears or triggers so the new family starts informed. When you hand the dog over, transfer the microchip registration to the new owner through the NSW Pet Registry so the dog is on record with the right home from day one. Our settling-in guide covers how to make the handover calm for the dog.
Don't let the deadline push you into a free ad: posting a dog as free on open classifieds such as Gumtree or Facebook Marketplace attracts the small number of people who collect free animals for the wrong reasons, and a rushed move is when that risk is highest. A modest rehoming fee plus real screening is far safer, and taking a few extra days to choose the right family is worth it. Our guide on free-to-good-home risks explains why.
Moving soon and out of options?
List your dog free on LocalPetFinder. Your dog stays with you until adopted, you screen the people who apply, and you choose the family. No surrender fee, no shelter.
List your dog for free →Related guides
A no-judgment framework so you decide with evidence, not the panic of a deadline.
Where to surrender in NSW, what it costs, and how the process works.
The full owner-to-owner process, from listing to a safe handover.
See how other owners present their dogs, and list yours alongside them.
Frequently asked questions
I'm moving and can't keep my dog. Does that make me a bad owner?+
No. A house move is one of the most common reasons dogs are rehomed in Australia, and it usually comes down to circumstances you did not choose: a rental that will not accept pets, an interstate job, a relationship change, or a place that is genuinely too small or unsafe for the dog. Wanting to sort this out responsibly is the opposite of not caring. What matters is that you work through the alternatives that fit your move, and if none of them do, that you find the dog a good home thoughtfully rather than in a rush.
Can I rent with a dog in NSW?+
Often, yes, though it takes early effort. Many rental properties restrict or refuse pets, so the trick is to apply early and make it easy for a landlord to say yes. Put together a pet resume: a reference from your vet, proof your dog is desexed and microchipped, and references from past landlords or agents. The rules around renting with pets in NSW can change, so check the current position with NSW Fair Trading, the state tenancy authority, rather than relying on what a friend or an old article told you. Ask your property manager directly and apply well before you need to move.
What is a pet resume and does it actually help?+
A pet resume is a short document you give a prospective landlord or agent alongside your rental application. It usually includes a photo of your dog, its age, breed, and size, proof of desexing and microchipping, a note that the dog is house-trained and well behaved, a reference from your vet, and references from previous landlords confirming there was no damage or complaint. It works because it removes the landlord's main worry, which is an unknown animal causing problems. It signals a responsible tenant and often turns a maybe into a yes.
I'm moving interstate or overseas. Can I take my dog?+
Frequently, yes. For an interstate move within Australia, a dog can usually travel by car, or by air with an airline that carries pets, or through a pet-transport service that handles the logistics for you. Overseas moves are more involved because of quarantine and import rules that vary by country and take time to arrange. The key is to research early. Costs and requirements differ, so get quotes and confirm the rules for your destination well before your moving date rather than assuming it is impossible.
My new place isn't ready yet. What do I do with my dog in the gap?+
A short-term gap, such as waiting on settlement, staying in temporary housing, or a few weeks between leases, does not have to mean giving up your dog. Some rescues offer temporary fostering or safekeeping so your dog is cared for while you sort out housing, then returned to you once you stabilise. Boarding kennels and pet-sitters can also bridge a short gap. Ask local rescues whether they run a temporary foster arrangement, and line it up before your move rather than at the last minute.
What should I try before rehoming my dog for a move?+
Work through the options that match your situation. If the barrier is a no-pets rental, apply early with a pet resume and check the current renting-with-pets position with NSW Fair Trading. If it is an interstate or overseas move, research airlines, pet-transport services, and any quarantine rules straight away. If it is a short-term housing gap, ask about temporary fostering. If you have tried the ones that fit and the move genuinely leaves no room for the dog, then rehoming is a fair decision and nothing here is meant to guilt you into an impossible situation.
If I have to rehome, is owner-to-owner better than surrendering to a shelter?+
Both are responsible, and the right one depends on your timeline. Owner-to-owner rehoming keeps your dog in your home until you find and choose the new family yourself, and it is free on LocalPetFinder. Surrendering to a welfare organisation such as RSPCA NSW, Animal Welfare League NSW, or Sydney Dogs and Cats Home hands the dog to the shelter, which does the screening, usually for a fee. If you have a few weeks before the move, owner-to-owner lets you control the outcome. If your move is sudden, surrender may be the practical choice. Many owners try owner-to-owner first and keep surrender as a backup.
Should I post my dog as free to a good home before I move?+
It is safer not to. A free listing on open classifieds such as Gumtree or Facebook Marketplace attracts the small number of people who collect free animals for the wrong reasons, and a rushed move is exactly when it is tempting to take the first person who replies. A modest rehoming fee plus real screening protects your dog far better. What matters most is not the fee but the time you take to choose a family you trust, even when the clock is ticking on your move.
Do I need to update the microchip when I rehome my dog?+
Yes. When a dog changes hands in NSW you must transfer the microchip registration to the new owner through the NSW Pet Registry. It is a simple online step, and it matters because the registry is how a lost dog gets back to the right home. Do the transfer at handover so the new owner is on record from day one. Hand over the dog's vaccination records, desexing history, and a written note about its routine and personality at the same time.
How much time should I give myself to rehome a dog before moving?+
As much as you can. Owner-to-owner rehoming done well takes a few weeks: time to write a good listing, let genuine adopters apply, screen them, and arrange a calm handover. If your move is months away, start now, because a relaxed timeline lets you hold out for the right family rather than settling for whoever is available. If the move is only days away and you cannot place the dog safely in time, a shelter surrender is the more responsible fallback than a rushed free ad.
Sources
- NSW Fair Trading: renting with pets and current tenancy rules in New South Wales
- RSPCA Australia Knowledgebase: responsible rehoming and keeping pets when circumstances change
- RSPCA NSW: owner surrender process and support programs
- NSW Pet Registry: microchipping and transfer of ownership