The short answer
If your health or a move into aged care means you can no longer care for your dog, you have a few gentle options. See whether a family member or trusted friend can take the dog. Ask whether your aged-care or retirement provider allows pets, as some do. If you face a short hospital stay, ask local rescues about temporary fostering so you can reclaim your dog later. If rehoming is the answer, you can do it yourself owner-to-owner, which is free on LocalPetFinder and lets you choose the family while your dog stays at home until the handover, or you can surrender to a welfare organisation that takes custody. And plan ahead: a simple pet emergency plan means your dog is cared for even if something happens suddenly.
Finding your dog a loving home
List free on LocalPetFinder. Take the time to choose the right family, keep your dog with you until the handover, and your email stays private.
List your dog free →You are not letting your dog down
Owners come to this page for the hardest reasons: a serious diagnosis, a disability that changes what daily care is possible, a move into hospital or residential aged care. If that is you, please know that considering your dog's future is not giving up on it. It is the opposite.
The dogs that struggle are the ones left without a plan when a crisis arrives. The dogs that land softly are the ones whose owners thought it through and arranged a good outcome, whether that meant a plan for later or a new home now. There is no judgment here, only the practical steps that help you do right by your dog.
Options worth considering before rehoming
Rehoming is not always the only answer, and it is worth checking whether one of these fits your situation first. None of them are meant to pressure you into keeping a dog when your health genuinely will not allow it.
A family member or trusted friend
The gentlest outcome for many dogs is to move in with someone they already know. Ask whether a family member or a trusted friend could take the dog, either for good or while you are unwell. If they can, the dog keeps a familiar person, and you keep a connection to it.
Help with day-to-day care
If the barrier is walks or vet trips rather than the dog itself, a carer, a neighbour, or a family member helping a few times a week can sometimes keep your dog with you longer. It is worth weighing before deciding you must part with the dog.
Does your aged-care option allow pets?
Do not assume the answer is no. Some residential aged-care and retirement providers do allow pets. Ask directly about their pet policy, any size limits, and who would help with the dog's care. A residential aged-care provider that allows pets may let you bring your dog with you.
Temporary fostering during treatment
If you are facing a hospital stay or a course of treatment you expect to recover from, some rescues offer temporary fostering so you can reclaim your dog once you are back on your feet. Ring local rescues and ask whether they have a temporary foster or safekeeping arrangement.
Planning ahead: a pet emergency plan
One of the kindest things any owner can do, whether or not rehoming is on the table, is to set up a pet emergency plan. It answers a simple question in advance: who cares for my dog if I am suddenly unable to? Having that settled before a crisis means your dog is never left in limbo while people work out what to do.
A plan has two parts, and it takes about an afternoon to put together:
- A person. A family member or trusted friend who has agreed in advance to take your dog, temporarily or permanently, and knows they are the one to call. Make sure they say yes before you write them down.
- A written care profile. Your vet's details, the dog's food and feeding routine, medications, the microchip number, desexing and vaccination records, and any fears or quirks. Keep a copy somewhere findable, and give one to your emergency carer.
Some owners also choose to set out their wishes for their dog's longer-term care as part of their estate planning, including naming who they would like to care for the dog. That is a legal matter, so some owners discuss this with their solicitor rather than arranging it informally. A will only takes effect later, so it works best alongside an emergency plan that covers the immediate here and now.
If rehoming is the answer
When none of the alternatives fit and finding your dog a new home is the right step, you have two main routes, and both are responsible. The choice usually comes down to how much time and energy your health allows.
Owner-to-owner rehoming lets you personally choose the new family. You list the dog, review the people who apply, meet the ones you like, and hand the dog over directly with its records. Your dog stays in your care the whole time, there is no shelter stay, and listing on LocalPetFinder is free. A modest rehoming fee plus real screening is far safer than a free advertisement on Gumtree or Facebook Marketplace, which attracts the small number of people who collect free animals for the wrong reasons.
Surrendering to a welfare organisation hands custody to a rescue or shelter that then screens adopters and rehomes the dog for you. In New South Wales, RSPCA NSW, Animal Welfare League NSW, and Sydney Dogs and Cats Home take owner surrenders by appointment. Most charge a surrender fee. Importantly, RSPCA and some welfare organisations run programs for owners in exactly your situation, so ask them directly what support they can offer.
Whichever route you take, transfer the microchip to the new owner through the NSW Pet Registry at handover, and pass on the vaccination and desexing records. If you would like help deciding, our honest self-assessment and our guide to surrendering a dog walk through both paths.
Your options at a glance
| Option | Best when | Worth knowing |
|---|---|---|
| A family member or trusted friend takes the dog | When someone close can take on the dog, temporarily or for good | Least stressful for the dog, because it stays with someone it knows |
| Temporary fostering during a hospital stay | A short-term crisis you expect to recover from | Some rescues offer this so you can reclaim the dog later; ask locally |
| Owner-to-owner rehoming | You want to choose the new family yourself | Free on LocalPetFinder; the dog stays with you until the handover |
| Surrender to a welfare organisation | Screening and a handover are more than your health allows | The organisation takes custody and rehomes; most charge a fee |
Making the handover gentle for your dog
Whichever path you choose, a few things ease the change for the dog. Gather the vaccination and medical records, microchip details, and desexing status. Write down the dog's routine, diet, personality, and any fears or triggers, and be honest about behaviour so the new home is set up to succeed. Send the dog with the food it is used to and, if you can, a familiar blanket or toy that smells of home.
A note on “free to good home” ads: when you are unwell it is tempting to place a quick free advertisement, but 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. A modest rehoming fee plus real screening is far safer. Our guide to rehoming a dog for free and our guide to screening adopters cover how to do this safely.
Find your dog a loving home, in your own time
Owner-to-owner rehoming on LocalPetFinder is free. Your dog stays with you until the handover, you meet 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 a clear head, not in a panic.
The records, profile, and steps that set your dog up for a smooth move.
Easing the transition so your dog settles quickly into its new home.
Where to go, what it costs, and how surrender compares to rehoming yourself.
Frequently asked questions
Who will take my dog if I get sick?+
The most reliable answer is to arrange it before you need it. Ask a family member or trusted friend to be your dog's emergency carer, and write down the details they would need: your vet, the dog's food and routine, medications, and the microchip number. This is a pet emergency plan, and it means that if you are suddenly in hospital, your dog is cared for by someone who already knows what to do rather than ending up in a shelter while people work out what to do. If no one close to you can take on that role, some rescues offer temporary fostering, and owner-to-owner rehoming lets you choose the home yourself while you are still able to.
I have a terminal illness. How do I rehome my dog to a good home?+
First, be gentle with yourself. Wanting to settle your dog with a loving family while you still can is one of the most caring things an owner can do. Take the time to write a full profile of your dog's personality, health, and routine, then rehome owner-to-owner so you meet the people who apply and choose the family yourself. Your dog stays with you until the handover. If you would rather a welfare organisation take custody, RSPCA NSW, Animal Welfare League NSW, and Sydney Dogs and Cats Home take owner surrenders by appointment, and some run programs specifically for owners in your situation, so ask them directly.
I am moving into aged care. Can I take my dog with me?+
It depends on the provider. Some residential aged-care and retirement options do allow pets, and it is always worth asking before you assume you cannot bring your dog. Ask the provider directly about their pet policy, any size or breed limits, and who would help with walks and vet trips. If the provider does not allow pets, or the level of care your dog needs is more than the arrangement can support, then finding your dog a loving new home is the kind next step, and you can do it yourself owner-to-owner so you choose the family.
What is a pet emergency plan and how do I set one up?+
A pet emergency plan is a simple written arrangement for who cares for your dog if you are suddenly unable to. It has two parts. First, a person: a family member or trusted friend who has agreed in advance to take your dog, temporarily or permanently, and knows they are the one to call. Second, a written care profile: your vet's details, the dog's food, routine, medications, microchip number, and any quirks. Keep a copy somewhere findable and give one to your emergency carer. It takes an afternoon and it means your dog is never left in limbo.
Can I leave instructions for my dog's care in my will?+
Some owners choose to set out their wishes for their pet's future care as part of their estate planning, including naming who they would like to care for the dog. This is a legal matter rather than something to arrange casually, so discuss it with your solicitor, who can advise on how it works in your situation. A will takes effect only after you are gone, so it works best alongside a pet emergency plan that covers the immediate here and now, such as a sudden hospital stay.
Is temporary fostering an option while I recover in hospital?+
Sometimes, yes. Some rescues offer temporary fostering so that an owner facing a hospital stay or a period of treatment can have their dog cared for and then reclaim the dog once they recover. It is not offered everywhere and places are limited, so ring local rescues and ask whether they have a temporary foster or safekeeping arrangement. If a family member or friend can foster the dog instead, that is often the least stressful option for the dog, because it stays with someone it knows.
Should I surrender to a shelter or rehome my dog myself?+
Both are responsible, and the right one depends on your energy and time. Surrendering hands custody to a welfare organisation such as RSPCA NSW or Sydney Dogs and Cats Home, which then screens adopters and rehomes the dog. It is faster and the organisation does the work, though most charge a surrender fee. Owner-to-owner rehoming keeps your dog at home until you personally choose the new family, and listing on LocalPetFinder is free. If your health makes screening applicants and managing a handover too much, surrender is a perfectly reasonable choice.
Should I charge a rehoming fee or give my dog away for free?+
A modest rehoming fee is safer than a free-to-good-home advertisement. A small fee discourages the few people who collect free animals for the wrong reasons, and it signals to genuine adopters that the dog is valued. What matters far more than the fee is the screening. Meet the people, ask about their home and routine, and choose the family you trust. A fee plus real screening keeps your dog well clear of the risks that come with a free classified listing on sites like Gumtree or Facebook Marketplace.
Do I need to update the microchip when I rehome my dog?+
Yes. When your dog goes to a new owner, you must transfer the microchip registration to them through the NSW Pet Registry. It is a simple online step and it matters: if the dog is ever lost, the registry is how it finds its way home. Do the transfer at handover so the new owner is on record from day one, and pass on the dog's vaccination and desexing records at the same time.
Am I letting my dog down by rehoming it?+
No. An illness, a disability, or a move into care are among the hardest reasons an owner ever faces, and none of them are a failure. Making sure your dog is settled and loved, whether now or through a plan for later, is an act of care. The dogs that struggle are the ones left without a plan when a crisis hits. By thinking this through and arranging a good outcome, you are doing right by your dog in exactly the way that matters most.
Sources
- RSPCA Australia Knowledgebase: responsible rehoming and planning for a pet's care
- RSPCA NSW: owner surrender process and owner support programs
- NSW Pet Registry: microchipping and transfer of ownership