Rehome a Small Dog Safely in South Africa

You are part of the process, from start to finish.

Need to rehome a small purebred dog? Little Doggy Rescue prioritises toy breeds and offers private, home-to-home rehoming support across South Africa. Your dog stays with you while we screen potential new homes.

Ask about rehoming your dog

At a glance

Carefully reviewed applicants — screening, interviews and home checks help us assess suitable homes
Confidential, judgement-free support — each enquiry is considered individually
Across all nine provinces — your dog stays with you during the home-to-home process

A small dog on packing boxes, representing the need for a safe dog rehoming service when moving.

For more guidance, read our Owner’s Guide to Rehoming a Dog in South Africa.

Rehoming a toy breed? Start with our owner guides for Yorkshire Terriers (Yorkies), Chihuahuas, Maltese, Pomeranians (Toy Poms) and Biewer Terriers. Find other breeds in our small-dog breed guide. Each enquiry is considered individually.

Our Promise:

How to Rehome a Dog Safely: Our 4-Step Process

Safe Dog Rehoming: Our No-Shelter Process | Little Doggy Rescue 10

Step 1:
Private Chat & Profile Creation

You tell us about your dog’s unique personality and needs.

Magnifying glass icon, representing the thorough vetting of applicants. — Safe Dog Rehoming: Our No-Shelter Process | Little Doggy Rescue 11

Step 2:
We Screen Applicants

We handle the applications and perform thorough home checks for you.

Icon of two hands meeting, symbolizing the meeting between the owner and the new family. — Safe Dog Rehoming: Our No-Shelter Process | Little Doggy Rescue 12

Step 3:
You Approve the Match

Once we find a family we believe is the best-suited, we share their profile with you. With your final approval, we then arrange the introduction.

Icon of a house with a heart, symbolizing a safe and happy home-to-home transition. — Safe Dog Rehoming: Our No-Shelter Process | Little Doggy Rescue 13

Step 4:
A Safe, Direct Transition

Your dog goes directly from your loving home to their new one.

What You'll Need.

To help the process move smoothly, it’s helpful to have great photos of your dog (taken in the last week) and important documents like their vet card and sterilization certificate, microchip details ready

Life Happens. We Understand.

The decision to rehome is never easy and comes from a place of love. You might be facing one of many difficult situations where finding a new home is the kindest choice for your dog:

Relocation
Emigration
Lifestyle Changes
Allergies
Financial Constraints
Lack of time
Pet Behavioral Issues
Inadequate Training
Complex Pet Policies
Personal Tragedies

A small white dog with a new baby, showing how lifestyle changes can lead to needing to rehome a beloved pet.

Little Doggy Rescue offers private and judgement-free rehoming guidance for small dog owners who need help finding a safe way forward. Learn more about our screening, privacy and transparency standards.

Need to rehome your small dog or puppy? Little Doggy Rescue provides safe, private and judgement-free home-to-home rehoming support. Your fur baby remains with you while suitable applicants are carefully reviewed, helping to reduce stress and support a safe transition into a loving new home.

Specialized Help for Yorkshire Terriers

For owners of Yorkshire Terriers, we offer a dedicated rehoming channel through our partnership with SA Yorkie Rescue. Their team provides expert, compassionate care specifically tailored to the needs of Yorkies.

What Other Owners Say

“We believe Watson will be really happy. I can’t thank you enough… for finding him a good home.”

A Note On Timing

Our priority is finding the right home, not the fastest one. While some dogs are placed in days, others may take a few weeks. The more advance notice you can give us, the wider the pool of suitable families we can find. We strongly recommend starting the safe dog rehoming process as soon as you know you need to rehome your pet.

Frequently Asked Questions About Rehoming.

What are the criteria for a dog you can help rehome?

We prioritise small purebred dogs, with toy breeds first. Each enquiry is considered individually. We are a home-to-home service, so your dog must be able to stay with you during the process.

How long does rehoming take?

There is no fixed timeline. Some dogs may be matched within days, while others take weeks or longer. We focus on a suitable home, not the fastest placement.

Do I get a say in who adopts my dog?

Absolutely. Your comfort and confidence are our priority. We will present our carefully selected and pre-screened family recommendation to you first. Once you are happy and give us the green light, we move forward with the official adoption process for the new family, which includes arranging the introduction to your dog.

Is there a surrender fee?

Surrendering your dog to us is free. If you cancel the process after we have already begun searching for a home for your dog, a small administrative fee applies.

Can I change my mind?

Yes. If your circumstances change before an adoption is finalised, tell us. We will pause the process and talk through the safest next step for your dog.

Do you help bonded pairs?

Yes, where possible. Tell us if two dogs rely on each other. We will consider whether they should stay together and look for applicants who can meet their needs.

How are applicants screened?

Applicants are reviewed through an adoption application, conversation, references or home checks where appropriate, and suitability for the specific dog. Final steps depend on the dog's needs and the home.

What happens if my dog has behavioural or medical needs?

Please tell us as much as you can upfront. Behavioural or medical needs do not automatically mean we cannot help, but they do affect the type of home, timing, and advice we give.

I need to rehome my dog urgently — can you help?

Please submit your dog’s details as soon as possible and include any important deadline or circumstances. We will review the information and discuss the available options with you. The process and timing depend on your dog’s needs and whether suitable applicants are available.

Start the Process

Please fill in the secure form below with as much detail as possible. This helps us understand your dog’s needs and begin the search for their new family. A member of our team will review the information and get in touch once we have more information.

Please note: Our specialization is with small breed dogs. We are unable to assist with Pitbulls or other power breeds at this time.

Looking for a specific breed? Visit our rescue-finder at Dog Rescue SA to find the right rescue near you.

Complete Your Rehoming Application Below:

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Click here to submit directly via Google Forms.

Have you just submitted the rehoming form?

This section is for after you have clicked Submit on the form above. If you haven’t submitted yet, please complete the form first.

Please confirm your submission via WhatsApp so we can assist you faster and receive photos of the dog.

SEND PHOTOS VIA WHATSAPP

👉 What happens next?

Guidance for Difficult Rehoming Situations

Find Rehoming Help in Your Province

Little Doggy Rescue operates safe, home-to-home rehoming support across South Africa. Choose your province to see the dedicated support available near you.

Provinces: Gauteng | Western Cape | Eastern Cape | KwaZulu-Natal

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