Keep Them Home
The Salt Hound Project · Dog Retention + Crisis Support
Keep them home.
If loving your dog is not the problem—but money, housing, behavior, illness or life is—start here. Name what is making it hard. Then take the next safest step.
You do not have to solve every part of the crisis today. Identify the one pressure most likely to separate you from your dog, contact the matching official resource, and prepare the records that can help an organization act. If a person or dog is in immediate danger, use emergency help first.
Start local · Contra Costa County
One application may address more than one problem.
Joybound People & Pets says its Pet Safety Net may assist qualifying Contra Costa County residents who would otherwise be forced to surrender a pet because of a financial or personal crisis. Depending on the case and current availability, support may include veterinary treatment with a good prognosis, pet rental deposits, temporary boarding, food or supplies, behavior support, medical grooming, fence repairs, vaccines, microchips or compassionate euthanasia.
Official sources checked September 17, 2026
Care costs · Food · Supplies
I cannot afford what my dog needs.
Start by separating an emergency from a cost problem. If urgent care may be needed, call the veterinary team now. For non-emergency needs, ask what is essential today, what can safely be staged, whether an appropriate lower-cost plan exists, and which assistance programs the provider works with.
Do these next
- Ask for a written estimate divided into urgent, recommended and optional items.
- Ask about appropriate generics, outside pharmacies, manufacturer support and payment policies without changing medication on your own.
- Gather proof of residency, income documents when requested, diagnosis, treatment plan, estimate and veterinary contact information before applying.
- Search food, veterinary and supply help by location rather than relying on an unsourced coupon list.
Rental barriers · Deposits · Relocation
My housing is putting my dog at risk.
Do not wait until move-out day. Ask the housing provider—in writing—which specific rule, fee or documentation is creating the barrier. Then contact a local pet-retention organization with the exact amount, deadline and written notice.
Prepare this information
- The deadline and exact housing barrier: deposit, breed/size policy, insurance issue, eviction notice or relocation.
- Vaccination, license, microchip, training and veterinary records.
- A short pet résumé with a clear photo, references and evidence of responsible care.
- Any written lease language or communication. Keep copies; do not rely only on a verbal description.
Fear · Reactivity · Separation distress · Safety
Behavior feels unmanageable.
Safety first, explanation second. Prevent access to the person, child or animal at risk. If the behavior changed suddenly, contact a veterinarian promptly because pain or illness can affect behavior. Then look for appropriately qualified, humane professional help.
Before contacting a professional
- Write down what happens immediately before, during and after the behavior.
- Record frequency, intensity, recovery time and any bite or injury history honestly.
- Use distance, doors, gates, leashes and calm separation to prevent repetition while awaiting help.
- Do not punish warning signals such as growling or attempt an unsafe online technique.
Hospitalization · Treatment · Short-term crisis
I need temporary care—not a permanent goodbye.
State the duration and reason clearly. Temporary foster and boarding programs are limited and often narrowly eligible. Contact the original shelter or rescue, local pet-retention programs, your veterinarian and trusted personal network at the same time.
Build a temporary-care packet
- Expected start and end dates, plus a backup plan if treatment or housing takes longer.
- Medication, food, routine, behavior, veterinary and emergency-contact information.
- Written authorization for veterinary care and an agreed spending limit.
- Proof of ownership, microchip information and a written agreement about custody and reunification.
Domestic violence · Unsafe home · Homelessness
I need to get myself and my dog somewhere safe.
Your personal safety comes first. Internet use may be monitored and cannot always be erased completely. If using this page creates risk, leave it now and use a safer device or phone when possible.
Confidential starting points
- National Domestic Violence Hotline: call 800-799-7233, text START to 88788, or use its live chat.
- Safe Havens for Pets searches programs serving people experiencing domestic violence or homelessness with pets.
- RedRover Safe Escape grants support eligible confidential boarding for pets whose survivors are leaving an abusive situation; applications are handled with a domestic-violence advocate.
When keeping the dog is no longer possible
Rehome responsibly. Tell the whole truth.
Rehoming can be a responsible act when safety and welfare cannot otherwise be protected. Contact the organization from which the dog was adopted first; the adoption agreement may require return, and the organization may have history or support that changes the plan.
A safer rehoming standard
- Disclose medical needs, medications, bite history, behavior challenges and home requirements completely.
- Use clear current photos and describe the home the dog needs—not simply the home you hope will respond.
- Screen applicants, speak by phone, meet household members and resident dogs safely, and do not rush because someone applies first.
- Meet in a safe public location, use a written transfer agreement, provide records and update the license and microchip.
- Never abandon a dog, conceal a safety history, ship a dog to an unknown person or send money to a supposed transporter.
Prepare before the next crisis
Build a Keep-Together Packet.
Store a paper copy somewhere safe and a secure digital copy you can reach from another device.
Clear answers
Questions people ask in a dog-care crisis
What should I do if I think I may have to surrender my dog?
Name the immediate problem first—care costs, housing, behavior, temporary care, personal safety or permanent rehoming—then contact the matching official resource before making an irreversible decision. If there is immediate danger to a person or dog, use emergency services first.
Can Salt Hound provide money, foster care or housing?
No. Salt Hound verifies and organizes outside resources but does not provide funding, placement, temporary foster care, legal representation or emergency response. Eligibility and availability belong to each provider.
Where can Contra Costa County residents ask for help keeping a dog?
Joybound People & Pets operates a Pet Safety Net for qualifying Contra Costa County residents facing financial or personal crises that could otherwise force a shelter surrender. Contra Costa Animal Services also maintains local retention resources.
What if my dog’s behavior has changed suddenly?
A sudden behavior change can have a medical component. Contact a veterinarian promptly, prevent access to people or animals who may be at risk, and seek qualified behavior help. Do not rely on punishment or internet diagnosis.
How do I rehome a dog safely if keeping the dog is no longer possible?
Contact the original shelter or rescue first, disclose medical and behavior history honestly, screen potential adopters, meet safely, use a written transfer agreement and update the microchip and license. Never abandon a dog or advertise a dog as free without screening.
How Salt Hound handles this page
We prioritize official agencies, established nonprofits, professional directories and original program pages. We state geography and eligibility when they materially affect access, separate emergency help from application-based assistance, and remove resources that can no longer be verified.