Adopting a rehomed husky? What, why, how? All you need to know before you adopt one!

Why do you need to rehome dogs?
What is required to be a foster family or adopt a dog?
These are some of the questions I regularly received since I started working as a volunteer in a husky kennel in Rovaniemi, Finland. 

Adopting a rehomed husky? What, why, how?
All you need to know about huskies before you adopt one! 

Some background information

Last April I adopted my first Alaskan (mix Siberian) husky. I’ve always been a dog person (an animal person in general…!), but I truly fell in love with that breed. Since then I’ve adopted another one, Bobby’s brother Quint. And I’m now working in the same husky kennel where I got these two boys from.

One of my jobs is to find new homes for the dogs that need to, for various reasons. I get many questions from people interested in adopting one, so I think it’s worth writing more information on the topic.

I hope to answer here all the potential questions you have whether you’re interested in adopting a husky or simply out of curiosity on them and why there are dogs to re-home. If not, or if you’re interested in other related topics, drop me a line or comment below. 😀

In today's post, I’m addressing the WHY?

Important Note

This article is meant to be informative, but may not be exhaustive. There are as many ways to manage husky kennels and reasons to rehome dogs as they are kennel owners. I can only talk of the husky kennels I know and their policy regarding re-homing dogs, especially in these Covid times. Rehoming huskies is still not such a common practice, yet the situation is evolving and I hope more kennels will adopt such a policy in the coming months, years. Just as it is common practice with race horses!

Why do some huskies need to be rehomed?

There are several reasons why a sled dog is offered for adoption /rehoming.

1. It is time for a well-earned retirement from running safaris

Sled dogs usually run safaris until they are between 8-11 years old. Most of them are still fit to run after that age, but it’s better for them to stick to leisure runs.

Some of the retirees are awesome teachers for the younger dogs and keep helping out at the kennel. Others are totally fine as kennel dogs and wouldn’t be too happy in a classic home. These guys enjoy their retirement years on the kennel ground, taking regular exercise in the running fences.

But for the majority of them, they love attention and cuddles, the comfort of a nice and warm home, and would totally enjoy the rest of their life as “pet dogs”! These are the perfect candidates for adoption!

2. The dog would be happier in another activity or place

And there can be various reasons for that too.

Huskies run because they like it. It’s pure fun for them. Dogs don’t understand the concept of work. They like what they do, they find pleasure in running. Otherwise, they just stop doing it or can develop behavioural issues. They are born to run. Yet they all have their own character, personality an preferences. 

And....

• some dogs don’t enjoy running safaris.
• some are great sled dogs when placed in a smaller or private kennel; 
• some need to create a special bond with a single musher
• some feel more confident when running with the same musher or team.
• etc.

It can also be that the dog and the kennel are not a perfect match and that the said dog would be better in another place that matches his qualities, temper or type better.

3. The dog has specific health or food requirements

It was the case with my two boys, Bobby and Quint. They are young (only 5 now) but have a history of seizures and hypoglycaemia. This was problematic at the kennel. For me, as their private owner, it’s not such a big deal. I can easily adapt the food I give them, and the type of activity I do with them to ensure they are fine, not overstressed and remain strong and healthy. They are doing amazing and adapted super quickly to their new lifestyle! 

The dog can have had an accident, like a broken leg or else, that would require extra care when run in safaris. This cannot be asked from the guests, of course. In this case, it is better to find the dog a new home where it can still run, play and other outdoor activities with the right attention from their owner. One dog who had a broken toe, was recently adopted by a very active family with three kids. He now goes on regular long runs, is perfectly happy and loves his new home!

4. Economic reasons

This is a terribly sad reality, and is even more accurate in the difficult period that we're going through nowadays with the Covid pandemic. 

Some businesses simply cannot provide for the dogs anymore and need to find an alternative solution for them. This is the hardest and the most complicated aspect of rehoming huskies... many factors come into play, on different levels. 

I dream of creating a network that would help kennels in difficulty and offer them the necessary support to either rehome their dogs or provide for them through tough economic times... I dream big. Big dreams often come true. 

These are the main reasons for offering a husky for adoption. Do not hesitate to ask information. Always be curious about the WHY, the history of the dog you plan to adopt, etc. Kennel owners, mushers and dog trainers know their dogs very well and will be more than willing to tell you more about their protégés. 

In the next post, I'll address the most common prejudices on huskies, and will answer the WHAT and HOW! Stay tuned 😀

Pictures were taken at Bear Hill Husky, Rovaniemi, Finland. For more info, drop me a line! rachel(at)stridersadventures.com