Before You Get a Pet Read What 200 Rehoming Cases Reveal About Giving Animals Up

Thinking about becoming a pet parent? An analysis of 200 real rehoming cases reveals the most common “unavoidable reasons” people give up their animals and what you can do now to make sure you never have to. Learn how to prepare for a true lifetime commitment.

In Japan and around the world, more pet guardians are turning to adoption and rehoming platforms instead of buying from pet shops. This shift is helping reduce the number of healthy animals who are euthanized every year simply because they have nowhere to go.

Yet even on rehoming sites, every dog, cat, or small animal has a story. Behind each listing is a family and a reason they felt they had no choice but to let their pet go.

In Japanese, these situations are often described as “yamu o enai jijō” – circumstances that feel truly unavoidable, where there seems to be no other way.

If future pet parents understood these patterns in advance, many of these heartbreaking separations could likely be prevented. Below is a look at the main “unavoidable reasons” found in 200 rehoming listings on the Japanese site Jimoty, and what they mean for anyone considering bringing an animal into their life.

When Illness Changes Everything

The most common reason for rehoming in this analysis was unexpected illness affecting the pet guardian or their family. Out of 200 cases, 38 listings cited health-related issues such as:

Hospitalization or long-term treatment making daily care impossible
A spouse or child developing a pet allergy

With many dogs and cats now living well beyond 10 years, it is realistic to expect that serious health issues may arise at some point during a pet’s lifetime.

Before adopting, consider whether you and your household are prepared for long-term health changes. This includes not only your own health but also that of your partner, children, or aging parents who share your home.

Experts recommend that potential pet parents:

Discuss health risks and allergies in advance with all family members
Have a backup care plan in case someone needs to be hospitalized
Set aside emergency savings that could cover both medical and pet care needs

A pet’s life does not pause when a guardian becomes ill. Planning for this possibility is an essential part of responsible pet guardianship.

Job Changes and Sudden Moves

The second most common category, with 18 cases, involved relocation or major life changes such as:

Sudden moves to housing where pets are not allowed
Moving to a big city for a new job and only finding non–pet-friendly apartments
Having to vacate a home and the new residence prohibiting animals

Even with the best intentions, many people underestimate how unstable housing and employment can be over a decade or more. Yet a dog or cat’s life easily spans that long.

When you think about getting a pet, it helps to ask not just “What is my life like now?” but “What might my life look like 5, 10, or even 15 years from now?”

Before adopting, consider:

How stable is your housing situation?
Is your career likely to involve frequent transfers or overseas assignments?
Would you be willing to limit your housing choices to pet-friendly options, even if it costs more or is less convenient?

Choosing to become a pet guardian means committing to keep that animal with you through moves, promotions, and life transitions whenever safely possible.

Unplanned Litters and “Accidental” Breeding

Surprisingly, 11 cases involved unwanted breeding or unplanned pregnancies, including:

Pets mating before being spayed or neutered
A brief escape outdoors resulting in pregnancy

More troubling were cases where guardians intentionally bred their pet “just once” to keep a single puppy or kitten, then tried to rehome the rest because they could not care for multiple animals.

From an animal welfare perspective, this is deeply problematic. Every intentional breeding should come with a clear, realistic plan for every single life that may result.

Veterinary and welfare organizations worldwide strongly recommend:

Spaying or neutering pets who are not part of an ethical, registered breeding program
Preventing unsupervised outdoor access for intact animals
Avoiding “just one litter” thinking, which often leads to more animals than a household can responsibly care for

If you are not fully prepared—emotionally, financially, and logistically—to care for or responsibly place every offspring, the kindest choice is to prevent breeding altogether.

When Pets Do Not Get Along

Close behind unplanned breeding were 10 cases where the reason for rehoming was poor compatibility with an existing pet, such as dogs or cats fighting or one animal being chronically stressed by another.

Even among humans, sharing a home can be challenging. For animals, who cannot negotiate or explain their feelings, forced cohabitation with an incompatible companion can be extremely stressful.

When multiple pets are involved, it is the animals—not the humans—who pay the price if things go badly. They cannot choose to leave or ask for a different living arrangement.

Before adding a second or third pet, experts recommend that guardians:

Honestly assess the temperament and needs of current animals
Plan slow, structured introductions rather than sudden cohabitation
Be prepared to invest time, training, and possibly professional behavior support

If you are not ready to manage complex multi-pet dynamics, it may be kinder to remain a one-pet household.

Aging Guardians and Long-Lived Pets

Another 9 cases involved aging guardians, with reasons such as:

Moving into a nursing home or assisted living facility
The primary guardian passing away

In an aging society, this is a growing and very real concern. However, it is also a situation that can often be anticipated.

By comparing a pet’s expected lifespan with the guardian’s age and health status, families can make more informed decisions. For example, adopting a young, long-lived species may not be the best choice for someone already in advanced age without a clear succession plan.

If an older adult deeply wishes to live with an animal, experts suggest:

Choosing an adult or senior pet whose remaining lifespan is more predictable
Formally designating a trusted person who agrees to take over guardianship if needed
Discussing plans with family members and documenting them, so the pet’s future is not left uncertain

A pet should never be left without a clear plan simply because their guardian has grown older.

“I Couldn’t Train Them”

There were 6 cases where guardians cited behavior or training issues, including:

Biting a child
Neighbors complaining about feces or noise
The animal being “too wild” or “out of control”

Many of these listings expressed frustration with the pet’s behavior, but from a professional standpoint, training challenges almost always reflect a lack of appropriate guidance, consistency, or knowledge on the human side.

Animal training and behavior modification are specialized skills. Expecting every guardian to handle serious behavior issues alone is unrealistic.

Responsible pet guardianship includes:

Learning species-appropriate training methods before or soon after adoption
Seeking help from qualified trainers or behavior professionals when problems arise
Budgeting for training and behavior support as part of the overall cost of care

If hiring a trainer or attending classes feels financially impossible, it may be wise to reconsider whether now is the right time to bring an animal into your life.

When Breeders Walk Away

Another 6 cases came from breeders themselves, with reasons such as:

Retiring from breeding
“Reducing numbers” because they had too many animals
Rehoming females who were now considered too old to breed

From an ethical standpoint, this is deeply concerning. When animals are treated primarily as products, it becomes easier to discard them once they are no longer profitable.

In many countries, traditional pet shops that sell animals as commodities are declining, in part because of growing awareness of these issues. Ethical breeding requires:

Lifetime responsibility for every animal produced, including after retirement
Careful limits on the number of animals kept, to ensure quality of life
A commitment to rehoming retired animals responsibly, not simply “clearing stock”

When choosing where to adopt from, consider supporting shelters, rescues, or truly ethical breeders who demonstrate long-term responsibility for their animals.

Pregnancy, Birth, and Growing Families

Only 5 cases cited pregnancy or childbirth as the main reason for rehoming, including:

Pregnancy making pet care feel too difficult
Deciding that life with a newborn and a pet would be unmanageable

Concerns about toxoplasmosis, hygiene, and safety around infants are understandable. However, current research and veterinary guidance suggest that with proper hygiene, education, and planning, many families can safely raise babies and pets together.

Key considerations include:

Learning about relevant health risks in advance (for example, toxoplasmosis with cats)
Discussing roles and responsibilities with your partner before the baby arrives
Preparing your pet gradually for changes in routine, noise, and attention

Pregnancy and birth are joyful milestones, but they should not automatically mean the end of a pet’s place in the family. With preparation, many households successfully navigate this transition.

Financial Hardship and Losing the Means to Care

Out of 200 cases, only 2 explicitly cited financial reasons, such as:

Losing a job and no longer being able to afford pet care
A sudden loss of income making continued guardianship impossible

In a prolonged economic downturn, this is a risk that cannot be ignored. Veterinary care, quality food, grooming, and training all add up over time.

Choosing to rehome a pet rather than neglect their needs can be a painful but responsible decision when there are no other options. At the same time, it highlights how important it is to consider long-term financial stability before adopting.

Before bringing an animal home, ask yourself:

Could I still care for this pet if my income dropped significantly?
Do I have an emergency fund that includes pet-related costs?
Am I prepared for unexpected veterinary bills, not just routine care?

Sometimes, the most loving choice is to wait until your financial situation is more secure.

Rescuing Animals You Cannot Keep

When all the above “unavoidable reasons” are added together, they account for 105 out of 200 cases.

The remaining 95 listings—nearly half—were from people who had found abandoned animals and could not keep them, asking others to adopt these rescued pets.

In other words, almost 50 percent of the cases were people cleaning up after someone else’s silent abandonment. These original guardians did not even attempt to rehome their animals; they simply left them behind.

Abandoned pets often:

Struggle to survive outdoors, especially if they were raised indoors
Suffer from hunger, injury, or disease
Reproduce unchecked, leading to more homeless animals and wider ecological impact

Some have suggested that pet guardianship should require a license or formal qualification, similar to driving a car. While policies differ by country, the reality behind this idea is clear: too many animals are paying the price for human irresponsibility.

Are You Truly Ready To Be a Pet Guardian

Looking across these 200 cases, certain patterns emerge. If you are considering adopting a pet, asking yourself a few hard questions now can dramatically reduce the risk that you will ever need to give that animal up.

Reflect honestly on the following:

Health and longevity
Can you reasonably expect to remain healthy enough to care for a pet for at least the next 10 years, or do you have a plan and financial cushion if your health changes?
Housing and lifestyle stability
Are you likely to maintain a pet-friendly living environment for the long term, even if you move, change jobs, or relocate to another city or country?
Time and training commitment
Are you prepared to invest consistent time, patience, and money into training, socialization, and behavior support over many years?
Safety and unconditional care
If this animal, at full strength, were ever to scratch, bite, or otherwise challenge you, could you still commit to seeking help and keeping them safe rather than giving up on them?
Multi-pet dynamics
Do you already have other animals, and if so, have you realistically considered whether adding another is in their best interest?
Reproductive responsibility
Are you committed to spaying or neutering your pets unless you are part of a truly ethical breeding program with clear, responsible plans for every offspring?

If you can thoughtfully answer these questions and still feel confident, you are already far ahead of many who enter pet guardianship unprepared. You are also much less likely to become one of the statistics behind rehoming listings.

Caring for a living being is meant to be challenging. It requires emotional resilience, time, money, and a willingness to keep learning. There is no shame in deciding that now is not the right moment to take on that responsibility.

Sometimes, choosing not to adopt is itself an act of compassion, both for yourself and for the animals who deserve stable, lifelong homes.

If this reflection helps even one person wait until they are truly ready—or helps one committed guardian prepare more deeply—then fewer pets will have to face the confusion and grief of being given up. And that is a future every animal lover can work toward, one thoughtful decision at a time.