How do I rehome my pet responsibly in India?

Section 11(1)(i) of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1960 makes it an offence to abandon any animal, without reasonable cause, in circumstances which render it likely that it will suffer pain by reason of starvation or thirst. A pet dog or a flat cat left outside a gate, on a highway or in a colony park is exactly that case. The same section also covers an owner who fails to give an animal sufficient food, drink or shelter.

The fine written into section 11 is small, but the record matters more than the amount: the act is cruelty under the Act, and the Animal Welfare Board of India publishes a complaint route for it. More to the point, an abandoned pet rarely copes. In 2026, The Week reported more than 30 Siberian Huskies abandoned on the outskirts of Hyderabad in searing heat, with one dead. That is a news report, but it shows what abandonment means in an Indian summer.

Give the new owner the records and your number, and agree that they will tell you if it does not work out, so the pet comes back to you rather than going anywhere else. If your city licenses pet dogs, ask the new owner to transfer or renew the licence in their name; the city pages on Petym explain each corporation's process. If the pet is microchipped, update the contact details with whoever keeps the record.

Expect a settling period. A pet in a new home may eat less, hide or cling for the first days. A short call after a week, without pressure, is kind to everyone.

Sometimes the gap is short: a new job in another city with a start date before you can take the pet, or a hospital stay. RSPCA Queensland suggests temporary care, such as boarding, while you sort out new accommodation. A Petym sitter would follow the pet's plan as you write it and send a daily photo update. Petym is not open for bookings yet, and does not rehome animals.