What is the PORTAL Program?

The PORTAL Program is your gateway to keeping pets out of shelters and in loving homes. Operated by Pets of Ohio Rescue Team, PORTAL offers positive, proactive alternatives to shelter surrender by providing critical support to pet owners facing challenges.

Most pet surrenders are preventable—with the right tools, resources, and community support, families and pets can stay together or safely transition to new homes without entering the shelter system.

What We Offer:

✅ Resources – Access to pet food, supplies, housing support, and vet care guidance
✅ Training – Help with basic behavioral issues or referrals to trusted trainers
✅ Alternatives – Safe, supported rehoming options including direct home-to-home placements
✅ Lifelines – Crisis support and connections to a network of compassionate problem-solvers

Who Is PORTAL For?

PORTAL is for any Ohio pet owner or finder considering surrender due to hardship, behavior, housing, or financial stress. It’s also for good Samaritans helping stray or at-risk pets who need a safe plan.

Before You Surrender...

Let PORTAL open the door to a better option. We're here to help you problem-solve with empathy and practical support.

Lost & Found Pets

If You've Lost Your Pet:

1. Immediate Action: Start searching your neighborhood, especially where the pet was last seen. 

2. Social Media: Post about your lost pet on social media, including local lost and found Facebook groups and the Nextdoor app. 

3. Report Missing: Report your pet missing to local animal shelters and animal control. If your animal is microchipped, call your microchip company to report your pet missing.

4. Check Shelters: Visit local shelters regularly to see if your pet has been found.

5. Flyers: Create flyers with your pet's picture and contact information, and post them in your neighborhood and local businesses. 

6. Online Databases: Utilize online lost and found pet databases like Petco Love Lost and PawBoost. 

7. Be Persistent: Continue your search efforts, and don't give up hope. 

If You Find a Lost Pet:

1. Check for ID: Look for a collar, tags, or any other form of identification. 

2. Microchip Scan: If there's no ID, take the pet to a veterinarian or animal shelter to be scanned for a microchip. 

3. Contact Authorities: Report the found pet to your local animal shelter or animal control. 

4. Social Media: Post about the found pet on social media platforms, including local lost and found groups on Facebook and on the Nextdoor app, to increase visibility. 

5. Ask Neighbors: Most pets are found close to home. Ask nearby neighbors if they recognize the pet.

6. Care for the Pet: Provide food, water, and a safe space for the pet while you search for its owner. 

If you have adopted a Pets of Ohio Rescue Team animal and are experiencing issues in the home that might prevent a successful long-term adoption, please contact our knowledgeable behavior team
training@petsofohiorescueteam.org

Behavior Support

Beyond PORT: Trusted Dog Training programs

Roaming Rovers
Phone:
(513)-429-7699
Email:
roamingroversohio@gmail.com

Ohio Joe Dog Training
Phone:
(781)-375-8116
Email:
ohiojoedogtraining@gmail.com

Helpful Veterinary Resources

Financial Assistance

If you need help paying for vet bills, RedRover.org has a comprehensive directory of national and state-specific financial aid resources.

Here's some advice about getting help with vet bills and how to cope with unexpected veterinary costs.

If you keep your pet, you may want to acquire veterinary insurance. Here’s why.

FRANKLIN

• Ashgrove Apartments
  (937) 388-1565

• Crown Ridge Apartments
  (937) 746-1121

• Village East Apartments
  (513) 773-3223

• Waterfront Apartments
  (937) 746-2352

• Wyndemere Apartments
  (937) 746-5595

LEBANON

• American Village Apartments
  (513) 932-2411

• Arbors of Lebanon
  (513) 934-1010

• Deerfield Crossing
  (513) 282-2189

• Redwood Lebanon
  (844) 369-4796

• Steeplechase Townhomes
  (513) 934-2411

SPRINGBORO

• Falls at Settler’s Walk
  (937) 999-2995

• Meadow View Apartments
  (937) 696-7316 

MASON

• Four Seasons Apartments
  (513) 398-2946

• Latitude of Deerfield Apartments (513) 234-9093

• Mason Grand
  (513) 770-6700

• Stone Bridge Apartments
  (513) 336-0300

• Twin Fountains
  (513) 754-0366

military leave

For military members who are planning for deployment and need a temporary home for their animals, please contact Dogs on Deployment.  They provide volunteers willing to board service members pets during their commitment.

Some of the best homes are with people who already know and like your pet. Friends and family may be willing to offer your pet a new or temporary home, so ask around your immediate circle and share your pet’s profile via social media.

Give yourself plenty of time

Accept the fact that it can take a while to find the right home for your pet. If your pet is old, a large breed dog, has health issues or is unfriendly towards other pets and strangers, it may take many months to find a new home for your pet. Give yourself plenty of time to place your pet responsibly, seeking out the right family who are willing to care of them for life.

Get your pet ready to be rehomed

Get your pet spayed or neutered to eliminate the risk of it falling into the hands of a backyard breeder or puppy farm. If you have no records or knowledge of your pet being desexed, make sure this is the first thing you do. If you’re unable to afford the cost of desexing, there are many organizations offering discount programs.

Post your pet's photo and profile on Facebook

Give a brief and genuine explanation of why you have to rehome your pet. Join Nextdoor and local Facebook groups for your area to share your post. Ask your friends and family to share the post as widely as they can.

Club newsletters and community noticeboards

If you're a member of a church, club or group, ask if you can place an advert in their newsletter or on their noticeboard.

Important things to mention to the new owners

• All rehomed pets go through an adjustment period as they get to know their new people, learn new rules and mourn the loss of their old family. Most pets adjust within a few days, but others may take longer.

• Advise the new family to take things easy at first, avoiding anything stressful, such as bathing their new pet, attending obedience training classes or meeting too many strangers at once. Assure them this will give the pet time to settle in and bond with them.

• Tell them not to worry if the pet does not eat for the first day or two, they'll eat when they’re ready.

• Some of the best house-trained pets can temporarily forget. Assure the new owners that it’s not unusual for rehomed pets to have an accident during the first day in their new home and it rarely happens more than once.

• Cats may hide initially, give them time to adapt and get comfortable in their new home.

If you've exhausted all resources…
Sometimes, in spite of your best efforts, you are simply unable to keep a furry family member. We are often unable to take owner surrenders as a primarily foster based rescue. We pull animals that are at risk for euthanasia from local shelters whenever we have a person willing to foster them. However, we recommend Rehome, which is a trusted national program that guides you through each step of finding your precious family member a new family to love. 

Use this referral coupon code that takes 90% off the listing fee: PORT260216

HOW IT WORKS