Rehoming a Bonded Pair of Yorkies
Two Yorkies who have spent their lives together — sleeping side by side, grooming each other, depending on each other. Separating them would be cruel. SA Yorkie Rescue understands bonded pairs and places them together into screened homes that want — and are prepared for — two dogs. You are doing the right thing by keeping them together.
Complete the surrender form for both dogs. Mention clearly that they are bonded and must be homed together. Include each dog's name, age, health, and how they relate to each other.
Bonded pairs are special — and SAYR treats them that way
Bonded Yorkies are not just two dogs who happen to live together. They are a unit. They sleep touching, they eat better when the other is nearby, they show signs of distress when separated — pacing, crying, refusing food. Separating a truly bonded pair can cause depression, anxiety, and health decline in both dogs. This is not sentimentality — it is welfare.
SAYR reviews bonded pairs as a unit and considers whether keeping them together is in their welfare interests. Any available placement option must have the space, resources and commitment for both dogs; placement is not guaranteed.
What makes a bonded pair different from two dogs who just live together
Not all dogs who share a home are bonded. True bonded pairs show:
- Significant distress when separated — crying, pacing, searching, refusing food
- Sleeping curled together, not just in the same room
- Mutual grooming
- One acting as the other's “security” — the more confident dog helping the anxious one cope
- A long history together — usually years, not months
If you are unsure whether your dogs are truly bonded, describe their behaviour in the surrender form. The team can help assess.
What NOT to do
- Do not separate them to make rehoming “easier.” It may be faster to place two dogs individually. It is also cruel. A bonded pair that is separated can both decline — physically and behaviourally.
- Do not give them away to someone who says they will “try” to keep them together. A vague promise is not a plan. The rescue ensures the pair stays together through contracts and screening.
- Do not assume bonded pairs cannot be rehomed. They can. It takes longer, the adopter pool is smaller, but the right homes exist — retirees, couples without young children, experienced dog owners who specifically want a pair.
How SAYR helps bonded pairs
Include each dog's name, age, sex, health, and sterilisation status. Describe their bond — how they interact, sleep, and react when separated.
The team reviews the pair as a unit. Their needs are assessed together — not as two separate dogs who happen to arrive at the same time.
A foster option for the pair may sometimes be considered when genuinely needed and when a suitable foster home is available. The pair's needs and dynamic are reviewed case by case.
Adopters are screened specifically for two-dog readiness. The adoption contract requires the pair to stay together and return together to SAYR if placement fails.
Why SAYR is the right choice for bonded pairs
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to rehome a bonded pair?
Longer than a single dog — typically weeks to months rather than days. The adopter pool for two dogs is smaller, but the team considers suitability over speed and timelines vary by case.
What if one dog has health issues and the other does not?
If keeping the pair together is in their welfare interests, the team reviews homes that may be able to manage both dogs' needs; placement is not guaranteed. Be completely honest about each dog's health in the form.
Can bonded pairs be split if one is adopted and the other is not?
Bonded-pair arrangements are reviewed case by case. The team considers the dogs' welfare and any suitable available home; adoption together is not guaranteed.
What if I have more than two bonded Yorkies?
SAYR assesses multi-dog groups on a case-by-case basis. Contact the team with details and be honest about what is realistic. See the multiple Yorkie rehoming page.
Tell us clearly about their bond
Complete the surrender form for both dogs and explain how they cope when separated. SAYR reviews bonded-pair needs case by case; a particular home or placement cannot be guaranteed.
How SAYR manages rehoming
SA Yorkie Rescue primarily coordinates carefully managed home-to-home rehoming. Where safe and practical, a Yorkie remains with the surrender family while SAYR manages applications, screening, matching and the handover. A foster option may sometimes be considered when genuinely needed and when a suitable foster home is available.
The public process
Surrender → Application → Case Review → Matching → Approval → Handover
Applications and enquiries do not guarantee approval or placement. Matching is not first-come-first-served. Available options depend on the individual case and current capacity.