To surrender a pet, contact your local humane society, SPCA, public shelter or a rescue, explain your situation, and ask about their surrender process. Many shelters now ask owners to make an appointment, join a waitlist or try rehoming first, because space is limited. Expect to complete a questionnaire about your pet's history and behavior, and possibly pay a surrender fee.
Giving up a pet is a hard decision, and people do it for many reasons: housing, health, finances, a new baby, allergies or behavior problems. This guide explains how surrender usually works and the options worth trying first.
Options to try before surrendering
Many common problems have solutions, and shelters often have programs designed to help you keep your pet:
| Problem | Possible help |
|---|---|
| Cannot afford food | Pet food banks run by shelters and humane societies |
| Vet bills | Low-cost clinics, payment plans, assistance funds |
| Behavior problems | Free behavior helplines, trainers, low-cost classes |
| Housing does not allow pets | Pet-friendly housing lists, landlord negotiation, pet deposit help |
| Temporary crisis (hospital, deployment, eviction) | Short-term foster or boarding programs |
| Not spayed or neutered | Low-cost spay and neuter clinics |
| Allergies | Ask your doctor about allergy management |
Ask any shelter you call whether it has "pet retention" or "safety net" programs. Many humane societies and SPCAs do.
Consider rehoming it yourself
If you have time, rehoming your pet directly to a new home spares the animal a stay in a shelter, which can be stressful. Many shelters and rescues offer courtesy listings or online rehoming platforms. See how to rehome a pet without a shelter for a step-by-step approach.
How surrender usually works
1. Contact shelters and rescues
Call or check websites for your local public shelter, humane societies, SPCAs and animal rescues. Breed-specific or species-specific rescues may take animals general shelters struggle to place. Use the near me page to find organizations near you.
2. Make an appointment or join a waitlist
Many shelters use managed intake: surrenders by appointment only, sometimes weeks out. Public shelters run by animal control may accept more readily, but many also ask for appointments. If your pet is a danger to people, or you face an emergency, tell them.
3. Complete a surrender profile
Expect questions like:
- Age, breed and medical history
- Vaccinations and spay/neuter status
- How the pet behaves with children, strangers, dogs and cats
- House training and crate training
- Any bite history
- Favorite foods, toys and routines
- Reason for surrender
Be honest. Accurate information helps the shelter find the right home and keep everyone safe. A bite history does not automatically mean euthanasia, but hiding it can put adopters at risk.
4. Bring records and belongings
Bring vet records, medications and the food your pet eats. Some shelters accept a favorite toy or blanket; ask first.
5. Pay a surrender fee, if any
Surrender fees commonly range from nothing to about $100 or more, depending on the organization and the animal. Fees help cover vaccines, testing and care. Some waive them in hardship cases.
6. Say goodbye
Once you sign the surrender form, ownership transfers to the shelter. Most do not provide updates, although some let you ask whether the pet was adopted.
What happens after you surrender
Your pet will usually get a health check and vaccines, a behavior assessment, and then become available for adoption or be transferred to a rescue. Outcomes depend on the shelter, the animal's health and behavior, and how many animals the shelter has. See what happens to animals in shelters for a fuller picture.
Surrendering an older, sick or aggressive pet
- Senior or ill pets can be hard to place. Talk with your vet first about care options, and ask rescues that specialize in seniors.
- Pets with serious aggression may not be adoptable, and some shelters will tell you so honestly. A veterinary behaviorist or certified trainer can help you understand your options.
- End-of-life decisions belong with your vet. Some shelters offer low-cost humane euthanasia services, but that is a separate conversation from surrender.
What not to do
- Do not abandon a pet outside a shelter, in a park or in an empty home. Abandonment is illegal in most states and is dangerous for the animal.
- Avoid "free to good home" ads without screening, since animals can end up in harmful situations.
- Do not wait until the last day before a move. Start early, since waitlists are common.