Surrendering pets never easy, but CVHS can help

I’ve given a lot of tours of the shelter and, without fail, someone from every tour group says, “I would never give up my pet.”

While it’s easy to say that right now when things are going well, none of us know what the future may bring. Nobody ever has plans to surrender their pet in the future but, in many cases, when owners bring their pets to the shelter it is because it is the best thing they can do for their pet. They may have lost their house or job and can no longer care for their pets, or maybe their pet is not the right fit for their family and they hope someone else will be a better match. Regardless of the reason, giving up a pet is never easy. If you or someone you know should ever need to surrender a pet, remember these few simple tips.

Make the shelter your last option

Oftentimes, when someone needs to re-home their pet, they contact the shelter first without exploring any other options. Despite all the love and care they will receive at the shelter, it is still a stressful environment for pets. Before calling the shelter, try re-homing your pet with someone you know. Think about your situation and whether or not anything can be done to eliminate the need to surrender your pet. If you’re having trouble feeding your pet, reach out to your local shelter and food pantry to see if they offer pet food assistance programs. If your situation is only temporary, try asking a friend or family member to care for your pet until you are back on your feet. Your pet would much rather stay with you than find a new family at the shelter!

Call to make an appointment

If surrendering your pet is the only option left to you, give your local animal shelter a call. The shelter is a busy place and we rarely have cages sitting vacant. Like most shelters, we request that pet owners call to make an appointment before bringing in their animals. If you need to surrender your pet, remember that this is a common practice among animal shelters and it is not intended to make your life more difficult. Animal shelters do not have unlimited space and, in order to take in your pet, they must have a cage available. Calling ahead will give shelter staff a chance to prepare for your pet’s arrival and will make the surrender process easier for both you and your pet. Remember that space may not be available right away, so try to give the shelter as much advanced notice as possible. Don’t wait until the last possible second to make an appointment as that will cause extra stress for you, the shelter, and your pet.

Gather your records

The more information you can provide shelter staff about your pet’s history, the better. Talk to your vet about getting your pet’s medical records. Not only is this information helpful for the shelter staff, it is helpful for the new owner of your pet who will want to pass the medical records on to their own vet. Has your pet had any surgeries performed? Has your vet prescribed a special diet or medication? Is he or she up-to-date on vaccines? All this information will help make caring for your pet easier.

What can you tell us about your pet?

Nobody knows your pet better than you, so we want to know what you’ve got to say! Unlike stray animals, which come into the shelter with no history, owner-surrendered pets often come with a wealth of information that can help the shelter staff find the right adopter for them. Does your pet like cats or dogs? Have they lived with children before? Where do they sleep at night? Any information you can pass on is helpful. CVHS asks pet owners to fill out pet personality profiles, and other shelters likely offer something similar. When you make an appointment to surrender your pet, ask about filling the form out ahead of time. The CVHS profile, for example, is available online for owners to download and fill out prior to bringing in their pets. While not necessary, filling out the form on your own will give you more time to offer thoughtful information and will also make the surrender process faster.

Be honest

Unfortunately, some owners believe they need to conceal information about their pets because it may affect their adoptability. In reality, hiding information is worse than telling the truth. Is your pet nippy with children? Are they food aggressive? Do they fight with other dogs? Let us know! Knowing your pet’s full personality – good and bad – helps the shelter find the best adopter. The staff members need to know if your pet needs restrictions (no kids, for example) or if your pet has any behavior problems that might require a new adoptive family to need training classes or experience. Plus, knowing as much as possible about the animals helps keep the staff members safe. If your pet is reactive towards other dogs, for example, it’s important for the staff to be aware of that before walking them through the dog kennels.

Plan to make a contribution

A common misunderstanding is that animal shelters make a lot of money from adoptions. In reality, animal shelters are always struggling to make ends meet. In addition to the cost of providing food and litter, shelters also provide vaccines, spay/neuters, and sometimes other types of surgery or treatment that can be very expensive. The cost to care for each animal often greatly exceeds the adoption fees that are charged, so, if you surrender your pet, expect to be asked to make a contribution to help cover the cost of your pet’s care. Some shelters charge fees (often minimal) for surrendered pets while others simply rely on donations.

And finally…           

Remember that we’re not judging you for bringing in your animal. The decision to surrender your pet to a shelter is an incredibly difficult one to make, but it shows that you are thinking of what is best for your pet. If you can no longer keep your pet, do not be afraid to talk to your local shelter and let the staff help you. Remember: animal abandonment is a crime. Whatever you do, do not leave your pet outside of the shelter or in your empty home in hopes that someone will find them. Sadly, many animals die each year from such causes as suffocation, starvation, and hypothermia simply because their owners abandoned them – oftentimes, just several feet from the entrance to a shelter when it was closed. 

If you or someone you know needs to surrender a pet, give your local shelter a call. Let the shelter answer your questions and help you through this difficult time.

Alaina Goodnough is the Promotions Coordinator at Cocheco Valley Humane Society in Dover, NH. She lives in Sanford, ME with three parrots, a cat, and two dachshunds. She can be reached at CVHS at devassist@cvhsonline.org