Surrendering a dog or cat: where, what it costs, what to expect
Updated November 8, 2026
If you can't rehome your pet yourself, a shelter or rescue is the next step. Knowing how surrender works helps you choose the right place, and avoid surprises at the door.
Open-admission and no-kill shelters
Open-admission shelters (often run by a city or county) take every animal brought to them. When they're full they may euthanize for space, though many work hard not to.
No-kill shelters and rescues don't euthanize healthy or treatable animals for space. Because they can't take everyone, most use appointments or waiting lists for owner surrenders, and some only take certain animals.
Is surrendering free?
Some shelters take surrenders free; many ask an intake fee, often tens of dollars, to help cover care. If the fee is a problem, say so: many will lower or waive it. Be wary of anyone charging a large fee to "guarantee" a placement.
How to surrender a pet
- Call first. Ask about the waiting list, the fee, and whether they take your pet's age, size and breed. Find shelters on our state list or search by ZIP on the home page.
- Ask about "courtesy listings". Some rescues will advertise your pet while it stays with you, so it never has to go into a kennel.
- Bring records: vaccines, medical history, microchip number, and notes on behaviour, food and routine. Honest notes help staff place your pet well.
- Bring familiar things if they allow it: a blanket or toy.
What not to do
- Don't leave a pet outside a shelter or let them go. They're at real risk, and in most states it's illegal.
- Don't give a pet to a stranger who answers a "free to a good home" post without screening them.
Short on time? Make a rehoming plan: even a few days is enough to try people you know and a listing alongside shelter calls.