Surrendering A Pet

We know that sometimes it’s just not possible to keep a pet. Medical issues, financial problems, or military deployment can cause an owner to have to give up a companion animal. RCHS works hard to place these pets in new homes.

Although RCHS accepts all pets (as space permits), we cannot guarantee that your pet will be adopted. It is your responsibility to weigh the risks and benefits to your pet when surrendering it. RCHS makes every effort to ensure that the animals we receive are placed, not just anywhere, but with people who will provide good care for the animal for the rest of its life. In some cases, dogs may be transferred to another shelter through the PetSmart Charities Rescue Waggin’ program.

Please bring any medical records you have for your pet. A lack of medical information can delay the time it takes to evaluate your pet and delay its availability for adoption.

We will ask you to fill out a "personality profile" about your pet. The information about its health, behavior, habits, likes, and dislikes can be very helpful to people considering your pet for adoption and helps us decide what kind of home would be best for it.

It is important that you are honest when answering these questions. Let us know if your pet has a history of biting, refuses to use the litter box, has a serious or chronic medical condition, or any other issues. Your answers help to determine whether or not your animal should be put up for adoption. It is unfair to pass on severe behavioral or medical issues to another family without full disclosure.

Before we will accept a surrendered pet, we require that owners contact us to ensure we have space available. Owners must also make an appointment to discuss their pet so we can gather as much information as possible to assist in finding a suitable home for your pet.

How You Can Help

Learn more about how you can help the animals by adopting, sponsoring or fostering a pet; donating money or supplies; or volunteering with RCHS.