Owner Surrender
Do you need to surrender an animal to us?
Deciding to surrender your pet can be very emotional and difficult for both you and your pet. Heart of the Valley Animal Shelter would like to make that decision and the surrender process as easy as possible. If we can help you find a way for your pet to remain a member of your family, that is our first priority. But if that’s not possible, we want you to know that we are happy to receive your animal.
We understand how difficult and important this decision is. We want you to be sure that you are doing what is best for you and your pet. It is important to consider your other options. We recommend that you surrender your pet to a shelter only as your last option.
Alternate Options
Behavioral Issues
If the reason for your possible surrender is a behavior issue we recommend you consider the following information:
- Spaying or neutering can have a dramatic impact on a pet’s behavior. Please check with your veterinarian to see if this is an option you may want to try before surrendering your animal.
- There are many helpful hints on line. The internet can be a convenient source of information in a wide range of subject matter. Look at several sites before deciding which method of training will fit your life and concerns. Not every method works the first time so give it a chance. Try different methods. There is a lot of information out there. Click here for our pet care library or pet links page.
- Did you think about a pet psychologist? Maybe you don’t want to go that far. How about a local trainer? Consult with an animal behaviorist, dog trainer or obedience school. Many of these classes and consultations are very inexpensive and yet have produced amazing results.
- Discuss the problem with your vet. Your vet may be able to suggest a training method or even a medication to eliminate the problem.
For other helpful hints on problems from Litter box training to Handling Stress Anxieties, try this link to the "Pets for Life Program".
Relocating
If the reason for your possible surrender of this pet is that you are relocating or moving, we recommend you consider the following information:
- Trying to find housing that allows pets can sometimes be frustrating and costly. Try searching in local papers, online, or check with a local realtor. Asking for suggestions from a realtor does not mean you have to sign a contract. Most of these people live in the community and can be wonderful helpful neighbors.
- Plan ahead and begin looking for housing that accepts pets as soon as you know you will be moving. Taking your time allows you more of a chance to consider your options. Your pet will thank you and you will find how easy it can be to move with your animal.
Enroll in HOV's Matchmaker Program
If you have a purebred pet and the ability to keep your pet until HOV can match it to a new home, then you are a candidate for HOV’s Matchmaker Program. The Matchmaker Program is for purebred pets seeking a new home and for persons desiring to find a new purebred pet. The program works as follows. HOV receives applications from persons seeking new purebred pets and from persons wishing to surrender purebred pets. If HOV is able to match the applications, then the pet is placed in a new home without ever having to come to the shelter.
If you wish to enroll your pet in the program, please fill out and send HOV the Matchmaker application [PDF] . HOV will match your pet to requests and call you as soon as we have a match.
Surrendering Your Animal
When all else has been considered and you believe that surrendering your animal is the best option for you and your pet, we will happily accept your animal into our care.
Heart of the Valley is an open-door shelter. We open our doors willingly to accept any dog, cat, or rabbit surrendered. There is no fee for surrenders. We encourage you to make a donation that will help to cover the cost of caring for your pet until a new home can be found. The average cost for care and housing per animal is $350. Your donation is tax deductible. Please consider a donation, at whatever level you can afford, when you do bring your pet in for us to re-home.
Heart of the Valley does not euthanize animals for space or time reasons, but every animal must pass a behavioral and medical evaluation in order to be put up for adoption. Every reasonable effort will be made to find a suitable home or placement for each animal. Animals with medical or behavioral problems that are treatable with reasonable effort and resources will receive necessary care to improve their adoptability and place them in appropriate homes. Animals deemed unadoptable are humanely euthanized. Because of the problems associated with re-homing certain types of animals, HOV deems the following animals to be unadoptable: feral cats, wolf hybrids, puppies under four weeks of age or kittens weighing less than one pound surrendered without a mother.
When you surrender your animal, we ask you to fill out a form to provide as much information as possible to assist us in re-homing your pet. We also ask that you bring any medical records you may have. Please have this form completed when you bring your pet to us. Click here to download the Owner Surrender Form for Cats, Dogs, or Rabbits.
When you surrender your animal to HOV, you relinquish the right to obtain further information on the disposition of the animal. HOV has this policy because of the strong emotional attachments that come with every animal and the stress involved if our staff had to call former owners.
