Owner Surrender Requests

We understand that there are situations in which re-homing a pet may be necessary, and we know it is not an easy decision.  Unfortunately, due to the high number of homeless pets in local pounds, we may not have the space available to help you re-home your pet. However, we will try to help you as much as we can by providing information on ways to re-home your pet.

Why can’t I just drop my pet off with you?

As a pound rescue organization, we are very limited in the number of owner surrenders we can take in. We consider pound animals to be a priority because they are only given 3-5 days to be claimed by their owner, and if left unclaimed, are at risk of being euthanized. Our shelter is small, with only 9 dog kennels, 17 cat kennels, and a small kitten room to support the many stray animals of Cass and Clay counties, and unfortunately that doesn’t leave much, if any, space for the animals whose owners can no longer care for them.

What can I do to re-home my pet?

One of the first things we ask, is why are you giving your pet up? If you are experiencing behavioral issues with your pet, and this is the reason for needing to re-home them, we can refer you to trainers or provide you information on curbing the behavioral problems, when possible.

If this is not a behavioral problem, here are some tips to re-homing your pet:

• We always suggest asking friends or family first–someone you know may be willing to take on your pet, and it will give you peace of mind knowing your pet is going to someone you know.
• Most people consider putting a “free” ad in the paper or online–however, we highly discourage this.  Unfortunately, there are people out there who will take on a free dog or cat and potentially abuse them, sell them, breed them, hoard them or use them as “bait” animals in dog fighting rings. 
• If  you do post an ad, be sure to ask for a re-homing fee.  Our suggestion is at least $50–asking for a re-homing fee is one step in making sure that the new owner’s are committed to your pet, as studies show that people who pay for their pets tend to take better care of them.
• When someone comes to meet your pet, ask all the questions you need to, until you feel comfortable.  This is your pet and you need to make sure that you will be providing him/her a loving future home.  Even ask to see their home and make sure it’s a safe environment for the pet.
• If your dog is purebred, you may consider finding a breed rescue to help you re-home your pet.  You can research breed rescues online (ex: Sheltie rescue in Minnesota) to see if your dog might be able to be accepted by a breed rescue. 

If you are trying to re-home a pet that has aggressive issues–please, speak to your veterinarian first.  Aggression is not something to take lightly, and passing an aggressive animal on to someone who is not prepared could result in severe injuries or worse.  Your veterinarian or an experienced dog behavioralist, can tell you if your pet is a candidate for being re-homed.  Aggressive dogs should not be re-homed if they are a danger to humans or other domesticated animals, for the safety of all involved.