Pet Surrender : Services & Resources : Capital Humane Society

Due to the current influx of animals entering and in our care, please call us at 402-441-4488 ext. 2 if you are considering surrendering your pet(s).

Managing Intake

Due to an increase in the number of animals entering our shelter, Capital Humane Society is working on ways to manage our intake. We currently have a surrender wait list. When calling to inquire about surrendering, staff can place you on our wailting list and contact you once we have an appointment available. Our goal is to keep as many pets in their current homes as possible. Please refer to our resources below to see if we can help you and your pet. If you need assistance but aren't sure our resources will help, please contact our Pet Retention Coordinator at klingenfelter@capitalhumanesociety.org or 402-473-5364.

Pet Surrender Process

Capital Humane Society is an open admission, socially conscious shelter, meaning we will accept any animals brought to our organization. While we are here to accept animals who are no longer able to stay in their current homes, we should be the last option for the pet. Please review the information below for resources that may help you keep your pet or help you find them a suitable home on your own.

When you bring your pet to the shelter you will need to bring any veterinary/medical records with you or provide the name of the veterinary clinic we can contact for the records. You will also be asked to complete a questionnaire about the pet, at the time of surrender, if not completed prior. You can complete and print the questionnaire below to bring with you or you can email your complete questionnaire to office@capitalhumanesociety.org prior to your appointment.

CHS Owner Surrender Policy

We can never guarantee any animal(s) turned into us will go up for adoption. We will hold your animal(s) until close of the next business day to give you a chance to change your mind and reclaim. If you choose to reclaim, there is a $20.00 daily care fee per animal. After close of the following business day, the animal(s) will become the property of Capital Humane Society and a decision will be made based on their temperament, health, age, and space in our facility, on whether the animal(s) will go up for adoption or are humanely put to sleep. We do not release any information regarding the final disposition of the animal(s) once we take ownership.

Questionnaires

If you are surrendering a feline for issues related to litter box use, please complete the Cat Surrender Questionnaire AND the Litter Box Issue Questionnaire. Please complete and bring with you to your appointment or email the completed form to office@capitalhumanesociety.org prior to your appointment.

Dog Surrender Questionnaire

Cat Surrender Questionnaire

Litter Box Issue Questionnaire

Surrender FAQs

Q: I can no longer keep my pet. Will CHS accept them?

We are an open admission animal shelter, meaning we do not turn any animal(s) away. We do ask for you to be open and honest about your reasoning to surrender, as we may be able to help you. There may be resources to assist you in keeping your animal, see the resource list below.

Q: Is there a fee to surrender my animal?

No, we do not require a fee to surrender your pet(s). Do keep in mind, we are a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. When you surrender your pet(s), please consider the expenses incurred by Capital Humane Society in evaluating and caring for your animal. Caring for your animal costs more money than is received in adoption fees. Therefore, donations at the time of surrender are greatly appreciated. Expenses include:

Daily feedings
Staff
Utilities (water, electricity, heat, etc.)
Cleaning supplies
Essential vaccinations
Screening & treatment of intestinal parasites
Deworming
Testing for FeLV & FIV (cats)
Testing for Heartworm Disease (dogs)
Monthly applications of flea/tick preventive or treatment
Monthly Heartworm preventative
Spay/Neuter (if needed)
Additional medical care, if necessary

Q: Is there a recommended donation for surrendering my pet(s)?

Adult Dogs - $100 per animal

Adult Cats - $50 per animal

Puppies - $50 per animal

Kittens - $25 per animal

Q: I surrendered my pet to CHS and they were adopted by a new family. I have decided I want them back. Can you retrieve my pet or can you give me the contact information for the new owner?

No. Once you surrender an animal to CHS, you relinquish all ownership of the animal. We do not release information regarding the final disposition of the animal. No information about the animal or its new family will be released.

Q: I’m surrendering several of my pets. Will they be adopted out together?

We cannot guarantee all animals surrendered together will be adopted together. If they are a “bonded pair” and overall do better together, we try our best to keep them together.