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.
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.
Resources
Below are resources available to potentially help you keep or rehome your pet:
Rehoming Platform
Pet Food
Low Cost Spay/Neuter
- Capital Humane Society (cats only)
- Lincoln Animal Ambassadors
- Lincoln Animal Control - call to inquire about a spay/neuter voucher
- Coming Soon! Stransky Veterinary Center
Medical Expenses
- Lincoln Animal Control
- Sadie Dog Fund (emergencies only)
- Coalition for Pet Protection
- Care Credit Card
- Nora's Fund
- Care Credit
- Scratch Pay
- Red Rover Grant
- SPCA Operation Military Pets (For all Military members, including veterans, reservists, active duty, and DOD Contractors)
Low Cost Vaccinations
Behavior Resources
- CHS Behavior Handouts
- CHS Behavior Classes
- GoodPup
- CHS Behavior & Training Assistance Voucher
- Best Friend's Dog Training Resources
Temporary Fostering
Rescues
Cats:
The Cat House: Surrender Request Form
Brave Animal Rescue: Contact Page
Revolution Rescue: Contact Page
Dogs:
Brave Animal Rescue: Contact Page
Muddy Paws Second Chance Rescue: Owner Surrenders
Nebraska No Kill Canine Rescue: Surrender Info
Revolution Rescue: Contact Page
Breed/Size/Age Specific Rescues:
Senior Dogs
Albert's Dog League: Surrender Info
Old Dogs New Digs: Rehoming Inquiry
Blind Dogs
Blind Dog Rescue Alliance: Surrender Info
Small Breeds
Little White Dog Rescue: Contact Page
SNAFU Rescue (short nose breeds such as French Bulldogs, English Bulldogs, Pugs, Boston Terriers): Contact Page
Large Breeds
Big Dogs Huge Paws (Dane, Pyrenees, Newfoundland, Saint Bernard, Mastiff, Irish Wolfhound, Scottish Deerhound): Owner Surrender Info
Big Bones Canine Rescue: Contact Page
Alaskan Malamutes
Taysia Blue Rescue: Intake Request Application
Australian Shepherds
Australian Shepherds Furever: Rehome/Surrender Info
Basset Hounds
Bassett & Beagle Rescue of the Heartland: Relinquishment Form
Beagles
Bassett & Beagle Rescue of the Heartland: Relinquishment Form
Belgian Malinois
American Belgion Malinois Rescue: Contact Info
Brittany Spaniels
American Brittany Rescue: Contacts
Boston Terriers
MidAmerican Boston Terrier Rescue: Rehoming Info
Nebraska Boston Terrier Rescue: Surrender Info
Boxers
Northern Plains Boxer Rescue: Contact Page
Bully Breeds
Bullies N Beyond ResQ: Contact Page
Chesapeake Bay Retrievers
Chesapeake Bay Retriever Relief and Rescue: Surrender Info
Dachshunds
Nebraska Dachshund Rescue: Surrender Request
Dalmations
Dalmation Rescue of Colorado: Contact
Dobermans
Doberman Rescue of Nebraska: Surrender Info
Dutch Shepherds
German Shepherds
Heartland Germand Shepherd Rescue (Can sometimes take herding breeds as well): Contact Page
German Short Hair Pointers
Great Plains Pointer Rescue: Surrender Info.
Hounds
American Black and Tan Coonhound Rescue (Coonhounds & Bloodhounds): Contacts
Shetland Sheepdogs
Nebraska Sheltie Rescue: Surrender Info
Siberian Huskies
Taysia Blue Rescue: Intake Request Application
Rottweiliers
MidAmerica Rottweiler Rescue: Surrender Info
Weimaraners
Wonder Weims Rescue: Surrender Info & Form