Surrendering a pet

Surrender appointment wait times are longer than usual

Like many organizations today, AHS is facing significant staffing challenges that impact our capacity to provide services and place additional stress on existing teams. As we work to fill open roles, we’re also making temporary adjustments to our appointment schedules based on our current staffing capacity. As of March 18th, the expected wait times for non-emergency appointments for each site are:

  • Coon Rapids: 22-24 days
  • Golden Valley: 23-25 days
  • Woodbury:  22-24 days

We appreciate your patience and understanding as we address these challenges and support our teams.

Animal Humane Society helps thousands of dogs, cats, and critters in need find loving homes each year. We take in every animal surrendered to us regardless of its health, age, breed, or behavior. Last year, more than 93% of the animals in our care were placed in homes, reunited with owners, or released to other animal welfare organizations.

We understand that parting ways with an animal can be especially difficult and we're committed to working with you to ensure the best possible solution for you and your pet.

Schedule a surrender appointment

Surrender appointments last approximately 30-45 minutes and will include a health exam and behavior evaluation of your pet. During the appointment, staff will gather information about your pet and complete an initial exam and evaluation. We'll then discuss your options so you can make the best decision for your pet.

Please note that Animal Humane Society is an open-admission organization that accepts all animals. As a result, animals deemed untreatable or unhealthy may not be candidates for adoption, and humane euthanasia may be considered in some cases. 

To schedule a surrender appointment, call our Pet Helpline at 952-HELP-PET (952-435-7738).

Read more about surrendering a stray animal before you call.

Surrender fees

SpeciesFee
Dogs and cats$55 each, $90 for litters of two or more
Rabbits, ferrets, chinchillas, and hedgehogs$30 each, $50 for litters of two or more 
Guinea pigs, rodents, and birds*$15 each, $20 for litters of two or more

 

Surrender FAQ

Why do I need to make an appointment to bring in a pet?

In order to ensure resources are ready and available when a pet arrives, Animal Humane Society requires a scheduled surrender appointment. Without an appointment process, we would have no control over the number of pets that come into our care each day, and our ability to provide the best possible care for each animal would be hindered.

What if I don't want to make an appointment?

If you don't want to schedule an appointment, we will refer you to other rescues and shelters or provide rehoming information to help you rehome your pet yourself.

What do I need to bring to my appointment? 
  1. A driver's license or other government issued ID.
  2. Your pet's surrender form. Find the appropriate surrender form below. (A profile form is not required for ferrets, chinchillas, other small animals and birds.If you do not have access to a printer, please arrive to your appointment 15 minutes early to complete the forms. Our goal is to find a happy home for every healthy and treatable animal, which we can achieve by knowing more about the animals that come into our care.

    Canine profile | Feline profile | Rabbit profile
  3. Your pet’s veterinary records.
  4. Payment method for the surrender fees listed above.
What types of animals does AHS accept?

Animal Humane Society provides services for cats, dogs, rabbits, domestic rodents (rats, mice gerbils, hamsters, chinchillas, degus), ferrets, hedgehogs, and small birds. We are unable to accept exotic pets such as reptiles, large birds like cockatoos and amazons, or livestock (chickens, pigs, and goats). If you have an exotic pet or livestock you're hoping to re-home, these organizations may be able to help:

Can I find out what happens to my pet after it's surrendered to AHS?

Yes. If you contact AHS, we'll let you know if your pet was adopted or placed with a rescue partner. However, we will not share adopter contact information or details about the rescue partner to which your pet is transferred.

Last year, more than 94 percent of the animals in our care were placed in homes, reunited with owners, or released to other animal welfare organizationsAHS has not euthanized a healthy animal for any reason since 2011, and there is no time limit for animals in our care. Animals with untreatable illness or severe behavior issues may not be candidates for adoption, and humane euthanasia may be considered in some cases. If we determine your pet cannot become healthy or suitable for placement, and euthanasia is the most humane option, you may reclaim your pet.

Alternatives to surrendering

We know that sometimes it’s just not possible to keep a pet. Before making the decision to surrender, please consider all of your options. Learn more about alternatives to surrendering your pet including other re-homing options.

For caring, compassionate advice and resources to address all your animal concerns.

Contact the Pet Helpline