Resources: I Can't Keep My Pet

Finding a New Home for Your Pet Yourself

Re-homing your pet yourself takes a little bit of effort, but your pet will be so much better off for your efforts. There are a few easy steps you can take that will make it much easier for you.

1. Get your pet spayed or neutered. Animals who are altered are much easier to find new homes for.
2. Make a list of your pet's characteristics. Brainstorm a list of physical attributes, personality traits and general behavior that your pet has - include the good and the bad. Develop a short biography for the cat or dog to give to potential adopters. Be honest so the person giving a home to your animal will know what to expect.
3. Take photos of your animal. Use the photos to make fliers to post at shelters, pet supply stores, veterinary clinics, places of worship, work bulletin boards and in newsletters. Be sure to talk with family and friends so they can tell the people in their community.
4. Use the Internet. Post information about your animal on websites such as petfinder.com and craigslist.com.
5. Do not list the animal for free. Unfortunately there are people who acquire animals and resell them to research laboratories, or place them in illegal dog fighting rings or other inappropriate situations. By asking the adopter for an adoption fee (even if it is a small donation to your local shelter), you help to ensure that the person who is adopting your pet has his or her best interest at heart.
6. Interview potential adopters. You want to make sure that the people adopting your pet are a good fit.

Remember - be patient and stay realistic. Older animals, sick animals, and those who have medical conditions or behavioral problems can be hard to place. Keep in mind that the very problem that is causing you to relinquish your pet may be the same reason someone is reluctant to adopt him or her. Despite this, it is always best to be honest - you don't want people to find out about problems after the fact.

Can WCDC Take In Your Pet?

Process for Giving Up Your Pet to WCDC for Re-homing

Before WCDC can take custody of your pet for possible re-homing, you need to complete a cat or dog history profile which WCDC staff will review along with any medical history you and your veterinarian provide. The staff will go through this information to help us determine if your pet is behaviorally and medically sound and is a good fit for our shelter environment. We'll then contact you to discuss bringing your cat or dog to the shelter and go over the fee for taking custody of your pet. The fee is used to help offset the cost of caring for the animal while he is at WCDC. Because WCDC makes a commitment to all of the animals in our care, there may be a waiting period before your animal can be accepted into the shelter.

If your pet is accepted into WCDC's care, we will schedule an appointment for you to bring in your pet. At that time staff will observe your animal's behavior. If the staff is unable to handle the animal safely, WCDC will decline accepting the animal and will suggest other options for you.

Surrender Fees

The fee to give up your adult cat to WCDC is $50 and the fee for an adult dog is $50. Along with the surrender fee, donations are kindly accepted to help cover the costs of caring for surrendered animals. For assistance with placement of kittens, puppies, pregnant animals, or mother cats or dogs with litters, please contact us.

When WCDC Cannot Take Your Pet

When staff review your cat or dog history profile, they may determine that WCDC may not be a good fit for your animal. This can be the case for certain breeds and temperaments of dogs and cats who do very poorly in a shelter environment. For their sake, these animals may not be accepted into our care. Animals who have certain medical conditions, behavior problems or aggression issues cannot be accepted. In these cases, the trained WCDC staff will suggest other potential solutions for your cat or dog.

Can WCDC Guarantee My Pet a Home?

Simply put, we cannot. There are times when behavioral or medical issues are not apparent until an animal has been at WCDC for awhile, therefore, WCDC cannot guarantee the placement of your animal into a new home. With that said, WCDC works hard to find homes for the animals in our care.

It is important that you are realistic about the adoptability of your pet. You have an established relationship with him or her, and if you find you are unable to deal with a behavior or medical condition, then you must understand that those who have no relationship with your animal are not likely to take on that responsibility.