Deciding to surrender your pet can be very emotional and difficult for both you and your pet. The Berkeley-East Bay Humane Society would like to make that decision and the surrender process as easy as possible.

We understand how difficult and important this decision is. We want you to be sure that you are doing what is best for you and your pet. It is important to consider your other options. We recommend that you surrender your pet to a shelter only as your last option, unless you have adopted your pet from us. If you can provide proof of adoption, then you may return the animal to us so that we can find him/her a new home.

First, inform friends, family members, neighbors, and co-workers that you need to find a new home for your pet. This type of networking can have very positive results!

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The top two reasons people surrender their animals to shelters are because the pet’s family is relocating or the animal is having behavior issues.

If you are relocating…
Try to find housing that allows pets. Craigslist is a great resource that can make your housing search much easier. You can search for housing that accepts dogs, cats, or both. Don't forget to check local papers for classified ads or call realtors and property management companies. Some offer no-fee apartments that allow pets.

Moving to another country? International quarantine requirements have become much less stringent than they used to be. Some countries no longer even require a quarantine period for animals traveling from the U.S. A terrific website for pet immigration and quarantine information is PetTravel.com. They list requirements for over 100 countries!

If your pet has behavior issues…
Don't give up! We have a professional and experienced staff that is available to help you. We would be delighted to provide you unlimited free behavior consultations by phone. With patience and the right training, most "problem" dogs and cats turn out to be terrific companions. We offer very reasonably priced training classes (for dogs & cats) under the direction of one of the most respected training authorities in the Bay Area. Please call our Behavior Advice Line at (510) 845-7735, ext. 22, or fill out the form on our website for behavior help.

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Surrendering an Animal

If you believe that surrendering your pet is the best option for you and your pet, BEBHS will help you with the surrendering process. Please call our Adoption Center at (510) 845-7735, ext. 0, during business hours. There will be a brief phone interview and you will be asked to fill out a pre-surrender form. You can download the appropriate form below, or we can fax it to you at your request.

To surrender a CAT, please fill out this form: Cat Surrender Profile ( PDF)

To surrender a DOG, please fill out this form: Dog Surrender Profile ( PDF)

Once you complete the form and return it to us, we will call you to schedule an intake appointment. During this appointment with our behavior staff, we will evaluate your dog or cat to see if s/he meets our standards for adoption to a new home. If not, we can advise you on what steps to take to get your pet into a new home. Be advised, there may be a waiting list to surrender a pet. It is best to plan as far in advance as possible.

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Surrender Fees

When surrendering a cat, we charge a fee of $100. For dog surrenders, we charge a fee of $150. We collect these fees to help with the cost of providing veterinary services, food, and shelter of your former pet as well as finding a new home for your pet.