a woman has found her dog
Surrender a Pet

I can’t keep my pet anymore. What are my options?

The shelter can be a stressful place for animals, we encourage you to try and work through issues with your pet by getting help from your veterinarian, a pet behaviorist or even friends. Many times, alternative solutions can be found other than surrendering your pet.  Here are some resources that may help.  If you need other referrals, please let us know.

Rehoming Options
When you can rehome your pet directly, you are helping Animal Services and all pets great and small. Avoiding a shelter surrender helps reduce overcrowding in our shelter and allows more resources to be available to help those animals that have no other option.

The following two direct-to-adopter websites give animals needing a new home the best of both worlds: their current guardian can find the best fit and their adopter can learn all about their personality and preferences first-hand. It’s a win-win for pets!

If you’re looking to rehome your pet, we recommend that you post your pet on both of these websites.  There is no fee for pet guardians looking to re-home their animals and in just a few simple steps, pets can find a loving new home without ever seeing the inside of a shelter.

Home To Home™
This service is also free for the adopter.  Once a pet guardian has submitted their pet’s information, we look it over and then the pet is posted  at https://jas.home-home.org/findapet/. Adopters looking to find a new pet will get in touch with you directly.

Rehome from Adopt-A-Pet
This site does have an adoption fee.  The money collected goes to the shelter/rescue of the pet guardian’s choice.  Pets posted to this site show up on www.adoptapet.com next to adoptable pets from local shelters.  Interested adopters submit an application for you to review and then find the best fit for your pet.

Other Rehoming Options

Surrendering to Animal Services

The Shelter’s goal is to find loving homes for healthy, adoptable pets. We take in pet surrenders by appointment from residents of City of Lacey, Olympia, Tumwater, and unincorporated Thurston County. You must have an appointment to surrender a pet.  Please call us at (360) 352-2510 to schedule an appointment. The Shelter will accept your pet when we have the space to take it.  While we will accept it we cannot guarantee we will be able to find it a home. We receive around 100 animals each week, and sometimes do not have space to keep animals. There is a fee to leave your pet, and you will be asked to complete and sign a release form. You will also need to provide photo ID.  Please call for more information prior to bringing your pet to the shelter. Directions and Hours

Please bring one of these completed pet profile forms when you come to the Shelter to surrender your pet.