Surrendering a Pet
Please consider every available alternative to surrendering your pet to a shelter before you schedule an appointment for admission. You can find more information about alternatives by clicking here.
What to expect
It is likely we will not be able to take your pet immediately. The Humane Society of Manatee County will accept the surrender of owned cats and dogs by appointment only. If we have space available in our shelter, we will schedule a time for you to come in. If there are no openings, you will be placed on our waiting list and will receive a call for an appointment when a space becomes available.
How it works
Each day the Humane Society of Manatee County Admissions staff assess the number of kennels and cages available. A staff member will call the pet owners from the top of the placement list to schedule surrender appointments for the week.
If a staff member leaves a message, we must hear back from you within 48 hours to confirm that you still need our services. If we are unable to contact you or you are unable to bring your pet(s) to the Humane Society of Manatee County within 48 hours of our initial call, we will leave your name on the top of the list but will contact the next person to bring in his pet for the available space. Appointments are scheduled Tuesdays through Saturdays. Each appointment should take approximately one hour. The pet will go through a behavior assessment to see if the pet will meet our adoption criteria.
Click here to complete a dog surrender form.
Click here to complete a cat surrender form.
What to bring with you
- All veterinary records
- Your pet’s medications
- Special food or treats that your pet needs
- Your pet’s bed, toys, leash, and other belongings from home
- Your pet’s crate or carrier
- Your surrender fee in the form of cash, Visa/MasterCard/Discover/American Express.
- No checks, please
Surrender Fees
- $ 40 for an individual animal already spayed/neutered
- $ 60 for an individual animal still intact
- $ 80 for 2-3 animals already spayed/neutered
- $ 100 for 2-3 animals still intact
- $ 80 for litters of kittens and puppies under 4 months of age
- For everyone’s safety, all dogs must be leashed and all cats must be in a carrier or box.
When you arrive
Your cat will be tested for feline AIDS and leukemia, or your dog over 6 months of age will be tested for heartworms.
A staff member will evaluate the temperament of your animal.
Once your animal has been screened and the Humane Society of Manatee County decides to accept your animal, your surrender fee will be collected.
An appointment for screening does not guarantee that the Humane Society of Manatee County will accept your pet.
Rehoming your pet yourself
If you would like to try and rehome your pet without bringing it to the shelter, click on the icon below and use the toolkit provided. Rehoming your pet directly to another loving home helps avoid the stress of the shelter and will assure you that your pet goes to someone you choose.
