surrender your pet

We understand how hard it can be when faced with the decision to give up a beloved pet. Thank you for making the choice to surrender your animal to ensure that he or she remains safe and cared for. Because releasing an animal to SHS is a final decision, we suggest that you include all members of your immediate family or household in your decision, prior to bringing your pet to us. Keep in mind that many unwanted animal behaviors can be corrected, enabling pets to successfully remain in the family. Please call us if you would like information about training or other solutions for keeping your pet.

how to relinquish your pet

make an appointment

As a limited-admission shelter, we accept animals by appointment only. Your admissions appointment may take up to 20–30 minutes. We will have you fill out an information sheet about each animal. If you have veterinary records for the pet, please bring them with you. The owner releasing the animal must be at least 18 years of age and provide a driver’s license or other photo identification. To make an appointment or get more information, call (509) 467-5235, ext. 217. In the case of an emergency, we will make every effort to admit the animal immediately. Our intake office is CLOSED Sunday and Monday.

You can also find info on alternative local rescues here. 

choose if you’d like to be notified of your pet’s eligibility

It is possible that your pet will not be eligible for adoption. If you choose the “call back” option during your appointment, you will be notified if your pet is ineligible for our adoption program, at which point the animal may be taken back or released for euthanasia. If we accept your pet, you will be given the option if you would like to reclaim the animal if he or she becomes unadoptable during his or her stay.

surrender fee of $40

The Spokane Humane Society is a nonprofit organization that relies on donations and other community support to carry out our work. It costs us an average of almost $200 to care for each animal during his or her stay with us for veterinary care, food, and boarding. This surrender fee will help us to care for the thousands of animals we receive each year. Please let us know if you are not able to cover the fee, we will do what we can to help.