Rehoming
The Maryland SPCA is here for you and your pet.
There are many reasons people consider giving up their pets, including pet behavior problems, inability to afford medical care, and moving to a new home that doesn’t allow pets. We have programs and resources available that can help you keep your beloved pet.
To discuss surrendering your pet and to make an appointment, call 410-235-8826 (ext. 2502) or email [email protected].
Pet Rehoming Options
If you still are unable to keep your pet, the best options are to rehome them yourself or to utilize an online rehoming assistance portal. Rehoming your pet keeps them out of an animal shelter and provides you the peace of mind that you personally selected your pet’s new family.
Surrendering Pets to MD SPCA
If you’ve exhausted all other options in finding your pet a new home, our admissions department is here to help. We accept cats, dogs, kittens, and puppies by appointment only. We aren’t able to accommodate requests for immediate surrender.
Steps & Requirements to Surrender
Surrendering a pet to admissions is by APPOINTMENT ONLY.
Requirements for surrender appointment:
- We will always accept an animal that has been adopted from the MD SPCA, if necessary.
- Please indicate that the animal is a return when leaving your message.
- You must be a resident of Baltimore City in order to surrender pets into our care.
- You must be at least 18 years of age in order to sign the surrender contract.
- You must be the legal owner of the pet.
- On the day of the appointment you must bring ID and cash or credit card for the surrender fee.
- There is a surrender fee of $30 per pet (over the age of 6 months) or per litter (under the age of 6 months), which is due at the time of surrender.
- This fee represents a small fraction of the total cost incurred by the shelter for the care of each pet. The Maryland SPCA does not receive government funds, nor do we receiving funding from national organizations. The work we do is paid for by public donations and the fees we charge for our services.
To discuss surrendering your pet and to schedule an appointment, please contact our Admissions Department at 410-235-8826 x2502 or by email at [email protected].
What Happens When You Surrender Your Pet
Surrendering to an animal shelter should be the last resort for rehoming. Pets in general can be very stressed in even the best animal shelter and may become ill or display aggressive behaviors that can make it challenging to care for them at the shelter.
All pets surrendered to the MD SPCA must pass health and behavior testing in order to go up for adoption. Pets receive a medical test following intake, and a behavior evaluation after being in the shelter for at least one day. During intake, an Admissions Coordinator collects information on the pet to help us place the pet in an appropriate home, and has the owner sign paperwork transferring ownership of the pet to the Maryland SPCA. If your pet does not enter our adoption program due to illness or behavior that can not be managed in this environment we will try to find placement in a local rescue group. After all attempts to treat and find placement options, there is a chance of euthanasia as a final decision.
To discuss surrendering your pet and to schedule an appointment, please contact our Admissions Department at 410-235-8826 x2502 or by email at [email protected].