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.

Preparing your pet for finding a new home.

Have the pet groomed or give him/her a bath. People are drawn to clean, well cared for pets.
Get a good picture of the pet to add to flyers and advertisements.
Take the pet to the vet for a check up and any overdue vaccines, if possible.
Also having the pet spayed or neutered will make him/her more desirable. If needed, speak to our staff about low cost or even possibly free options for rehoming pets.
Ask our staff for information on Low Cost Vet-Care.
Have all the pet’s medical records, toys, and other supplies handy and ready for your pet’s new family

Fostering your pet in your home while you look for potential adopters

Talk to friends and family about adopting the pet from you. This is the #1 way that pets enter peoples’ lives.
Post your pet on Adopt a Pet.com for potential adopters to view. Use our discount code: MSPCA71971 to get 90% off listing fee.
Internet resources such as www.craigslist.org and www.petfinder.com. Some rescue groups may allow you to advertise your pet on their website.You may also utilize social media site such as Facebook and Instagram to share your pets with a broader audience.
Post flyers on bulletin boards of local businesses, vets, workplace, and community centers. Email a flyer to your friends and ask that they put it up on their workplace notice boards

Things to include on flyer

You may consider asking for a small rehoming fee. Charging a fee helps to ensure that they are serious about adopting and prepared for the cost of pet ownership, but it is not absolutely necessary.
Describe the appearance, size, and age of your pet.
Include your pet’s name and a good photograph.
Mention whether your pet is spayed or neutered.
Describe his/her nature.
Describe any limitations your pet may have regarding health and temperament (i.e.- good with small children, other pets, etc.)

Screening candidates

Ask questions! You don’t have to give your pet to the first interested person; take time and choose who you believe will make the best owner:
- Is the pet for you or someone else?
- Is it O.K. to have pets in your home/apartment/condo?
- Have you had pets before?
- Do you have children?
- Are you willing to have me visit?
- What is your plan for exercising and potty breaks? Will the pet be supervised outside? OR Do you have litter box and cat toys?
- What do you plan to do if the pet does not work out for you?
Get your applicant’s name, address and phone number and verify the information. Also ask about size or breed limitations.
Check references, especially vet references if applicable.
Once you’ve chosen a family (or families) that you feel are good candidates, make an appointment for them to meet your pet.
Meet in a neutral location.

Finding a Rescue Group

Keep in mind most rescue groups do not have a facility. They work with a network of volunteers who foster animals in their homes until the animal is adopted. If they are full ask about a waiting list. You can also search on the internet for a specific breed to find a rescue, for example, Chihuahua + rescue + baltimore, or small dog + rescue + maryland, etc.

Not all rescues operate in the same manner, so it is important that you ask questions.

Why was this rescue created? Is this rescue a non-profit organization?
Ask about the foster home situation. How do they screen foster parents? Are there limits to the number of animals in the home? How many animals are currently with the foster parent?
Ask how their adoption process works.
Are you able to speak to adopters or foster parents?
Can you visit the foster home before turning over your pet? Will they notify you when your pet is adopted?
Ask how long the rescue group will continue to foster your pet if he/she is not adopted quickly.

Rehome by Adopt-a-Pet.com

The MD SPCA partners with Rehome by Adopt-a-Pet.com to provides community listings of pets looking for new homes. By partnering with Adopt-a-Pet.com, we can help pet owners find new families for their pets without them having to enter into a shelter. This is much better for the families and the pet.

Use our discount code: MSPCA71971 to get 90% off listing fee.

Surrendering Pets to MD SPCA

If you’ve exhausted all other options in finding your pet a new home, our intake 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 Intake 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 Intake 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.