Surrendering Your Pet

Save Lives Today

Surrendering a Pet

We understand that surrendering your companion can be a very difficult time for you and your family.  If you can no longer care for your pet, it is important that you research and understand what options you have available.

Many unwanted animal behaviors that lead to someone wanting to surrender a pet can be corrected.  If you are considering re-homing your pet because of behavior issues and would like to consult with a professional trainer first, click here for a list of local trainers.  We also have an online behavior resource library with information on my topics that you many find helpful in solving common behavior problems.  SafeHaven is also available to try and help you find the necessary resources or services that may help you keep your pet.

If, after exhausting other options, you would still like to see if SafeHaven could help you find a new home for your pet, the first step is to complete the Personality profile for each pet you wish to surrender. Please fill out the questionnaire to the right and email it to Intake@safehavenhumane.com. Someone from our Intake Department will get back to you as soon as possible. Please note, that although SafeHaven Humane Society has a no-kill philosophy, and we are dedicated to caring for, and finding loving, permanent homes for pets in our care, sometimes a shelter setting is not the best option for your pet.  Pets who have a history of aggressive, unsocial behavior, or extremely shy or stressed meeting new people are not a good candidate for re-homing thru a shelter environment.  SafeHaven would encourage you to find other re-homing options or visit our Home to Home information below and add your pet to the Home to Home website.

Please note that if you need to surrender your pet, there currently may be up to an 8 week wait for dogs due to the overwhelming number of dogs needing our help.

Once the Pet Personality Profile has been completed, a staff member will reach out to you to conduct a brief phone interview to review all the information submitted.  If it is determined that SafeHaven might be able to assist you in re-homing your pet, an intake appointment will be scheduled at that time.  Please note, scheduling an intake appointment does not guarantee your pet will be accepted into SafeHaven’s adoption program, but it gives staff an opportunity to meet your pet and determine the best next steps for you and your pet.

All surrenders are by appointment only and we do not accept walk-in surrenders.  Appointments will be scheduled once the pets Personality Profile has been reviewed.

If you have additional questions, please feel free to reach out to our intake department at 541-928-6280 or email intake@safehavenhumane.com

Surrender Fee

Why is there a surrender fee? 

During your pet’s stay with us we will provide the following to your pet; updated vaccinations, necessary surgeries such as spay/neuter, flea control, dewormer, microchip, dental cleaning if necessary, and lots of love and attention by both staff and volunteers while in our care.

For this reason, SafeHaven helps cover the costs of caring for your animal while we work to find them a home with surrender fees.

For residents of Linn and Benton counties:
Dog intake fee is $60 or $70 for a litter
Cat intake fee is $50 or $70 per litter

For those living outside Linn and Benton counties, the intake charge is a flat fee of $100.

We are more than happy to help answer any of your questions during this time. Please call our Intake Department at 541.928.6280 or email intake@safehavenhumane.com for more information to make a surrender appointment.


Home to Home Program

We do our best to ensure pets have the best possible stay here with us at the shelter. Despite our efforts, shelters are undoubtedly a stressful place for most animals. That’s why we’ve partnered with Home To Home™. Home To Home™ allows pets to find new homes without having to enter the shelter. We understand that needing to find a new home for a pet is sometimes a difficult reality. Home To Home™ allows pet guardians to find the best fit for their pet and provides the opportunity for adopters to know all about their personality and preferences first-hand from the original guardian.

Home To Home™ is free for both guardians and adopters, and helps keep pets out of shelters through direct home placement. To learn more, visit our Home To Home™ website.