Surrender a Pet

Yes. We ask that all pet surrenders be scheduled in advance so we can make sure we have space and staff available to properly receive your pet. Please fill out the surrender form for the type of pet and a staff member will reach back out to you.

Yes, there is a $50 owner surrender fee. This fee helps cover a portion of the cost for your pet’s care, food, medical needs, and shelter during their stay with us. If you're facing financial hardship, please let us know—our team will do our best to work with you. Additional donations are always appreciated and directly support the animals in our care.

You’ll need to complete a surrender form with basic information about your pet: name, age, medical history, behavioral traits, and anything else that helps us care for them properly. Vet records are especially helpful, as are details like feeding routines, favorite toys, and known triggers.

Please bring:

• Your pet
• Any available medical records or vaccination history
• Any belongings your pet finds comfort in, like a favorite blanket, toy, or bed (optional but helpful)

These items help reduce stress and support your pet’s transition into shelter life.

Yes—because we are a no-kill shelter, every healthy and adoptable pet we take in will receive care for as long as it takes to find a loving home. We never euthanize animals due to space or length of stay. In some cases, when it’s in the best interest of the pet, we may transfer them to a trusted rescue partner to improve their chances of adoption. Our commitment is to every animal’s safety, well-being, and future.

We know it can be difficult to say goodbye. While we can't guarantee individual updates, many surrendered pets appear on our adoptable pets page once they’re ready for adoption. You're welcome to check in, and if your pet is adopted, they’ll be removed from the listing.

This depends on the pet’s age, breed, behavior, health, and overall demand. Puppies and kittens tend to get adopted quickly, while older pets or animals with special needs may take more time. We do everything we can to promote each animal and place them in a home that fits.

Yes. We accept animals from all over Southeast Missouri, regardless of where they were originally adopted—so long as we have space and resources to care for them. Please call ahead to check availability.

If you’ve found a stray, please visit our [Lost & Found] page first for instructions. We may be able to assist, but strays must be handled differently to give their owners time to find them.

Only the legal owner of the animal—or someone with written permission from the owner—can surrender a pet. If the pet was abandoned with you or you’re unsure of your rights, call us and we can talk through next steps.

Your pet will be welcomed into our care and given a wellness check, behavioral assessment, and plenty of attention. We'll make sure they’re comfortable, healthy, and ready for adoption. Our trained staff works hard to reduce stress and make every animal feel safe.

Yes. We’ll do everything we can to help you keep your pet, if that’s what you want. We may be able to connect you with resources for veterinary care, food assistance, or training support. If surrender is the best option, we’ll guide you through it with care.

We understand that life can turn around. Once a pet is officially surrendered, ownership transfers to us. If your situation improves and the pet is still available, we’ll talk with you about what’s possible. However, we can’t guarantee that the pet will still be here.

We treat every animal with kindness, patience & professional care. Our shelter is licensed by the Missouri Department of Agriculture and was built with proper space, ventilation, and cleaning protocols to give animals the best chance at a healthy, happy new start.