Surrender
Defenders' doors are always open to help animals in need. If for some reason you need to surrender an animal, please give us a call so we can asses your needs, discuss your options, and schedule an appointment.
However, we believe that giving up an animal to a shelter should be your last resort. Many pets do not thrive in a shelter enviornment, such as animals with anxiety, senior animals, and bonded animals. We are happy to provide helpful resources and alternatives to giving up your pet.
Alternative Resources
While there are many reasons someone may feel the need to give up their pet, there's also plenty of resources available to help animals stay with their family. Below are some helpful guides complied by BARCS Community Resource Program. Please note that Defenders is not affiliated with these specific organizations. If you still need guidance on your situation, don't hesitate to give us a call. We'll be happy to see if we can help guide you!
Rehoming and Temporary Foster
If you are absolutely unable to keep your pet even with additional resources and aid, you may consider rehoming your animal or finding a temporary foster. Rehoming keeps owned animals out of the shelter system and gets them directly into a new home. Temporary fosters are a great solution for people who can not keep their pets due to short-term housing issues.
Other Resources
For additional assistance, see the resources linked below or give us a call at 410-527-1466.