Rehoming or Surrendering a Pet | SPCA of Wake County
Sometimes circumstances make it difficult, or impossible, to continue caring for a pet. If you're considering giving up your pet, you're not alone, and you may have more options than you realize.
Whether you're facing a behavior challenge, financial hardship, a move, a change in your family, or another difficult situation, SPCA Wake is here to help you understand your options and find the best path forward for you and your pet.
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If you found a stray pet or kittens outdoors, start here instead:
Before You Surrender Your Pet
You may be feeling at the end of your rope. Pets not getting along? Peeing outside the litter box? Behavior concerns? Struggling to afford food or veterinary care? Many of the problems that lead families to consider giving up a pet can be resolved – even when it may not feel like it – and we're here to help.
SPCA Wake's Pet Helpline is a free service that connects you with a real person who can talk through your individual situation. Our knowledgeable team can connect you with SPCA Wake programs, services, and other free or low-cost resources that may help you keep your pet. Support may include help with behavior concerns, pet food and supplies, affordable veterinary care, and more.
If Keeping Your Pet Isn't Possible
Sometimes, despite your best efforts, keeping your pet simply isn't an option. If you need to find them a new home, there are two paths to consider: rehoming your pet directly to another family or surrendering them to a shelter.
Whenever possible, we recommend trying to rehome your pet directly before pursuing shelter surrender. Here's what you need to know about each option.
Rehome Your Pet Directly to Another Family
RECOMMENDED WHEN POSSIBLE
If you have the time and ability to care for your pet while searching for a new home, direct rehoming is often the best option. Your pet can move from one home to another without the stress and uncertainty of entering a shelter.
Direct rehoming helps other animals, too: every pet who safely bypasses the shelter system leaves limited space and resources available for pets who have nowhere else to go.
Surrender Your Pet to a Shelter
WHEN OTHER OPTIONS AREN'T POSSIBLE
Sometimes, keeping or directly rehoming a pet simply isn't possible. Shelters and rescue organizations provide an important safety net for pets and families in these situations.
If you have time to explore your options, you may be able to find placement with a nonprofit shelter or rescue. But as space and resources are limited, considering a government-run county shelter may be necessary. We'll help you understand which type of shelter to contact and how the surrender process works.
Rehome Your Pet Directly to Another Family
OPTION 1Publish a Courtesy Adoption Listing on our Website
SPCA Wake partners with Adopt a Pet's Rehome service to help you reach people who are already looking for a pet to adopt. When you create a profile for your pet through Rehome, your pet can be seen by potential adopters on both Adopt a Pet and the SPCA Wake website.
Your pet's profile will appear in the Rehome by Owner section of our adoption listings, giving them exposure to people who come to SPCA Wake's website specifically because they're searching for a new pet.
This is a courtesy adoption listing – not a surrender to SPCA Wake. Your pet stays safely in your care while you search for their new home. Interested adopters contact you through the Rehome service, giving you the opportunity to talk with potential families and decide who is the right fit for your pet.
How to create your listing:
- Step one is to fill out this form: Click here
- When prompted, use coupon code SPCAWC75284 to greatly reduce the listing fee.
- Questions? Here is an FAQ and more details about how it works.
OPTION 2Use Our Guide to Rehome Your Pet Yourself
You can also find a new home for your pet through your own network and community, and we'll help you through the process.
Our Pet Rehoming Guide provides step-by-step guidance for safely and responsibly finding the right new family for your pet. Learn how to create a compelling adoption profile, spread the word about your pet, screen potential adopters, arrange introductions, check references, and help your pet make a successful transition into their new home.
The guide also includes a sample adoption questionnaire and printable flyer you can use as you search for your pet's new family.
Surrendering Your Pet to a Shelter
IF YOU HAVE TIME TO FIND PLACEMENTNonprofit Shelters and Rescue Organizations
If you have some time to find placement for your pet, you can contact nonprofit animal shelters and rescue organizations in your area to ask whether they are currently able to accept owner surrenders. Some organizations specialize in particular species or breeds, which may give you additional options.
Keep in mind that nonprofit shelters and rescues have limited space and resources, and many receive more requests for help than they can accommodate. Reaching out does not guarantee that an organization will be able to take your pet, and finding an available placement may take time.
SPCA Wake is one of these independent nonprofit animal shelters. We care for and find homes for thousands of pets each year, with many animals coming to us through partnerships and transfers from other shelters and rescue organizations. Like other nonprofit shelters, our intake depends on available space and resources. All our intakes are by appointment only – we are not able to accept walk-in pet surrenders.
IF YOU NEED TO SURRENDER MORE URGENTLYYour County Animal Shelter
If you aren't able to find placement through a nonprofit shelter or rescue – or if you need to surrender your pet more urgently – contact the government-operated animal shelter that serves your county. County and municipal shelters are the public agencies set up to receive animals from residents of the communities they serve.
You will need to contact the shelter serving the county where you live. Intake procedures, appointments, waitlists, and other requirements vary by shelter, so contact your local shelter before bringing your pet in.
WAKE COUNTY RESIDENTS
Your local government shelter is the Wake County Animal Center (WCAC), located at 820 Beacon Lake Drive in Raleigh.
WCAC and SPCA Wake are two separate organizations with different roles and intake processes.
WCAC accepts owner-surrender requests from Wake County residents by appointment. Because available shelter space changes, submitting a request may not result in an immediate surrender appointment. To get in touch with WCAC, please call 919-212-7387.