• Animal Adoptions
  • Available Animals
    • Dogs
    • Cats
    • Small Animals
  • Adoption Process
  • Success Stories
• Here to Help
  • Lost Pet Help
  • Pet Care & Advice
  • Pet Friendly Places
  • Micro-chipping
  • Canine Training School
  • Owner Requested Euthanasia
  • Behavior Hotline Online Form
  • Resources and Links
  • Giving Up Your Pet
• Donations
  • Donate Online
  • Print Donation Form
  • Planned Gifts
  • Corporate Sponsorships
  • Memorials
  • Statue Tag Gifts
  • Automatic Monthly Donations
  • Shelter Wish List
• Events
  • Mutt Strut
  • Ales for Adoptable Tails
  • Hairy Affair
  • Corporate Sponsorships
  • Shelter Events
  • Events Calendar
• Become Involved
  • Youth Volunteers
  • Foster Care
  • Volunteer for Animals
  • Volunteer Program
  • Tour Requests
• Canine Training School
  • Training Classes
  • Registration
  • Canine Training FAQ
  • Ask a Trainer
  • Pet Care & Advice
• Dog Park
• About Us
  • Board of Directors
  • Employee of the Month
  • Annual Report
  • Programs
  • Employment
  • FAQs About HSI
• Shelter News
  • Press Releases
  • News Archive
  • Going HOME Newsletter
• E-tail Store

AnimalsGiving Up Your Pet

GIVING UP YOUR PET

Please consider every available alternative to admitting your pet to a shelter before you schedule an appointment for admission. We can assist you in re-homing your pet to a friend, neighbor or family member who is interested in having a pet, helping you locate pet-friendly housing options, or pair you with our expert training staff at no charge for pet behavior support and training. Our pets are our lifetime responsibility, and we must do all that we can to ensure that they are happy, healthy and loved.

HSI requires an individual who wants to give up an owned pet to first participate in a 30-minute counseling session with a trained Evaluation Team Member. We predict the new policy will keep up to 3,500 animals per year from being given up for adoption and ultimately reduce the number euthanized in the community. The goal is to help pet owners make an informed decision before they give up their pets due to destructive or aggressive behavior, an inability to be housetrained, health issues or because the animal does not get along with children or other pets. This is about giving owners a plan to work through the issues they have with their pets. During each session, an Evaluation Team Member performs a medical evaluation on the animal and speaks with the owner about the pet's adoptability. Pet owners also meet with behavior specialists who suggest ways to address specific behaviors that may be leading the owner to give up the animal for adoption. The session also allows HSI team members to gather information about the pet which can be shared with a prospective new owner.

Pet owners need to partner with us to do what is best for the animal. This new approach is about creating a path for a better life.

We will accept the surrender of owned cats and dogs by appointment only. To make an appointment, please call 317-872-5650 ext 126.

Please call to make an appointment. Each appointment will last approximately 30 minutes. Please allow additional time if bringing multiple animals.