Together We Can Do So Much More
Returning A Pet Previously Adopted Through Paws for Life NC
If you’ve come to the hard decision that you need to return a pet previously adopted through Paws for Life NC, we will always take our animal back. We will need a little background about the cause for return to help us best manage the return.
Please click on the icon below to submit the surrender questionnaire and provide as much information as you can. A team lead will reach out to you to coordinate the return. We do ask that you give us at least 2 weeks notice to find space within our foster program.
Surrendering A Community Owned Pet or Stray Animal
Paws For Life NC has limited fostering capacity, and thus, a limit to the number of animals we can take in, and our priority will always be with shelter animals. If you have a stray or personally-owned pet (not adopted through Paws for Life NC) that you are looking to surrender, you should:
Owned Animals
- Be ready & able to foster the dog or cat until they are adopted. For 99% of the time, if you can't or won't foster, we will not be able to help. It will require you to submit a foster application and be screened the same as our other fosters.
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Provide as much notice as possible of the need to surrender your animal. Last-minute or short-notice requests will most likely be denied.
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Be sure you have exhausted all avenues before surrendering (pet pantry for food, training for behavioral issues, move to an apartment or house that allows pets, etc)
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Make sure your pet is current on rabies, DHPP (dogs), FVRCP (cats), and has a current heartworm test (dogs). Depending on the circumstances, we may still be able to help with a heartworm positive dog, but it will require discussion about your responsibility in helping to cover the expense.
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If the pet was adopted from another rescue group, reach out to them FIRST. Most rescue groups require adopters to return adopted animals to them if the need for surrender arises.
Stray Animals
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Be ready & able to foster the dog or cat until they are adopted. For 99% of the time, if you can't or won't foster, we will not be able to help. It will require you to submit a foster application and be screened the same as our other fosters.
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Be sure to follow the county reporting requirements for the county where the animal was found. We cannot legally re-home an animal unless we know proper steps were taken to find the rightful owner.
If you would still like to proceed, please click on the icon below to submit the surrender request. Please note that submitting this form does not imply that Paws For Life NC will be able to take in your surrendered animal, it is purely a means to begin the discussion.
Notice About Feral Cats
Unfortunately, the volunteers here at Paws For Life NC are not able to take in feral cats! If you are needing to have them fixed, please contact Operation Catnip to get on their waiting list to have them trapped and fixed.