Surrendering a Pet

Are you considering giving up your pet? You are not alone, and almost half of the pets that come to Southern Pines each year are given up by their owners. The decision to give up your pet can be a difficult one, but Southern Pines is here to help.

Southern Pines may be able to offer you alternatives to giving up your pet. If the reason you are thinking of surrendering your pet is behavioral, financial, or because you are moving, we may be able to help. Please talk over your decision to surrender with our Surrender Counselor by calling 601-544-6632 or sending an email.

If you do choose to surrender, please have the following prepared:

1. Please call the Surrender Department at 601-544-6632.
2. Please bring any and all registration papers, Veterinarian records, medications, etc. for each pet.
3. Please bring your pet on a leash or in a carrier to Southern Pines' Main Office. If you need assistance getting your pet(s) out of your car, please come in and speak to our Surrender Counselor.
4. When you arrive, you will be asked to fill out paperwork relinquishing ownership of your pet(s) and transferring said ownership to Southern Pines Animal Shelter
5. You will also be asked to fill out an Owner Information Sheet about each pet. This information is very important as it helps us know more about your animal and assists in getting him/her adopted into a fitting home. You can download and fill out these sheets ahead of time to expedite your process!
   • Owner Surrender Sheet PDF
   • Stray Surrender Sheet PDF
6. Each pet Southern Pines takes in is given a set of vaccinations and medications that cost approximately $35-$50. To help offset these costs, Southern Pines asks for a nominal Animal Care Fee when you are surrendering your pet(s). These fees are as follows:

1. • Surrender fees start at $30 for one animal and $20 for each additional animal surrendered on the same visit.
   • Residents from contract areas, Forrest County and the cities of Hattiesburg and Collins, will receive a 50% discount. These discounted fees are $15 for one animal and $10 for each additional animal surrendered on the same visit. Your driver’s license is used to determine your county/city of residency, and it must be supplied to receive the surrender fee discount rate. 

Southern Pines Animal Shelter staff will remind you that as an open-admission shelter, pets left at Southern Pines are at risk of euthanasia. While we strive to save each and every healthy and treatable pet that enters our doors, this is currently not the case and your pet could become at risk for euthanasia. Pets that become in most urgent need of help are posted on our Urgent Animals Page. 
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If you have reached the decision to humanely euthanize your pet, we offer end of life services. To discuss end of life services, please call Southern Pines Animal Shelter at 601-544-6632 to schedule an appointment Tuesday-Friday before 2pm. There is a $35 fee for end of life services accepted at the time of drop-off. 

Tips for rehoming your pet:

Tips for rehoming your pet:

• Start looking for a new home for your pet right away ... do not wait until the last minute! It may take time and effort to find your pet a new home. 
• Spay and neuter your pets and bring them up-to-date on shots to make them more attractive to a new owner.
• If possible, we want to help you keep your pet!  Call us at 601-544-6632 for referrals to resources that might help you if you are experiencing behavioral problems with your pet, if you can't afford pet food or a dog house, if you can't afford to spay/neuter your pet, etc. 
• Let all of your friends, relatives and neighbors know you are looking for a new home for your pet. Email pictures and post pictures of your pet on Facebook. Hang flyers at veterinary clinics and pet supply stores.
• If your pet was originally adopted from a local shelter or rescue group then contact them, because they may be willing to take your pet back. (Note - some rescue groups contractually require you to return the pet to them if you can no longer keep it).
• Call and email (do both) numerous rescue groups and shelters to see if they will take your pet. If your pet is a purebred, contact all the purebred groups for that breed (you can find these by doing a simple internet search). Additional rescue groups can be found by google searching on the internet. Don't give up!  You may have to contact ten or more before you find one that can help.
• If you are moving to a new city, contact local humane societies and rescue groups there.  They may not have as overwhelming a problem with unwanted pets and may have more resources that can help you.