WHAT TO DO IF YOU NEED TO SURRENDER YOUR PET

You have a number of choices, and just one of them is surrendering your pet to CARA. If you have exhausted alternatives to relinquishment, here is how our admissions process works.

WHAT YOU SHOULD EXPECT

CARA will accept the surrender of owned cats and dogs by appointment only. If we have space available in our shelter, we will schedule you an appointment. If there is not space available, you will be placed on our waiting list and will receive a call when space becomes available. This could take between 1 week to 2 months or longer depending upon the type of animal and the time of year.

HOW THE PROCESS WORKS

Each day CARA Admissions staff assess the amount of space available in the shelter as animals find homes through the Adoption center. Based on the number of adoptions and available cages and kennels, a staff member will call you based upon your order on the waiting list to schedule appointments for the week. Each appointment should take approximately 30 minutes.

WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU ARRIVE

• Your cat will be tested for feline AIDS and leukemia, or your dog over 6 months of age will be tested for heartworms.

• A staff member will evaluate the temperament of your pet.

• Once your pet has been screened, and IF CARA decides to accept your pet, your surrender fee will be collected.

• An appointment for screening does not guarantee that CARA will accept your pet.

WHAT TO DO IF YOU NEED TO SURRENDER YOUR PET TODAY

If you opt not to wait for space to become available at CARA, you may want to consider other options. 1. Find a new home for the pet yourself with friends, neighbors, family or co-workers. 2. Place your pet temporarily with friends, family or possibly a boarding facility until space becomes available at a local shelter. 3. Surrender your pet to your county or city animal control. Agencies may vary, so please ask them about their adoption practices and their policies surrounding the surrender of owned pets. A shelter should be your last resort.