How to Turn in a Dog to an Animal Shelter

Perhaps you don't have the time or patience to commit to training or exercising your dog. Or maybe it has bitten someone or has otherwise proven to be hard to handle. Or maybe you can no longer afford to feed your dog or care for its medical problems. Whatever your reason, surrendering your dog to a shelter can be a heartbreaking decision. But taking your dog to a shelter is the responsible thing to do. Someone will feed and exercise it every day, and it'll have a good chance of finding another home.

Instructions

1. • 1

     Research the shelters in your area. No-kill shelters allow animals to stay until they are adopted, no matter how long it takes. Pick a shelter that routinely places dogs in foster homes rather than leave them in a kennel for long periods of time.

   • 2

     Bring all of your dog's possessions with you to the shelter: blankets, toys, crate, leash, collar and food. It will comfort your dog to have its own things, and the person who adopts it will need these items.

   • 3

     Sign an agreement to surrender your dog.