Surrendering/Rehoming

We always strive to keep pets and their families together and are here to help guide you through all the assistance options Brevard County has to offer. This section contains an abundance of information about rehoming your pet, low cost veterinary services, training services, and more!

Please note that our number one priority is to provide for the needs of each individual animal that we take in. For this reason, the Brevard Humane Society will not be able to take in animals with a bite history or ones with medical conditions that require medical attention beyond what our shelter can support.

Avoid Surrendering Your Pet

The Brevard Humane Society understands that sometimes rehoming your pet may be your only option. While we do offer pet surrender services at our facility, there are benefits to choosing to rehome your pet yourself:

• You personally meet the adopter.
  By rehoming yourself, you have the opportunity to meet your pet’s new family and can better prepare that adopter with all the necessary and important information to help your pet be comfortable when transitioning into a new home. After all, you know your pet better than anyone else!
• Avoid euthanasia.
  Unfortunately, pets may be humanely euthanized due to health or behavior related issues. Rehoming the pet yourself prevents this outcome and also prevents overcrowding.
• Some pets are not good candidates.
  Kennels can be very stressful places for pets and this stress can make finding a new home difficult. For example, many dogs may bark and while this is quite normal, adopters may think the pet is too “loud” or “active” for their family, when this is not necessarily the case. Some pets may even develop behavioral issues from prolonged stays, such as fear, aggression, or anxiety. Allowing the pet to remain in your home eliminates this potential stress.

Alternatives to Surrendering

Surrendering a pet can be an incredibly difficult decision. The Brevard Humane Society may be able to help you keep your pet at home or there may be alternative rehoming options to consider. Please review the following resources before surrendering your pet.

Behavior Issues

Dog Training and Obedience Classes
Sometimes pet behavior problems seem overwhelming, but many can be managed with the application of a little knowledge and a little effort. We’re here to help you find answers to your pet behavior questions.

Whether it’s a long-time friend or a newly adopted dog, sometimes we all could use a little help in this area! Our staff is dedicated to helping you and your dog understand each other better, through the use of positive, family friendly training techniques.

Inability to Afford Care

Low-Cost Veterinary Care
Affordable medical care can be difficult to find, but The Brevard Humane Society does offer low-cost wellness care options to our community. Please visit our Low-Cost Clinic page for more information!

Please note, the Brevard Humane Society does not receive any government funding and relies solely on donations. While we can provide low-cost services and do work with low-income families, we cannot provide free medical care.

Domestic / Disaster Situation

Emergency Preparedness
According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, 50% of women do not leave abusive situations for fear their pet will be injured or killed. Animal Safehouse of Brevard is a not-for-profit effort geared towards providing temporary safe placement of pets who, like their owners, need to flee from domestic violence situations.In the event of an emergency, if you are ordered to evacuate, we strongly encourage that you take your pets with you. We highly recommend that prior arrangements be made to shelter your pets with a commercial kennel, family or friend(s) outside of the evacuation area. Be sure that all pets are vaccinated prior to hurricane season, as many animal care facilities require proof of the following:

• Dogs-rabies vaccine, distemper/Parvo group, Bordetella, and Corona.
• Cats-rabies vaccine, feline leukemia, Rhinotracheitis/Calici virus and Panleukopenia.

Also, make sure pets wear a collar, with rabies tag and I.D. tag included. Have a properly sized pet carrier (for each pet) that enables pets to stand and turn around. You will also need a leash, water and food bowls, medication, at least a 3 day supply of food, and pet toys (all of which should be labeled with your pet’s name).

Please note that pets are not allowed in public shelters administered by the American Red Cross. Currently, three locations have been identified within Brevard County by Emergency Management as Pet Friendly Shelters, please visit their site for more information.

Moving / Inadequate Housing

Pet-friendly Housing
A common reason for pet homelessness is often related to moving and the inability to find pet-friendly housing; however, many landlords and property managers do open their residences and communities to responsible pet caretakers. Please consider the following advice when seeking a lease or purchasing a property where pets are allowed:

1. 1. Give yourself a minimum of six weeks to find a suitable rental.
   2. Compile documents that prove you are a responsible pet owner. Include vaccination records, training certificates and letters of reference from your previous or current landlord and veterinarian. You can even make a resume for your pet!
   3. Be prepared to pay and even offer an extra security deposit.
   4. Promote your pet and yourself. Make arrangements for the landlord to meet your pet! Responsible pet owners make excellent renters.
   5. Protect your rights. Make sure “pets allowed” is part of your written lease agreement or in the association by-laws.
   6. Don’t try to conceal your pet. You may be subject to eviction or legal action.
   7. Respect any pet restrictions. Most properties will have policies in place such as: weight/size limitation, breed limitation, species limitation, and maximum number of pets allowed.
   8. Respect pet “house rules or by-laws”. All properties will have regulations in place for the benefit of the community at large. Let your landlord or property association know that you will comply.

Remember that every situation may have slightly different guidelines, so please take as much time as necessary to fully understand all the rules and regulations pertaining to your lease or homeowner’s association contract.

Tips for Rehoming Your Pet

Before making the decision to find another home for your pet, consider the problem and whether or not it can be fixed. For instance, if the animal is misbehaving or is not housetrained, try to teach the pet or consider consulting an animal trainer. If you are worried about your pet being alone for long periods of time, consider hiring a pet sitter or asking friends and family to stop in to check on your pet. Also, if allergies seem to be affecting the relationship with your pet, see your doctor to find out if there is anything that can be done to prevent it. Make your best effort to try and keep your beloved pet before considering alternatives.

If there is no other option and you cannot keep your pet, before you bring him or her to the Brevard Humane Society, you can try and find a new home on your own. This can reduce the stress of an animal being brought into an overcrowded kennel and provide peace of mind knowing where your pet’s new home will be. Here are some helpful tips for rehoming your pet:

• Call anyone you know who may be interested in adopting your pet.
• Post flyers that include information about your pet around town, at your local animal shelter, or veterinarian’s office.
• Put an ad in the newspaper.
• Use social media or reputable websites to post pictures and information about your pet.
• If your pet is a purebred, there may be a breed-specific rescue organization in your area that will accept him and work to find him a new home. Breed-specific rescue groups are usually run by people with in-depth knowledge of a specific breed and they keep adoptable animals until they can be placed in loving, permanent homes. To locate a rescue group that specializes in your pet’s breed, search the Internet or check the classifieds section of the newspaper. Do not be afraid to ask questions.

Information to include about your pet:/strong>

• A recent photo, name, age, gender, general health, special health needs, vaccination status
• Behavioral information, such as: are they good with other dogs, do they get along well with cats, are they housetrained, kid-friendly, prefer a quiet adult household, etc.
• Contact information

Tips for safe, successful adoption:

• Charge an adoption fee to help ensure potential adopters are serious about taking the financial responsibility of your pet
• Ask for pets veterinary records of the potential adopter’s current pets
• Arrange a home visit
• Ask for personal references
• Consider drafting a contract

Surrender Process

Before You Surrender:

If you need to surrender your animal we strongly recommend scheduling an appointment by calling: (321) 636-3343. Please note that an appointment does NOT guarantee the Brevard Humane Society will intake your dog or cat. In an effort to give the animals the best possible chance of being rehomed an in-depth discussion about the animal and completion of the pet’s personality profile is required.

The Brevard Humane Society does NOT euthanize based on space or length of stay. We intake solely based on population and space available to ensure all pets entrusted in our care are given as much time as needed to find their new, forever home.

When You Surrender:

You will need:

• A pre-scheduled appointment (see above)
• To fill out our Surrender Form and complete a personality profile provided at Intake
• Any of your pet’s medications or special food, if required
• Photo ID

After You Surrender:

• You surrender all owner rights. Once you’ve surrendered an animal, you cannot obtain information about whether or not he/she was adopted, current owner status, etc.
• Animals are medically evaluated and treated accordingly so they can be made available for adoption