Surrender A Dog

What does surrendering mean?

Surrendering a dog means signing over the legal ownership and responsibility of a dog to another party, in this instance a rescue.

People do so for many reasons. Sometimes it's because an owner has passed away and the family are unable to take the dog on. Often it's because the owner's living or working arrangements have changed meaning they are unable to give the dog the care and attention it needs. There are many other reasons and it's not our job to judge. It's our job to help if we are in a position to do so, and to act in the best interests of the dog concerned. 

Do you have a dog that you need to surrender?

If so, the first thing to think about is are you absolutely sure? Have you considered all other possibilities that would allow the dog to stay with you. Both humans and dogs form strong emotional attachments and surrendering is not an easy choice. Have you discussed it with all the family members who live with the dog? Is everyone on board? Are you acting in the best interest of the dog?

We recognise that most people who have reached this point have done so with a heavy heart and if you choose to proceed we always try to approach the issue with both sensitivity and pragmatism. 

Next steps...

GET IN TOUCH

Contact us by email (kayla@mikeysdogrescue.co.uk) or through Messenger via our Facebook page. 

We will ask a few preliminary questions and will then want to follow up with a telephone conversation to discuss the dog and the issues in more detail.

ARRANGE AN ASSESSMENT

If we believe we can help following our telephone conversation we will arrange to visit and assess the dog. This visit takes place in your own home, so we can see how the dog behaves in an environment it's most familiar with. The visit usually takes around 20 to 40 mins. 

We will usually be able to tell you at the end of this visit whether we believe we can help or not. This will depend on a number of factors, such as the dog itself and if we have any appropriate fosters who can take the dog.

NB We never take the dog away on this first visit. There will be a minimum of 48 hours before the dog is removed. This allows us time to discuss the dog and make arrangements with our fosters; and most importantly, it allows you time to be sure this is what you want before you say goodbye to your dog, and to spend some quality time with them.

SURRENDER DAY

On the day of surrender we will ask you to sign paperwork called a Surrender Form.

Once signed, ownership and responsibility passes from you to Mikey's Dog Rescue CIC, meaning we have full say of what happens to the dog, including medical treatment, and future care and ownership changes. 

We will then take the dog away and place them with one of our fosters.

The surrender visit usually takes around 15 to 20 mins. 

FOLLOWING YOUR DOG'S JOURNEY

In most, not all, instances we post updates on our dogs via our social media and you are welcome to follow their journey through Facebook, Instagram and TikTok by Liking or Following our profiles. 

We do not usually update previous owners beyond this. However, please discuss this at the time of surrender if this is something you feel would help.

What is the cost?

Nothing. We make no charge for surrenders.

However, some previous owners choose to make a donation to help cover food and veterinary bills over the first few weeks. This is entirely voluntary and is never a condition of the surrender.