Pets are surrendered to animal shelters and rescues every day for a variety of reasons. Learn about how you can prevent relinquishments as well as assess those relinquished animals.
Resources and Articles
From the Magazine
Featured ARTICLES
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The ASV Guidelines in Real Life: Taking Them In
What happens—or doesn’t happen—when an animal enters a shelter can affect an individual pet’s ultimate outcome, as well as impact the health of an entire shelter population.
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The "101" Department: Start Spreading the News
Pets for Life NYC, an animal surrender prevention program, seeks to give people the advice and services they need before they relinquish their pets to shelters. Find out how to create a similar pet safety net in your community.
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The "101" Department: Conducting a Basic Intake Exam
The HSUS Shelter Services team offers expert tips on how to conduct a ten-minute intake exam on every animal that comes into your shelter -- and the importance of doing so.
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Life in the Fast Lane
Learn how fast-tracking can help you reduce lengths of stay for animals in your shelter and save more lives.
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Medical SOPs: Lifesaving, Step by Step
Getting some basic shelter medicine SOPs in writing can help you prevent widespread problems while providing a consistent, transparent standard of care.
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In Virginia, Challenging the Status Quo
In Virginia, the Richmond SPCA is shaking things up. As the SPCA’s Project Safety Net offers programs and services aimed at reducing animal relinquishment, the organization is succeeding in saving more lives by partnering with the community.
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What Now?
When people relinquish a pet, they often ask what will happen to the animal. Here is a thoughtful look at how shelter staff might answer questions about the fate of surrendered animals and possibly prevent those animals from being relinquished.
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Cats are from Mars?
Jackson Galaxy set out to be a musician, but wound up a cat behavior guru and the star of Animal Planet’s My Cat From Hell. The patron saint of conflicted cats discusses his career and shares his insights into the workings of the feline mind.
Samples
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Sample: Nevada Humane Society - Animal Help Desk Caseworker Handbook
Clients ask your front desk staff for help with many different issues, from behavioral problems to rehoming animals. Use this sample helpdesk handbook from Nevada Humane to help your staff be ready to assist!
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Sample: Master Shelter Log
Use our sample log to keep a written daily, weekly or monthly animal intake record.
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Samples: Canine/Feline background information forms from HSUS
Use these forms when taking in an owner-surrendered dog or cat.
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Sample: Animal Intake Record
Need an intake form? Don't reinvent the wheel -- use ours!
Policies & Programs
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Pets for Life
The HSUS Pets for Life program has one very ambitious goal: to keep pets and their people together. Pets for Life recognizes that one of the greatest threats to pets is a lack of understanding on the part of caregivers along with a lack of awareness of available resources.
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Pet Help Partners
PHP Success Stories - Keeping Pets and People Together
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Pet Help Partners
Pet Help Partners starter page
More
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RentWithPets.org
"Moving" and "landlord won't allow" are among the top reasons given by pet owners when relinquishing their dogs or cats to animal shelters.
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Articles from Veterinary Technician Journal
Articles on caring for feral cats in clinics, educating cat owners, and more, by HSUS's own Nancy Peterson, Cat Programs Manager.
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HSUS: Finding a Responsible Home for Your Pet
Share our pet rehoming information with owners who want to surrender their pets at your shelter.
