Surrender an Animal

Butte Humane Society offers resources and education to help you maintain the treasured bond you share with your animal companions. However, we do understand that circumstances can occur which prevent you from being able to keep your animal and we are willing to help.

As an Open Admissions Shelter for the City of Chico, we accept all owner-surrendered animals from within the city limits. If you are from outside this area but wish to surrender your pet to our shelter, please call ahead to verify whether we have the space to do so.  Our shelter has such limited space that sometimes we are unable to accommodate your pet - but we can refer you to other organizations that may be able to help.

When you bring your animal in to the Butte Humane Society for surrender, he or she will receive a health and temperament evaluation.  If your animal is deemed behaviorally fit and healthy for adoption, he or she will remain with us until a new, loving home is found.  It is important to note that an animal who has been friendly to you may react differently under the stress of being around strangers and other animals and this is when illness can occur as well.  Unfortunately, we cannot provide a guarantee that we will be able to adopt your animal.  

In order to help your animal remain healthy, both at home and for surrender, we suggest that you complete the following activities prior to coming to the shelter:

• Complete and submit a surrender form with as much detail as possible (see below)
• Make sure your animal is clean and well groomed, with nails trimmed
• Your animal should be free of internal and external parasites, such as fleas or worms
• Your animal should be current on vaccinations, including parvovirus, distemper, rabies, and bordetella (kennel cough)
• Tests for feline leukemia/FIV and heartworm should be recent 
• Your animal should be social and non-aggressive.

At the time of surrender, you should bring in all medical records for your animal as well your photo ID. If possible, you may bring a blanket, bed, or other personal item from home to accompany the animal and make him/her feel more comfortable in this new environment.  We feed Science Diet foods to all animals at the shelter, so there is not a need to bring food. 

Surrender Forms:

Click on the appropriate title below to view or download our surrender form (in PDF format). Please include as much detail as possible when completing a surrender form. This helps ensure that we can make the most informed decisions possible when evaluating your animal and placing him/her into a new home.

Dog Surrender Form

Cat Surrender Form

Small Animal Surrender Form

Surrender Fees: 

If you live inside the Chico city limits, the surrender fee is $25.00 per animal, regardless of whether it's been spayed or neutered (altered).

If you live outside the Chico city limits, the surrender fee is $25.00 per altered animal or $75.00 per unaltered animal.

It costs the Butte Humane Society at least $150 to prepare each animal for adoption (spay/neuter, microchip, vaccinations, etc.), so you are welcome to donate more than the minimum fee. In the event that you cannot pay the fee or are surrendering multiple animals and cannot afford to pay the full fee for each, you may consult with BHS staff for a special rate or fee waiver.

The circumstances where animals cannot be placed for adoption include:

• When animals show signs of aggressive or unsociable behavior during the administration of a nationally recognized temperament test. Some animals that you know to be friendly may not react well to the stress of being handled by strangers in a shelter environment. Animals that fail their temperament test will not be placed for adoption.
• When a veterinarian or veterinary technician, after an examination, determines that the animal is physically unsuitable for adoption.

If you change your mind after surrendering your animal to the Butte Humane Society, you can call us at 530-343-7917 and you will be directed to one of our adoption specialists.  If your animal is available, and it is in the best interest of the animal, you may reclaim him or her. We will not refund your surrender fee, but can apply it to any adoption, boarding or medical fees depending on the case.

We recommend that you explore solutions to the problems you face with your animal prior to surrender. The Butte Humane Society has many resources to help you keep your animal in your home. Just ask us for help!