Do YOU need to surrender your animal?
Sometimes, no matter what we do, we just can't provide our pets with the best home environment. It's a sad reality, but not one you have to feel alone through.
NAPS is happy to assist most pet owners in finding the best solution for their animals when these types of scenarios arise. If feasible, we are happy to act as a temporary foster home while you get back on your feet, or to help you through the surrender process in order to find your pet a loving home.
Each individual case is considered by the NAPS Shelter Manager and given careful attention to help find the best option for you and your pet. Things to consider before contacting NAPS to surrender:
Do you have a litter of young kittens/puppies you are trying to find a place for?
Kittens/Puppies are an easy sell in most cases, and they also take up a lot of space, and cost a lot for a shelter to spay/neuter, vaccinate, and adopt out. Rather than burdening a non-profit organization, people with litters of kittens or puppies are encouraged to take action on their own wherever possible. When the litter is around 8 weeks old, they should be weaned and available for adoption (Not before, under any circumstances).
Firstly, ensure that the litter has been given its first set of vaccines and deworming from a vet. Then, start advertising your litter via posters around community bulletin boards, social media such as Facebook, and placing ads on Kijiji or other classified websites. Make sure to ask for an adoption fee which will cover the cost of the vaccine you purchased for each kitten/puppy. Ensure you are adopting to people who will spay/neuter their new pet, and provide adequate shelter, food and future health care for them. This helps reduce the stray/feral population in our community, while also protecting our other animals from disease. Lastly ensure you make an appointment to have your pet (the mother of the litter) spayed as soon as possible after weaning occurs.
In some instances, NAPS would be happy to post a clear photo of the litter you are trying to find homes for, and your contact information on our Facebook page to help with the rehoming process. Just send us a private message through Facebook or via email with your request.
In special cases, NAPS WILL take in litters. Each scenario is considered by our Shelter Manager and accepted on a case-by-case basis.
Is the pet you are trying to surrender friendly or tolerant of other animals?
The NAPS shelter is currently fairly small. We do not have the means to separate species, or to keep unfriendly/feral animals separated from the general population. For this reason, NAPS is hesitant to accept surrenders for animals who are aggressive to other animals, or even to humans. If the animal is not handleable, it is difficult for our veterinarians to certify their health prior to their entering the shelter, and it is difficult for volunteers to care for that animal and adopt it out. NAPS is happy to try to assist you in doing the best for the animal in question, and each case will be assessed individually. In these cases, we will often assist the pet owner in finding an adequate foster home or replacement home, while they continue to care for the animal in the meantime.
Does the animal you are trying to surrender belong to you or someone else?
If the animal(s) in question does not belong to you - is this an animal that you have found on your property or nearby? Is this animal wearing a collar or have any visible identification? Could this animal belong to a neighbor? If so, consider placing posters/ads around town and on classified web pages, social media or going door-to-door to help locate an owner before contacting NAPS. If the animal has a tattoo or microchip, vets can usually locate an owner, so bringing the animal to a local vet can be helpful too. Trapping, identifying and returning an animal to its rightful owner can be a time consuming and costly event for NAPS volunteers and should really only be done when all other avenues have been explored.
Still need to surrender?
If you have explored the above options, and still need to surrender an animal to NAPS, please contact us via email ([email protected]) and include details regarding your situation. Important information would be the age, sex, breed of the animal, when it was last seen by a vet, if the animal is up-to-date on their vaccinations, and the animal's temperament. Should your case be approved for surrender, we will make arrangements with you at the shelter, where you will be required to fill out a surrender form and pay any previously discussed surrender fees (where applicable). It is important that you provide NAPS with any medical records you may have and the name of the vet your pet last saw. The animal will then belong to NAPS and vet care will commence prior to their entering the shelter.
It is imperative that you DO NOT abandon an animal at the actual shelter location. Volunteers are not at the shelter all day, and any animals left unattended there could succumb to the elements or predators before a volunteer discovers them there.
NAPS is happy to assist most pet owners in finding the best solution for their animals when these types of scenarios arise. If feasible, we are happy to act as a temporary foster home while you get back on your feet, or to help you through the surrender process in order to find your pet a loving home.
Each individual case is considered by the NAPS Shelter Manager and given careful attention to help find the best option for you and your pet. Things to consider before contacting NAPS to surrender:
Do you have a litter of young kittens/puppies you are trying to find a place for?
Kittens/Puppies are an easy sell in most cases, and they also take up a lot of space, and cost a lot for a shelter to spay/neuter, vaccinate, and adopt out. Rather than burdening a non-profit organization, people with litters of kittens or puppies are encouraged to take action on their own wherever possible. When the litter is around 8 weeks old, they should be weaned and available for adoption (Not before, under any circumstances).
Firstly, ensure that the litter has been given its first set of vaccines and deworming from a vet. Then, start advertising your litter via posters around community bulletin boards, social media such as Facebook, and placing ads on Kijiji or other classified websites. Make sure to ask for an adoption fee which will cover the cost of the vaccine you purchased for each kitten/puppy. Ensure you are adopting to people who will spay/neuter their new pet, and provide adequate shelter, food and future health care for them. This helps reduce the stray/feral population in our community, while also protecting our other animals from disease. Lastly ensure you make an appointment to have your pet (the mother of the litter) spayed as soon as possible after weaning occurs.
In some instances, NAPS would be happy to post a clear photo of the litter you are trying to find homes for, and your contact information on our Facebook page to help with the rehoming process. Just send us a private message through Facebook or via email with your request.
In special cases, NAPS WILL take in litters. Each scenario is considered by our Shelter Manager and accepted on a case-by-case basis.
Is the pet you are trying to surrender friendly or tolerant of other animals?
The NAPS shelter is currently fairly small. We do not have the means to separate species, or to keep unfriendly/feral animals separated from the general population. For this reason, NAPS is hesitant to accept surrenders for animals who are aggressive to other animals, or even to humans. If the animal is not handleable, it is difficult for our veterinarians to certify their health prior to their entering the shelter, and it is difficult for volunteers to care for that animal and adopt it out. NAPS is happy to try to assist you in doing the best for the animal in question, and each case will be assessed individually. In these cases, we will often assist the pet owner in finding an adequate foster home or replacement home, while they continue to care for the animal in the meantime.
Does the animal you are trying to surrender belong to you or someone else?
If the animal(s) in question does not belong to you - is this an animal that you have found on your property or nearby? Is this animal wearing a collar or have any visible identification? Could this animal belong to a neighbor? If so, consider placing posters/ads around town and on classified web pages, social media or going door-to-door to help locate an owner before contacting NAPS. If the animal has a tattoo or microchip, vets can usually locate an owner, so bringing the animal to a local vet can be helpful too. Trapping, identifying and returning an animal to its rightful owner can be a time consuming and costly event for NAPS volunteers and should really only be done when all other avenues have been explored.
Still need to surrender?
If you have explored the above options, and still need to surrender an animal to NAPS, please contact us via email ([email protected]) and include details regarding your situation. Important information would be the age, sex, breed of the animal, when it was last seen by a vet, if the animal is up-to-date on their vaccinations, and the animal's temperament. Should your case be approved for surrender, we will make arrangements with you at the shelter, where you will be required to fill out a surrender form and pay any previously discussed surrender fees (where applicable). It is important that you provide NAPS with any medical records you may have and the name of the vet your pet last saw. The animal will then belong to NAPS and vet care will commence prior to their entering the shelter.
It is imperative that you DO NOT abandon an animal at the actual shelter location. Volunteers are not at the shelter all day, and any animals left unattended there could succumb to the elements or predators before a volunteer discovers them there.