WE UNDERSTAND CIRCUMSTANCES CHANGE
At the Highland Humane Society, we understand that sometimes circumstances change and pet owners may need to find a new home for their beloved cats and dogs. While we do accept owner surrenders, we operate on a waitlist due to capacity constraints. Our goal is to ensure the best possible outcome for both you and your pet.
Our intake policy
The Highland Humane Society is a managed intake facility. We assess our ability to take in surrendered animals on a case-by-case basis and cannot guarantee immediate acceptance of every animal.
Before you surrender
If cost is the pressure, our pet food pantry, low-cost spay & neuter clinics and free vaccine clinics may help you keep your pet at home. Behavior concerns? Ask about dog training.
For owned cat or kitten surrenders
- Fill out the cat owner surrender form (opens in a new window on an external site).
- Expect a response via email within 2 business days.
- Keep in mind our operating hours: 12–5pm Tuesday through Friday, and 11am–3pm Saturday.
- Cats and kittens must undergo an in-person assessment for surrender approval into our adoption program, with a surrender fee.
For dog surrenders
- Fill out the dog owner surrender form (opens in a new window on an external site).
- Expect a response via email within 2 business days.
- Keep in mind our operating hours: 12–5pm Tuesday through Friday, and 11am–3pm Saturday.
- Dogs over 4 months old must undergo an in-person assessment for surrender approval, with a fee applicable.
- Stray dogs are managed by the Dog Warden.
Alternative rehoming solution
For immediate assistance in rehoming your pet we recommend Rehome by Adopt-a-Pet (opens in a new window on an external site). This service lets you create a detailed profile for your pet, similar to the profiles we use for our adoptable animals, visible to millions of potential adopters.
- Create a profile. Share details about your pet to attract the right adopter.
- Screening process. The platform guides you through selecting a responsible adopter, including what questions to ask and how to evaluate applications.
- Adoption fee. The adopter pays a fee, which you can choose to donate to a rescue organization, including ours.
Surrendering stray and community cats
Community and stray cats live free, without owners, within our neighborhoods. While some can transition into adoptable pets, many are not suited to the confines of a shelter environment. Cats who have lived outdoors, and kittens born to outdoor parents, often struggle with the transition to an indoor, caged environment; the loss of freedom to roam can lead to stress-related health issues, loss of appetite, or aggressive behavior. Once a cat enters our care, we cannot simply release it back into the community if the transition proves too difficult.
- We conduct in-person assessments to determine whether a cat or kitten is a good candidate for our adoption program.
- For cats not well-suited to indoor living we will work with you to explore alternatives, such as Trap-Neuter-Return or placement in safe outdoor environments like barn cat programs.
- We ask for a small donation when surrendering stray or community cats and kittens. This helps cover the significant cost of fully vetting and preparing animals for adoption.
- Fill out the stray cat / kitten form (opens in a new window on an external site).