Humane Society of Huron Valley: Surrender an Animal

Surrender an Animal

Surrendering a pet is never an easy decision. But if you are no longer able to care for your pet, we are here to help!

Leaving your pet at a shelter should be a last resort. Please review the services we offer that may allow you to keep your pet in your home, including behavior help, pet food assistance, and training.

The Surrender Process

Please call us in advance to discuss before bringing us your pet. Our Animal Intake staff can be reached at (734) 661-3528, 7 days a week, between the hours of 9am-11am and 12pm-5pm.

Our primary service areas are Washtenaw County and Canton Township. Please understand that we have limited space. In order to give every single animal the best chance at finding a new, happy home, we may put your name on a waiting list.

After calling Animal Intake, download and complete the applicable owner relinquish profile form below and bring your pet along with all available veterinarian records and proof of residency.

• Dog Surrender Form (PDF)
• Cat Surrender Form (PDF)
• Rabbit Surrender Form (PDF)
• Other Small Domestic Surrender Form (PDF)

If you live in Washtenaw County or Canton Township, there is a $20 surrender fee to help pay for your animal's care. (The average animal costs HSHV $325 to re-home.) If your pet has serious health or behavior problems related to aggression that will make re-homing not possible, we will talk to you about the owner-requested euthanasia process.

Animals from outside Washtenaw County or Canton Township are considered out of our service area. We are honored that you want to use our facility to re-home your animal. Unfortunately, there are concrete limits to the number of animals we can serve healthily and humanely.

Pet overpopulation is still a real problem and the animals in our identified service area must be our first priority if we are to effectively meet our mission to save lives and reduce unnecessary suffering. If you do not live in Washtenaw County or Canton Township, but are interested in surrendering your animal at HSHV we require that you call in advance and please note that there is a required $40 surrender fee.

If we do not have available space you may be asked to try back at another time or go to your own community designated shelter. Here is a list of shelters (PDF) serving counties in Southeast Michigan.

Bringing a Stray Companion Animal to HSHV

HSHV accepts stray companion animals from Washtenaw County, Canton Township, and Plymouth. There is no fee, but we greatly appreciate donations to help cover the cost of care.

Please bring the stray animal to our Intake Department during the hours of 9am-11am or noon-5pm, 7 days a week. Do not tie an animal outside the building or leave puppies, kittens or rodents in boxes outside the building.

If you live outside of Washtenaw County, please contact the shelter in your county. We cannot take a stray outside of our service area. Please take the stray animal to the shelter located in the area it was found. This will increase the animal's chance of being reunited with its family. Here is a list of shelters (PDF) serving counties in Southeast Michigan.

If You Have Found a Stray

NOTE: It is important to note that HSHV is the holding facility for stray animal in Washtenaw County but we do not pick up stray animals. Members of the community who have found a stray animal should contact their local Law Enforcement Agency for assistance with stray animals.

Washtenaw County Residents: Please call the Washtenaw County Sheriff dispatch at 734-971-3954

Canton Township Residents: Please call the Canton Police 734-397-3000

Plymouth City or Plymouth Township Residents: Please call Plymouth Police dispatch 734-453-8600