Have an animal that needs to find a new home?

Surrendering An Animal

Please note that Humane Tomorrow does not typically take in animals currently in homes. This is because our efforts are primarily focused on animals in immediate danger because their time is up in area shelters. However, we can still assist you in rehoming a pet.

Found pets: Humane Tomorrow does not take in strays. Our first goal with stray animals is always to get them back to the family who is missing them. If you have found a stray dog or cat, PLEASE take him or her to the shelter in the city in which he or she was found. This is the single best way to reunite pets with their families. Leaving a pet at a shelter does not sentence him or her to euthanasia. Even in a crowded shelter, the pet will be held for at least the minimum number of days as required by that city’s ordinance (state law requires a minimum of three days). If you are committed to helping find that dog or cat a home if the owners are not located, that gives you several days to contact rescue groups, prepare your own household to foster the animal, network him or her to find a home, etc. If the animal is not reclaimed by the end of the stray hold period, then we can work with you.

First, let’s make sure that there isn’t something we can do to help keep him or her in your home. We realize that most people giving up a pet really believe they have exhausted all their options, and have no other choice. But there may be resources you’re not aware of, so for your pet’s sake, please read through the information below before you make what could be a life-altering decision.

Finances: if you are unable to afford your pet, is the hardship long- or short-term? If you just need some help paying for food, a pet deposit, or unexpected medical expenses, our Flower’s Fund may be able to help. We’d much rather help you than have to find your pet a new home.

Moving? Don’t give up! There are apartments out there who take pets! And again, we can help with the pet deposit if you can’t afford it. Please understand that if you are moving in a few days and have not made plans for your pets, it is unlikely that we will be able to help you.

Behavior? Dogs and cats need training and guidance! This is the number one reason dogs end up in shelters. We know training a dog—especially a puppy—can be overwhelming and takes some time. However, there are many issues that have relatively simple solutions, and maybe the advice of a good trainer could help. Please see our resource library for some advice on common behavior issues like housetraining and separation anxiety for cats and dogs.

If those don’t help, here are some local trainers who use positive, humane methods of training. You can choose from a variety of training methods ranging from group classes to private, in-home lessons, to board-and-train.

NOTE: If you are a trainer who would like to be listed on this page, please email msmanners@humanetomorrow.org! Please note that Humane Tomorrow does not endorse the use of electronic “shock” collars, choke chains, or other punishment-based methods.

You can also email us at msmanners@humanetomorrow.org and our volunteers will assist you in any way we can.

If you still feel you need to rehome your dog or cat, please take the following steps:

  1. Contact the breeder or rescue group from whom you originally obtained the pet. Reputable breeders and rescue groups will not only want their animals back; they probably had you sign a contract to that effect when you adopted the pet.
  2. If your dog or cat is a purebred or close, try searching for local purebred rescue organizations. These groups are very knowledgeable about the specific traits and needs for their breeds, and they are sometimes better equipped to place them. In addition, they often have waiting lists of adopters looking for that breed.
  3. Unfortunately, if you are looking for a “no-kill” shelter, they are usually full and unable to take an animal on short notice. However, Operation Kindness and the SPCA of Texas do sometimes take surrendered animals as space and resources allow.
  4. In order for Humane Tomorrow to assist you, we will ask that you keep the pet until he or she is adopted. We may require that you bring the pet up-to-date on vaccines and heartworm/flea prevention as well as spay/neuter. You will need to make the pet available for adopt-a-pets, which take place twice a month in Flower Mound. You can email surrender@humanetomorrow.org for more information. Please include a picture of the animal and as much information as you can about his or her personality, health status, and the reason for surrender. Please be honest! We want to help you and your pet, but in order to do that we need to know the good AND the not-so-good things about him or her.