How Do I Surrender My Pit Bull?

The answer to "how do I surrender my pit bull" will vary based on your location. Typically, your local animal control facility only accepts stray animals and will not take owner surrenders. If that’s the case near you, you may be able to surrender your pit bull to your local shelter or rescue organization, but this varies based on location. It’s important to call several organizations and learn the procedures of the shelters and rescues near you.

Surrendering a Pit Bull? What Happens Next?

When you find a shelter that will accept your pit bull (or American pit bull terrier), they may ask you to pay a surrender fee. The fee is typically between $50 to $150. An intake coordinator will ask about your dog’s history and your reasons for surrendering him. In some cases, they will offer assistance to help you work through the issues that led to your decision to give up your dog. If you decide to move forward, they’ll take custody of your dog and have you sign him over to the organization.

From there, the outcome for your dog is out of your hands and can vary greatly. Your otherwise healthy pit bull could even end up on a euthanasia list. Some dogs do not respond well to a shelter environment and may become aggressive and difficult to adopt out. Other times organizations will work diligently to find your pet a suitable home but may have to put down pets because of overcrowding and lack of resources. All the unknowns are why it’s essential to rehome_research the organizations near you before turning your dog over. Even if your dog is lucky enough to be adopted, you’ll have no input into the type of home he’ll end up in.

Is There Another Way?

If you find that your local shelters do not fit your needs, but you still have to rehome your pet, you have other options.

These include:

• Keep Your Pet: This won’t be feasible for everyone, but if it’s a particular behavior that’s making you want to surrender your pit bull, there is a good chance you can correct it with training.

• Find a Rescue Group: Privately run rescue groups are another option, but they are often volunteer-run and rely on foster homes to house adoptable pets, so they may be at maximum capacity.

• Rehome Your Pit Bull Yourself: This may take some time and a bit of effort, but it gives your pit bull a tremendous second chance at a happy life. Plus, you’ll get to choose the family he goes to and have peace of mind knowing that you found a good fit. Rehome by Adopt-a-Pet.com is a great rehoming program that is free to use and can help you find the ideal family for your pit bull.

If you decide that rehoming is the route you want to take, visit Rehome for information that can help you find the perfect home for your pit bull.