Rehoming Pets

How to Surrender your Dog

As Charlotte and the surrounding area continue to experience rapid growth and development, ACC operates at full capacity on a daily basis. Therefore, ACC only accepts surrenders when space is available with prior authorization. To request to surrender your pet please email animals@cmpd.org.
Please include the following in the email: 

  • Your name, address, phone number
  • Pet name, age, weight, breed
  • Reason why you are requesting to surrender your pet

How to Surrender your Cat

At this time, we are accepting owner surrender cats if you live in Mecklenburg County on a walk-in basis at our Byrum location only. 

Rehoming Options

ACC's goal is to work with pet owners, empowering you to take an active role in determining the best outcome for your pets. We encourage all pet owners to consider other options for help or private rehoming prior to surrendering your pet to one of our centers. No one is in a better position to find your pet a new home than you are. While we never turn away a pet in need, we are also here to help you keep your pet. 

Resources:

 

Help combat this situation

How can I help combat this situation?

 

Owner Support

Owner Support:

Through the ACC Intake Team and agreements with partnering organizations, ACC may be able to offer a variety of resources to assist pet owners in keeping their pets. Resources may include:

  • Educational videos: everything from training to safety tips

  • Assistance for individuals entering Domestic Violence temporary housing

  • pets.findhelp.com will help you find local pet services

Organizations that help pay vet bills

Organizations That Help Pay Vet Bills: Finding Help When You Need It Most! 

Best Friends

Red Rover

The Pet Fund
The Pet Fund works only on non-basic, non-urgent care. This category includes medical needs such as cancer treatment, heart disease, chronic conditions, endocrine diseases, eye diseases, etc.

Bialys Wellness Foundation
Bialy’s sponsors families and shelters caring for animals with special needs, particularly mobility issues including neurological or birth defects, paralysis, and amputation. They prioritize households with incomes under $50,000 and request that folks have made an effort to raise funds on their own in advance of requesting assistance.

Dylans Hearts
This nonprofit provides financial assistance to veterinarians of low-income families whose companion animals need emergency care. In order to qualify, you’ll need to meet the US WIC guidelines or have other proof of financial hardship such as a Medicaid Card, EBT Food Stamp Card, or proof that you receive welfare, disability, or unemployment assistance. They only cover urgent, life-threatening procedures for animals that have a good prognosis and can’t offer assistance for chronic conditions.

Frankies Friends and Frankies Friends Hope Fund
Frankie’s Fund is nonprofit that provides grants to families who cannot afford the emergency or specialty veterinary care their pet needs through their National Frankie’s Fund. They only provide funding to pets with a good prognosis and you’ll be responsible for any initial assessments and diagnostics. However, if you’re selected, you may receive up to $500 and Frankie’s Friends will request a 25% discount from your veterinarian. If you’re not selected through Frankie’s Funds or don’t receive enough to cover your costs, they also have the Hope Fund available at partnering Blue Pearl Veterinary Practices across the US.

Friends and Vets Helping Pets
This nonprofit offers grants to individuals whose pets have curable medical issues including tumors, broken bones, diseases that can be treated with medication, and ambulatory issues. They aim to assist low-income families, but anyone with a household income of up to 200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines is eligible to submit an application.

Hope Mending Hearts

  • Financial assistance grants so pet owners, Good Samaritans and rescuers can care for animals who need urgent veterinary care  An easy online application and quick approval process.
  • Resources for pet owners struggling with economic hardship.
  • Resources for victims of domestic violence and deploying soldiers.

The goal of the program is to help animals who need immediate veterinary care to survive. Due to the overwhelming number of applications, we receive, we unfortunately cannot help everyone. The typical grant is $100 to $200. Decisions are based upon several factors, including: medical urgency, financial need, available funding, pet eligibility and pet owner financial status.

Paws 4 a Cure
Paws 4 A Cure is an all-volunteer 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides financial assistance throughout the United States to those who cannot afford veterinary care for their beloved furry family members. Paws 4 A Cure helps dogs and cats with all illnesses and injuries. Paws 4 A Cure does not discriminate against breed, age, or diagnosis. http://www.rosesfund.org/ his fund offers financial assistance to pet parents whose pets are dealing with urgent, life-threatening health concerns and whose prognosis after treatment is good. They only provide donations to families who have exhausted all other options, so you’ll need to apply for CareCredit before trying Rose’s Fund.

Onyx and Breezy
Since 2004, The Onyx and Breezy Foundation have provided grants to folks who cannot afford urgent and emergency medical care for their pets. In order to qualify, you’ll need to present documentation of your financial situation, and you’ll need to show that you’ve been rejected for full or partial costs from CareCredit.

Oscar Newman's Violet's Friends
A program by Oscar Newman Luxury Pet Couture, Violet’s Friends provides financial assistance to pet parents for surgeries, therapies, urgent or critical veterinary care, and mobility solutions that can’t otherwise afford it. Funds are distributed based on urgency of need, and your pet will need to have a good prognosis to receive assistance.

Bow Wow Buddies
We are proud to announce that grants up to $2,500 are available. These are meant to cover necessary medical treatments for certain serious conditions and emergency services. Grants are not available for spay or neuter surgeries, dental work, preventative care, ongoing treatments, or end-of-life care.

Help a Pet
Help-A-Pet is a nonprofit organization which provides financial assistance to pet owners who are unable to afford the cost of veterinary services, medicine, or medical supplies for a sick or injured pet. To qualify, your annual income must be below $20,000 for an individual household or $40,000 for a family household (amount varies upon the number of dependents). Due to limited funding, financial assistance can only be provided once per pet.

Crowdfunding and payment plan

Of course, many of the grant and donation programs are completely swamped with requests, and it may just be a matter of luck if you’re able to get funding or not. That’s where crowdfunding and pet care payment plans can come in handy. If you do need to cover the complete costs of your pet’s medical care, consider these options:

Care Credit
Care Credit is a healthcare credit card that can help you cover your pet’s financial expenses. You can use the card to pay for your pet’s procedures or routine medical care, and then set up a payment plan so you don’t need to cover all of the costs up front. Some financial assistance programs will request that you apply for CareCredit first before applying for aid, so it’s a good idea to do some research and apply if you suspect you may need assistance.

Plum Fund
This general crowdfunding site is a great option for creating a campaign for your pet. They have options that are 100% free with low transaction fees, and they’ll even help you to raise money through offline payments at no cost to you. Check out their Animal Crowdfunding page for more details.

Scratchpay
Scratchpay allows you to find a payment plan for immediate pet care at thousands of clinics. You can apply on their site and click “Find a Payment Plan” to start your application. Once they accept a payment option, your clinic receives a confirmation email.

Fundrazr
Animal lovers can create a free campaign with their own unique pictures and story on PetFundr in a matter of minutes. That campaign is then shared with friends and family on Facebook and other social media channels. You can collect the money right away, minus a small fee. And unlike many crowdfunding platforms that operate on an “all or nothing” funding model, PetFundr pays out 100 per cent of donations received – regardless of whether the user hits their fundraising target.

Waggle
We're the first and only pet-dedicated crowdfunding platform devoted to raising funds for pets in medical crisis and giving those at the front lines of economic euthanasia decisions a safety net.

Some other ideas for securing funds

  • Friends & family: Ask your circle for a loan. Those around you know your pup and may be able to lend a helping hand.
  • Exchange a service: Are you a skilled painter? Excellent handyperson? Try to leverage your skills to scrape up extra cash.
  • Employer: Some bosses may offer an advance on your next pay if you’re between checks.
  • Religious institution: Your place of worship may be able to help or allow you to post on the community board for member assistance.
  • Social media: Making a heartfelt post on Facebook can stir up help from friends, but branching out to Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube can reach a wide audience, particularly if your plea goes viral. Remember: Everyone has difficult times, and many are willing to pay it forward when they can.
  • Neighbors: Because your neighbors probably know your dog, they may be willing to offer a loan in your time of need.