***If you think you might need to surrender your pet please first call our Caregiving Department as soon as possible at 920.424.2128, ext. 114,  to discuss your situation.***

We schedule all surrenders to ensure a staff person is available to best serve you and your animal. Please remember not all animals acclimate well in a shelter environment.  A shelter is a far cry from a home environment and many animals are overwhelmed and may not display their positive personality traits.  Animals will be exposed to the sight, sounds and smells of many strange animals and people.  If your animal does not do well with strangers or other animals please take that into consideration whether a shelter environment would result in success for them.  Rehoming your pet yourself often offers them the best chance for success.

Due to overwhelming demand and space constraints, you may be put on a waiting list. Please consider listing your pet on our Community Rehoming Page, local rehoming pages on social media such as Facebook, or local apps such as Nextdoor.  Please scroll down for tips on how to rehome your pet successfully, and responsibly, on your own.   

Options to consider before surrender/rehome

We understand there are many reasons a person can no longer care for an animal – whether the situation is temporary or permanent.  Before making the decision to rehome or surrender consider the following:

• Is there a friend or family member you could ask to take the pet temporarily until your situation changes?
• Is it a behavior issue that could be managed with the right information and guidance? Many behavior issues are manageable! (We do have a cat behavioral counselor right here at OAHS and can suggest other area trainers/behaviorists) 
• Are you moving and can’t find pet-friendly housing? Click HERE
• Are you facing eviction or looking for rental assistance? Click HERE

Did you adopt your pet from OAHS?

 If you adopted your pet from the Oshkosh Area Humane Society (OAHS) please contact us for options. We are typically able to take the pet back into care within a reasonable time period, pending adoptability status for behavior/medical and depending on space availability. Please call our Caregiving Department at 920.424.2128 extension 114 if you want to discuss surrender and/or alternatives. 

Note:  If your animal poses a severe safety risk or has a history of bites, attacks, or concerning aggressive behavior, there is significant liability involved with rehoming that animal.  In certain cases where an animal is considered a safety risk to the public/other animals, behavioral euthanasia may be the most responsible and ethical option.  Resources on behavioral euthanasia can be found here: https://www.ourcompanions.org/are-you-considering-behavioral-euthanasia/

Rehome, from your home!

List Your Pet on the OAHS Local Pet Rehoming Page

OAHS hosts a rehoming page on our website where you can post your pet for adoption. Nobody knows your pet better than you! You can provide the best description of their personality and pictures of them in a home setting. Additionally, you would be most knowledgeable when talking to a potential new owner about whether the animal would be a good fit for them.

Rehoming your pet this way allows them to stay at home in comfortable surroundings while you select the home that you think will be the best for them. This also leaves one more opening at OAHS for those animals without someone to advocate for them. OAHS does recommend pets be spayed or neutered and current on their rabies vaccination before rehoming them.