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Surrender Your Pet

Kit CT23-174

Thinking of surrendering your cat?

We know that sometimes life happens and people find themselves unable to properly care for their cat. Our greatest fear is that someone will feel so desperate that they consider giving or selling their cat to a stranger.  Without the required references and home checks performed by rescue groups, cats run the risk of being placed into unhealthy and abusive homes. We want to ensure your loved one gets the home they deserve.

Before you make the decision to surrender, give away, or sell your cat, we may be able to help you find solutions that will allow you to keep your cat as a member of the family. While we can't guarantee miracles, we do have extensive experience dealing with a multitude of issues and can certainly offer suggestions and alternatives to giving up your cat.

Criteria to surrender your cat to Animal Welfare League of Montgomery County.

  1. Cat(s) must be spayed or neutered.
  2. Cat(s) must be microchipped.
  3. Must test negative for Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) and Feline Leukemia (FeLV)  (combo/snap test must be dated/completed within 30 days of coming into the shelter).
  4. Cats cannot have any chronic medical or physical issues.
  5. Cats cannot have behavioral issues such as not using a litter box, spraying, urine marking, chronic biting or aggressiveness.
  6. Cats over 6 years old must be in excellent health to be considered as we do not accept many over this age.
  7. Cats must be indoor only.
  8. Stray cats will not be accepted. Please report stray cats to your local municipal shelter so they can be reunited with their families or taken in and prepared for adoption.

AWLMC is a cat-only shelter and we do not accept dogs.  If you need to surrender your dog, here are some local organizations that may be able to assist:

Montgomery County Humane Society

Montgomery County Animal Services & Adoption Center

Humane Rescue Alliance

Surrendering your pet to Animal Welfare League of Montgomery County is a permanent decision.

Animal Welfare League of Montgomery County knows that surrendering your cat is a very difficult decision, but sometimes - it is the only one to make. If you choose to surrender your cat, you'll be asked to complete a surrender contract. Your signature on this contract represents a permanent decision on your part. This legally binding contract gives full ownership of the cat to Animal Welfare League of Montgomery County. This allows us to provide veterinary care and down the road, legally adopt out the cat to a carefully pre-screened 'forever' home. Please note: We consider adoptions through our organization to be closed, meaning that we do not reveal the identities of either the surrendering or adopting parties. This ensures your privacy, as well as the privacy of the adopter, will be protected.

Steps to surrender your cat

01

Apply

Complete the Surrender Form.

02

Review

Our Team will review your application to determine if we have an open foster available and whether or not your cat is a fit for our rescue.

03

Our Decision

We will contact you to let know our decision.

Upon review, we will

Make arrangements to get the cat

If it has been determined that your cat is a good fit for our organization, we will contact you to make arrangements to get the cat

OR

Provide you with alternative resources

If your cat is not a good fit or if we do not have room at this time, we will provide you with alternative resources.

Surrender Application for Cats

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