Giving up your pet

The Norfolk Animal Care and Adoption Center is a city department funded by taxpayers. Therefore, we can only accept animals from residents of Norfolk.  We are an open-door shelter, and we accept all animals in need, which means we routinely receive 400-600 animals per month.

We understand that sometimes it may be necessary to give up a pet, and we will do our very best to place your animal into a new home.  We strongly suggest that you use us as a last resort as we cannot always guarantee that a home can be found for every animal.  We can offer some suggestions that may help you find a new home for your pet without surrendering him or her to the animal shelter.

If you decide to relinquish your pet to the Norfolk Animal Care and Adoption Center, please bring your pet's veterinary records.  We will also ask you to give us some basic information on your pet's personality, lifestyle and preferred environment so that we may do our best to place him or her into an appropriate new home.

We ask for a $15 entry-fee for animals.  This allows us to update your pet's vaccines as necessary, keeping him or her as healthy as possible during their stay at the shelter.  Please contact us if we can assist with helping your pet remain in your home.