When Surrendering Your Pet is the Only Option
Surrendering your pet to the shelter should be your last resort. With more than 6,000 animals coming through our doors each year, we need your help to keep them out of the shelter and in homes. We only accept pets from the City of Norfolk.
Before you bring your pet to the shelter, please consult our Hampton Roads Pet Resource Guide. This guide includes information and resources on:
- Rehoming your pet
- Lost and found pet assistance
- Spay/neuter
- Food/supplies
- Emergency medical assistance
- Behavior/training
- Low-cost vaccines/vet service
- Hospice care
- Domestic violence
- Community cats
- Pet-friendly housing
- Military deployment alternatives
- Wildlife
- Livestock
- Rabbits
- Reptiles
- Hampton Roads Shelters
Owners Surrenders
Pet retention resources are available and will be provided to help keep families together.
Requests to surrender animals for medical emergencies, public safety, and exigent circumstances will be admitted immediately.
Those that do not qualify in any of the above categories will be provided with information, guidance and resources and an intake appointment will be scheduled for a later date if needed.
Please contact us at 757-441-5505 or nacc@norfolk.gov to schedule a non-emergency appointment.
Required Information & Fee
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.
The Norfolk Animal Care and Adoption Center has a required $15 surrender fee for animals.
This fee partially offsets costs of services including updating a pet’s vaccines as necessary, to ensure they are as healthy as possible while at the shelter. Please contact us for assistance with helping your pet remain in your home.