Surrender Services

We know that sometimes people are no longer able to care for their pets due to a variety of reasons, and we are here to help. As a For-All shelter these steps will help us protect the community and our staff.

The SPCA Tampa Bay Surrender and Animal Intake program no longer requires appointments. Walk-ins are the preferred way for SPCA Tampa Bay to help customers who are no longer able to care for their cats, dogs or other pets.

All stray cats and dogs should go to Pinellas County Animal Services. SPCA Tampa Bay DOES NOT accept any strays outside of Pinellas County.

If financial hardship is the reason you are considering giving up your pet, our food bank provides free pet food to dogs and cats of people in need.

What to Expect When You Surrender a Pet

SPCA Tampa Bay is For-All shelter and pet hospital. As a non-profit 501(c)3 we operate on service fees and donations. To support the needs of the community, the SPCA Tampa Bay’s Surrender and Intake program has the following fees for surrender:

Surrender Fees

Owner surrender, cat or dog (Pinellas County resident): $45
Owner surrender, cat or dog (out-of-county resident): $60
Owner surrender, litter of puppies or kittens (under 6 months, Pinellas County resident): $75
Owner surrender, litter of puppies or kittens (under 6 months, out-of-county resident): $90
Owner surrender, all other species: please call 727-586-3591 ext 150.

Please be aware that you can expect to wait up to two hours to be seen by a counselor. Please arrive no later than 5 p.m. to secure same day service of your pet surrender. We close at 6 p.m.

All animals will need personality profiles filled out before or at time of intake. All paperwork needed for surrender can be found and downloaded/printed from this page. A form of ID is also required to surrender a pet. A counselor will review and assess each animal during the intake process.

If you are unsure of ownership of an animal or if you have more than five animals for surrender, please call us at 727-586-3591 ext 150 and we will return your call within 48 hours.

Our Animal/Pet Surrender and Intake program operates six days a week, Tuesday through Friday from 1- 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday Noon- 6 p.m. We are closed on Monday.

Intake Forms

Save time. Complete these before you visit us.

Cat Personality Profile

Cat Elimination Profile

Dog Personality Profile

Pocket Pets Personality Profile

Owner Surrender Form

Our Call-Back Program

SPCA Tampa Bay will work hard to find a home for your pet. However, some animals are not adoptable due to behavioral issues and medical conditions.

When you sign up for a call back, we will contact you if your pet does not pass medical or behavior testing and is deemed “unadoptable.”

Animals that cannot be put up for adoption are humanely euthanized.

Call-Back Fees:

The decision to surrender your pet is a serious one. If you would like to be notified of our decision, you may sign up for a call back after we have had time to evaluate your animal for adoption. The fee for the call back program is $75.

As the surrendering owner you will have 48 hours to reclaim your pet once you are contacted by an intake counselor. This time can be helpful in allowing you to find another option for your pet. You will be responsible for rabies and the county license if your pet is not up to date.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a fee to admit a pet?

Pet owners are asked to pay a fee when their pet is admitted to help SPCA Tampa Bay with continuing the care of their pet. This includes safe shelter, healthy meals, professional medical care and behavior support, all provided while a new home is sought. Fees are listed on this page.

Do you admit all stray dogs and cats?

No. We ask that you take all stray cats and dogs to Pinellas County Animal Services ~ 12450 Ulmerton Rd., Largo, FL 33774 ~ 727-582-2600

Do you admit pets from areas outside of Pinellas County?

Yes, but there are some requirements. We require a $60 intake fee for individual, owned pets. There is a $90 fee for litters. We do not accept healthy, sick or injured strays from outside Pinellas County.

Please remember that only the legal owner of an animal can surrender the pet to our facility. Family and friends who have been asked to surrender a pet for a legal owner who is unable to do so in person must provide written and signed approval from that owner in order to surrender on their behalf.

Pinellas County Animal Services (PCAS) defines an owner as any person possessing, harboring, keeping or having control or custody of an animal. If the animal is owned by a person under the age of 18 years, that person’s parent or guardian is the animal’s legal owner. Thirty (30) days is the PCAS guideline for the length of time that an animal must be in a person’s custody for the animal to be owned by that person.