I need to surrender my pet
LA Animal Services has alternative solutions to help keep pets and families together.
Events may take place in which you can no longer care for your pet, ranging from financial hardship or a change in your living situation.
Before surrendering your pet to a shelter, please consider the following options that may help to keep you and your furry family member together, and help to ensure life-saving space is available for injured or sick animals who are brought into our Centers.
Our Safety Net Foster Program offers short-term foster care for pets whose families are facing a crisis, giving pet owners the time that they need to address and resolve their crisis, with the knowledge that they’ll be able to reunite with their pet, once they’re back on their feet.
Gives City of Los Angeles residents who can no longer keep their pets the opportunity to find new, loving homes without having to surrender them to the shelter. Pets can go from one home right into another, which means less stress for animals and humans alike. In addition, this offers potential new owners the opportunity to communicate directly with the current owners, providing firsthand information about the animals.
The Pet Food Pantry is a community resource to assist low-income families and individuals in the City of Los Angeles experiencing financial hardship who need help feeding their animal companions.
Our monthly Doggy Dialogues, Cat Chat and Rabbit Roundtable, where care staff, veterinary professionals, experienced volunteers/fosters help owners with any challenges or questions they may have with their pet. Click here to view the next session.
LA Animal Services has created a Community Resource Guide which lists organizations and their programs throughout Los Angeles available to LA City residents. These organizations provide assistance with food, housing, pets, and resources and information regarding COVID-19; and a Pet Resource Guide, which features the resources and services available through LA Animal Services.
Intervention Groups
betterTogether Forever
betterTogerther Forever is dedicated to helping pet parents in Los Angeles communities that are under-served and under-resourced access valuable services to help them stay together with the pets they love, and to keep those pets safe, healthy, happy, off the streets, and out of animal shelters. They are located at the North Central Animal Shelter. 323-963-4299 | Email: hello@peopleandpetsbtf.org | peopleandpetsbtf.org
Downtown Dog Rescue
Downtown Dog Rescue believes in second chances for both dogs and people — rescuing dogs and
providing services for low income pet owners in underserved communities in Los Angeles County.
1309 E 7th St. Los Angeles, CA 90021 | 213-403-0129 | downtowndogrescue.org
The Rescue Train
The Rescue Train is a unique, 501(c)3 nonprofit, no-kill, animal-welfare organization based in Los Angeles, California. They are a small but mighty group of animal advocates, dedicated to making the world a kinder place for pets and the people who love them.
818-927-1364 | therescuetrain.org
If surrendering your pet is your only option.
If you need to surrender your pet back to a shelter, please make an appointment by calling 888-452-7381.
Do NOT abandon your pet in any building, enclosure, lot, street, or other public place.
Pet abandonment is a violation of CA Penal Code 597.
