Pet Relinquishment

There are many reasons why pet owners relinquish their pets. If you find yourself in this situation, for whatever reason, the Santa Barbara Humane Society is here to assist you. Please note the following conditions:

  • You must provide the following documents:
    • A valid photo ID showing that you are a resident of the geographic area served by the Santa Barbara Humane Society. In order to provide the best possible service to our community, we are only able to accept owner-relinquished cats, dogs and rodents from residents of our geographic area, which is the area from Carpinteria to the Santa Ynez Valley; we regret that we are unable to take animals from outside of our area.
    • The name of your veterinarian, any veterinary invoices, or vaccination certificates.
    • Proof that you own the animal, such as a dog license with your name on it, a bill of sale, adoption paperwork, or veterinary records
  • Animal intake hours are Monday - Saturday, 10:00 am - 4:00 pm.
  • We accept owner-relinquished animals only. All other animals may be taken to County Animal Services located at 5473 Overpass Road in Santa Barbara, or to the County shelter in Santa Maria.
  • An owner is required to relinquish his or her pet in person. If the owner is unable to bring the animal to the Humane Society, we ask that the "custodian" who is delivering the animal submit a written relinquishment statement, signed by the owner, with the owner's name, address, phone number, and some background information about the pet. If the owner is deceased, we will accept the animal from a member of the family or from a legal representative of the estate.
  • Anyone relinquishing a dog or cat to the Santa Barbara Humane Society must allow enough time to complete a two-page background profile about the animal's personality and prior living situation. Please be honest; this information will assist us in placing the dog or cat in a suitable new home.

**If an owner relinquishes a litter of puppies or kittens, the Santa Barbara Humane Society will spay the mother of the litter at no cost.

Thinking About the Alternatives to Relinquishment?

For pets that are unruly, aggressive, or generally difficult to handle...
Consider spaying or neutering your pet if it is unaltered. The Santa Barbara Humane Society has a year-round, low-fee spay and neuter clinic for the general public. The younger your pet is, the faster the recovery time from surgery. Think about spaying or neutering your pet as soon as you bring one home.

Also, the Santa Barbara Humane Society provides one-on-one consultations for dog training in basic obedience for a nominal donation. Our onsite Dog Behaviorist is available by appointment Tuesday through Saturday to provide you with proper leash handling, self-correction techniques, and assistance with basic dog obedience commands.

In addition, we sponsor four- and six-week dog training classes through local dog obedience companies at our facility. Class sessions are limited to 8 dogs per session and all dogs must be vaccinated for rabies, distemper/parvo, and bordetella. Class sessions teach owners basic good canine citizenship methods at fees that are very reasonable. For more information, contact our Humane Education Department Coordinator, at 964-4777, ext. 17.

When you have made the decision to give up your pet...
Realize that you are relinquishing ownership of your pet to us. If you should change your mind, and you want your pet back we may be able to return the animal to you after it has been spayed or neutered at our onsite Clinic. All dogs residing in Santa Barbara County must have a proper license prior to being returned to you.