If you are looking to surrender a pet to the Ontario County Humane Society for humane housing and care, please contact our office during business hours at (585) 396-4590. The Ontario County Humane Society is a no-kill facility and we encourage animal owners to contact other local shelters if space is not available at Happy Tails Animal Shelter. The Ontario County Humane Society is not able to accept animals from outside of Ontario County. If you reside outside of Ontario County, please contact your local shelter for assistance or utilize our S.O.S. Program.

To maintain an appropriate population and minimize stress behaviors seen in shelter animals, all animal surrenders will be required to participate in our S.O.S. Program for a minimum of 2 weeks prior to admission. The S.O.S. Program utilizes social media in finding appropriate homes for unwanted and homeless animals and allows seamless transition from one home to another without the need to enter the facility. You can find more information regarding the S.O.S. Program and how to participate below.

If a suitable home is not found after the mandatory two-week period, eligible animals will be added to a waiting list while in anticipation of available space with the Humane Society. The waiting period will be determined based on the current population at Happy Tails Animal Shelter and the order in which the animal falls on the waiting list.

Eligibility for surrender is determined using multiple considerations including but not limited to physical location, medical history, behavioral history, and the ability to pay mandatory surrender fees. All available medical history (vaccines, neuter status, conditions, medications, regular checkups, etc.) will be required before an animal can be approved for surrender. Failure to provide medical history and/or unvaccinated/unaltered animals may be subject to increased fees. In addition to medical history, a thorough behavioral evaluation must be done by Ontario County Humane Society staff to determine the likelihood of successful placement.

Attention: Due to an overwhelming number of stray dogs, cruelty, and abandonment investigations, The Ontario County Humane Society is currently operating over our shelter capacity. As a result, the Humane Society is not able to accept animal surrenders at this time. We strongly urge those in need to use the resources on our website and participate in our S.O.S. Program.

Surrendering pets due to
behavioral problems?

Despite exceptional love, care, and understanding, impoundment in a shelter facility is often traumatic for an animal familiar with a home environment. The unnecessary stress can sometimes lead to undesirable behaviors and anxiety, making placement difficult and extending an animal’s stay at the shelter. The S.O.S. Program allows would-be residents to locate new homes without entering a facility and occupying space and resources that may be necessary for lost animals and victims of abuse.

Participants of the program will remain in their homes during the process. The process entails collecting photos and information valuable to a potential adopter and advertising the animal on our social media accounts. The high traffic of said social media accounts provides limitless opportunities and quick transition from one home to another. The program offers current owners the opportunity to interview potential adopters and the freedom to select the ideal home for an individual.

Animal owners are encouraged to have pets spayed or neutered and be up-to-date on vaccines for a faster placement. Participants located in Ontario County may be eligible for Ontario County Humane Society’s Spay/Neuter Program and all applicants are welcome to attend our regular Rabies Clinics.

This program is provided free of charge by the Ontario County Humane Society. Any animal rehoming fees requested are at the discretion of the applicant. Please be aware that interested parties HAVE NOT been interviewed, background checked, or approved by the Ontario County Humane Society and this is a responsibility of the applicant.

Completed forms can be submitted:

• By mail or in person at 2976 County Road 48 Canandaigua, New York 14424

• Faxed to (585)-396-4805

• Emailed to happytails@ontariocountyhumanesociety.org

1. Submit an Application
   Complete the application in its entirety. The name and phone number provided on the application will be the point of contact for interested parties, so be sure to provide a working phone number. The information on the application will be used to create a profile for the animal to be shared on social media, so provide lots of detail including recent medical information and vaccine status. The more information you provide, the more detail we can add to your post which will be crucial to finding an appropriate home.

2. Wait!
   Applications are processed in the order that they are received. Applications are processed daily however applications could take up to two weeks before they are posted to our social media accounts. Once your application has been completed, you will be notified by email with links to find your listing on Facebook and Instagram.

3. Follow Up
   Once your listing has gone live, follow up directly by answering questions and responding to comments on social media. You can share photos, information, and updates that will help potential adopters decide if the pet is a good fit for them and their home. Additionally, be sure to answer incoming phone calls as the number you provided on your application will be the listed number and the direct point of contact for interested parties.

   Use this time to get to know interested parties, interview potential adopters, and check references. The S.O.S. Program gives you the freedom to pick the perfect home!

4. Remove or Repost Your Listing
   If you have located a new home for the pet, be sure to notify the Humane Society who will update your listing and remove your phone number. If you have not located a new home after two weeks, please notify the Humane Society who will edit the listing and repost for more coverage.

There are many ways to support the shelter and our pursuit of placing as many pets in homes as possible. Adoption, fostering, donating, and volunteering are small ways to make a big difference.