How to Surrender a Pet
An appointment is required for all owners wishing to surrender their pet. If you wish to proceed with scheduling an appointment to surrender your pet, please review all information below.
Holidays may affect the schedule. All animal intake is closed Monday.
Animal Admission - Owner Surrender
Arlington Animal Services is requesting the help of citizens while it is experiencing staffing constraints and operating with a limited team to care for the animals housed at the shelter.
Surrendering a Pet
Deciding to surrender your pet can be very emotional and difficult for both you and your pet. Arlington Animal Services would like to make that decision and the surrender process as easy as possible. Our first priority is to help you find a way for your pet to remain a member of your family.
Before you decide to relinquish your pet, reevaluate your situation. Please consider the following alternatives to surrendering your pet:
Alternatives to Surrendering Your Pet
Why are you surrendering your pet?
Surrendering Your Pet
Effective June 17, 2025, the City of Arlington Animal Services has temporarily paused accepting owner-surrendered pets. This difficult decision was made because our shelter is currently operating significantly beyond its capacity, housing an average of over 200 animals daily, while our facility is designed for 159. Our priority is the welfare of the animals in our care and to avoid unnecessary euthanasia.
We understand that surrendering a pet is a challenging decision, and we apologize for any inconvenience this cancellation may cause.
While we are unable to accept owner-surrendered animals at this time, we want to provide you with some alternative resources and options that may help you rehome your pet responsibly:
- Rehome by Adopt a Pet - This platform allows you to create a profile for your kittens and connect with potential adopters directly: https://rehome.zendesk.com/hc/en-us
- Arlington Animal Services Rehoming Packet - We have compiled a comprehensive guide with suggestions and resources for successfully rehoming pets: https://www.arlingtontx.gov/files/assets/city/v/1/animal-services/documents/aas_rehoming_packet.pdf
- Local Rescue Organizations - Consider contacting other non-profit shelters and rescue groups such as DFW Humane Society, Operation Kindness, and SPCA of Texas, as they may have different availability.
- Social Media Networking - Utilizing your personal social media platforms to spread the word about your kittens can often lead to successful rehoming within your network.
We understand this is a difficult situation and appreciate your understanding as we work to ensure the best possible care for all animals in our community.
We encourage you to monitor the City of Arlington Animal Services website for updates on when we will be able to resume accepting owner surrenders.
Additional Information
Contact intake@arlingtontx.gov and a team member will respond as soon as possible.