Surrendering a Senior Dog

Surrendering a dog

There are various reasons people need to rehome a dog. Some of our dogs come to us after their owner dies or moves to a facility that does not allow dogs, and some have financial difficulties that make it impossible to keep their dog.

We are a grassroots, volunteer-staffed rescue. We strive to review surrender applications within one week but placement with a foster can take 2-3 weeks.

We are not allowed by law to accept stray or abandoned dogs. If you have found a stray dog, please contact the animal control authority in the county where the dog was found. We do not accept dogs from outside of Oregon.

Surrender Application

What to Expect

We understand that deciding to rehome a dog can be difficult. By filling out our application as completely and honestly as possible, you will help us find the best fit possible if we can accept your dog.

We are committed to helping as many senior dogs as possible but cannot accept all applicants due to the high volume of applications and our limited resources.

Only dogs 7+ years old and residing in Oregon will be considered for surrender to SDRO. You must be the legal owner or have power of attorney to surrender the dog to us.

Your application will be thoroughly reviewed, and we will notify you if we can accept your dog. Please allow at least 10 days; we will contact you as soon as possible if your need is time-sensitive.

Surrender Fee

The surrender fee is $50. Please let us know if we accept your dog and payment of the surrender fee would be a financial hardship. We would never let that stand in the way of helping find your dog a loving home. Our fees rarely cover all of the dog’s expenses while in our care.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • We are a foster-based, volunteer-driven rescue organization working hard to find a forever home for senior dogs aged 6 and up. Our organization is based in Corvallis, Oregon, and most dogs are fostered in Benton, Lane, and Linn Counties. We do not have a shelter, and available volunteer resources always limit us. Senior Dog Rescue of Oregon adoption team staff and fosters are all volunteers.

  • A surrender application is required. You will also need to provide a copy of your dog's most recent vaccination record and 3-5 good photos of your dog. We review applications, vaccination records, and photos as they come. One of our adoption coordinators will contact you to let you know if we can accept your dog.

  • Your application will be thoroughly reviewed, and we will notify you if we can accept your dog. Please allow at least 10 days; we will contact you as soon as possible if your need is time-sensitive. If your application is approved, you will receive a digital surrender agreement to sign along with payment instructions for the $50 surrender fee. Once we receive your signed surrender agreement and fee, we will begin the process of finding your dog a loving new home.

  • No, we cannot accept surrendered dogs from outside the state. We are focused on helping senior dogs within Oregon to find a new forever home.