How Much Does It Cost to Surrender a Cat or Dog to a Shelter? Fees From $20 to $100, and Why Some Shelters Say No
Giving up a pet is rarely a money decision, but it does come with a price tag, and many people only find out at the front desk. Public shelters in the United States charge an owner surrender fee, usually somewhere between $20 and $100 per animal. This guide compares five published fee schedules and pages to show what a cat or dog surrender costs, who pays more, and what else the shelter may ask for before it accepts the animal.
There is no national rate. Each city, county or humane society sets its own, and some do not accept surrenders at all right now. The examples below come from Corpus Christi, Texas; Arlington, Texas; Mission Viejo, California; Fitzgerald, Georgia; and The Colony, Texas. Treat them as a map of what to ask your own shelter, not a quote.
Corpus Christi, Texas: $50, with a break for young litters
The city's animal care fee schedule, effective October 1, 2025, lists an owner surrender at $50 per animal, unless the animals are a litter under 4 months old. Surrendering an animal that has bitten someone is $100. The same schedule prices adoption at $25 for a healthy domestic dog or cat over 6 months old, and that fee includes spay or neuter, a microchip with city license, and a rabies vaccination. The gap is worth noticing: it costs twice as much to hand over a cat as to adopt one from the same shelter.
Arlington, Texas: $35, but intake is paused
Arlington's fee schedule shows one line, "Owner Surrender of Pet," at $35 per animal, with no separate rate for dogs, cats or non-residents. In the same schedule, a cat adoption is $90 and a dog adoption is $100, both with sterilization, microchip, vaccines and license. The catch is availability. The city says owner-surrender intake has been temporarily paused since June 17, 2025 because the shelter is over capacity, and an appointment will be required once it resumes. For now, the city points owners to a rehoming packet and private rehoming platforms.
Mission Viejo, California: $25 for residents, up to $100 for others
Mission Viejo, which also serves Laguna Niguel, Aliso Viejo, Laguna Hills and Rancho Santa Margarita, accepts owner relinquishments by application only. Residents pay $25 for a cat. A litter of kittens under 6 months is $25 each for one or two kittens, or $50 total for three or more. Non-residents pay $100 for an unaltered cat or $60 for an altered one, and are accepted only when space allows. You must send photo ID with proof of residency and a photo of the pet, and an approved animal still has to pass a temperament evaluation and health assessment.
Fitzgerald, Georgia: $35, or $20 if already fixed
The Fitzgerald-Ben Hill County Humane Society charges $35 for a city or county resident, and $20 if the animal is already spayed or neutered. It is one of the few schedules that rewards you for having the surgery done first. Owners sign a relinquishment form at the shelter, and out-of-county animals are not being accepted at this time.
The Colony, Texas: $20, charged only if accepted
The Colony runs a call-in surrender list rather than walk-in intake. Residents must be 18 or older and show a driver's license or ID as proof of residency. The $20 per-pet fee is collected only if the shelter accepts the animal. You also provide 3 to 5 clear photos so the shelter can post the pet for adoption, and you may wait on the list for a while.
What actually sets the total
- Residency: Mission Viejo charges non-residents up to four times the resident rate, and Fitzgerald refuses out-of-county animals outright.
- Litters: Corpus Christi waives the per-animal rate for litters under 4 months, and Mission Viejo caps three or more kittens at $50.
- Medical status: a spayed or neutered pet costs $20 instead of $35 in Fitzgerald, and an altered cat is $60 instead of $100 for a non-resident in Mission Viejo.
- Behavior history: Corpus Christi doubles the fee to $100 for a bite animal.
- Wait time: a low fee does not help if intake is paused, as in Arlington, or if you sit on a waiting list like The Colony's.
On these five schedules the posted fee for one pet ranges from $20 to $100, and a household with two cats at Corpus Christi's rate would pay $50 + $50 = $100 (my arithmetic).
Cheaper options to check before you surrender
Because the fee is only part of the picture, it can be cheaper to solve the underlying cost. If the issue is a lost animal, see our guide to what shelters charge to reclaim a lost dog. If housing is the problem, pet rent, fees and deposits are often negotiable. If the bill is a vet bill, our explainer on vet bill payment plans shows what financing really costs. And if you are rehoming a cat yourself, a new owner will want to know what adopting a cat costs.
Questions to ask the shelter
- Is owner-surrender intake open, or is there an appointment or waiting list?
- What is the fee for one animal, a litter, a spayed or neutered pet, and a non-resident?
- Is the fee charged at the visit or only if the animal is accepted?
- What proof of residency, vaccination records and photos do you need?
- Are there rehoming resources or a lower-cost alternative to surrender?
This article covers costs only and is not veterinary advice. Fees come from the posted pages and fee schedules of Corpus Christi TX, Arlington TX, Mission Viejo CA, Fitzgerald-Ben Hill County GA and The Colony TX, and may change; confirm current prices and intake status directly with your local shelter.
All content is fact-checked under our editorial standards.