In my shelter experience, the only time I've ever seen that is if the shelter/rescue is at capacity or is understaffed to manage the current intake load or has a legal team who has the resources to explore "breach of contract". I have also seen some cases if it's a medical return that they don't have the resources to handle. All in all, I have never encountered it out of a lack of wanting to, just not being able to. I'm glad to never have had to choose that.
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Shanna Jiggar
Community Develop Manager
Copper Quill Haven
ID
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Original Message:
Sent: 04-20-2026 07:37 AM
From: Kim Kamins
Subject: Returned Adoptions - who takes their animals back?
I'd like to get some feedback about returned adoptions. Who has a life-time return policy on their animals?
The reason I'm asking this is my organization gets too many requests for owner surrender intakes from people who adopted from another organization, and that organization refuses to take their animal back. I don't understand why every organization who adopts an animal doesn't stand behind that animal for life, taking them back when "life happens" for an adopter and they must relinquish their pet. I feel strongly that all of us saving and adopting animals should stand behind our adopted animals for life, not putting more work on another organization to rehome your animal.
If you don't stand behind your adopted animals for life, can you please let me know why? What is your rational for knowing that another organization then needs to help your animal?
Thanks for your feedback.
#AdmissionsandIntake(includingIntake-to-placement)
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Kim Kamins
Executive Director
Fearless Kitty Rescue
AZ
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