We know that making the choice to rehome your pet is never easy. At the Cheyenne Animal Shelter, we are here to help you with this process.
Our first priority is to help you stay with your companion even in times of adversity. Here are some resources that can help.
To learn more about our pet food pantry and our safety net programs for Safehouse and Comea, click here.
Go to pets.find.help.com to search for free or low-cost pet support services like veterinary care, pet food pantries, temporary pet care, and more.
Wyoming211 is a service that provides referrals to a network of organizations for financial assistance and social services programs free of charge. Call 211 or go to wyoming211.org.
Dogs On Deployment is a national non-profit that provides an online network for service members to search for volunteers who are willing to board their pets during their owner's service commitments. Go to dogsondeployment.org and enter your zip code to find potential dog fosters near you.
Need help addressing behavioral issues? Check out the resources below!
List your animal on Rehome by Adopt a Pet
Rehome is a simple, reliable program to help you move your pet from your loving home directly to another. This may be a better option if you know your pet does not get along well with other animals and may become more stressed in an animal shelter setting. In 2023, the average length of stay on Adopt a Pet was 20 days for dogs and 21 days for cats.
Create a profile
Register an account and create a pet profile at rehome.adoptapet.com, and use the referral code RCXHAQTL2U8AD8Z.
You will be asked to upload pictures and answer descriptive questions about your pet's characteristics and behaviors. It is also recommended to list a rehoming fee for the animal to prevent potential scams. Adopt a Pet recommends a fee between $50 and $150.
Once your pet’s profile is posted, potential adopters in your area can submit applications for you to review.
2. Review applications
Screen applicants and choose the best safe and loving home for your pet. You know your pet better than anyone, so you are uniquely qualified to do so!
If you would like to move forward with an applicant, do not click ‘Finalize Adoption’; click ‘Contact Adopter’ within their application. You can then communicate with them by phone or email to ask further questions. If you do not feel it's a good fit for your pet, within their application, simply click ‘Politely Decline’, and they will send them an automatic email notification.
3. Meet potential adopters
Schedule a meet-and-greet to make sure that the potential adopter is a good fit. Always conduct a meet-and-greet in a public place and never at one another's home for the safety of you and your animal. It is not recommended to do a dog meet-and-greet at a dog park because they can be distracted by other sounds and smells and may not be able to focus on you to see if it is the right match.
4. Finalize adoption
Finalize the adoption on the website and complete the transfer of ownership form.
Payment should be made from the adopter to the original owner at the time of pet handoff which is again recommended in public.
Schedule an appointment for relinquishment
The shelter has a managed intake policy so that we can ensure there are the appropriate staff and resources to compassionately care for your pet. Call the Cheyenne Animal Shelter at (307)632-6655 to schedule an appointment to relinquish your animal. Know that the shelter often has to book out appointments by 2-3 weeks as a result of the demand.
For your appointment, please bring any medical records that show a vaccination or spay/neuter history. Be prepared to fill out a questionnaire that asks behavioral questions about your pet. The more detailed information you can provide, the better our team will be able to find them a loving home.
We recommend that you also list your pet on Rehome while waiting for your appointment, in case you are able to find another home for your pet before then.
Shelters can be stressful environments for pets due to the presence of many other animals and the unfamiliar surroundings. Rehoming allows your pet to transition to a new home without the added stress of a shelter stay. When you rehome your pet, you have the opportunity to choose the new owners carefully. You can ensure your pet goes to a home that matches their specific needs, lifestyle, and personality.
There is no fee to relinquish your animal; however, we strongly urge you to donate to help cover the cost of care while they are here at the shelter. If you are interested, you can sponsor all or part of the adoption fee for the animal for the future adopter.
If you would like to complete the questionnaire before your appointment to save time the day of, please fill out the appropriate form attached below.
You may be asked to fill out an additional form based on the answers to the questionnaire. Examples of supplemental forms include: feline house soiling, feline-to-human aggression, canine-to-human aggression, or canine injury to another canine.
For more information or any questions, please call the Cheyenne Animal Shelter at (307)632-6655.