DUE TO AN OVERWHELMING DEMAND WE ARE NO LONGER TAKING SURRENDERS. PLEASE REFER TO WWW.PETRESCUE.COM.AU FOR ASSISTANCE

Surrendering a Pet

Ollie's Legacy does our best to facilitate surrender requests however we can only help when space is available. We believe in supporting people to care for their pets and we may have the knowledge, resources or connections to help you keep your pet. There are many reasons why someone may need to surrender a pet and every case has its own set of peculiarities. Regardless of your circumstances, please explore all of the possibilities before you resort to giving your pet away. 

Some suggestions of things to try to help keep your pet:
• If your pet has had a sudden change in behaviour it may be caused by an underlying medical issue. Please consult your vet as there may be a relatively simple explanation and "fix".
•  If you have concerns about your dog's behaviour consider consulting a reputable dog trainer. 
•  If you are having trouble caring for your pet and/or experiencing financial challenges please contact us as we may be able to help with food and other essential supplies. We will also be able to direct you to other organisations for assistance.
• If you are having trouble affording expensive veterinary care for your pet, speak to your vet about a payment plan or contact a non-profit/low-cost veterinary clinic.
• If you are in crisis and need help with short-term emergency boarding for your pet try speaking to family and friends to see if they could help look after your pet temporarily. You can also contact your local council about local emergency pet boarding options.
•  Are you concerned about renting with pets? New laws on pets and renting came into effect on 2 March 2020. Tenants must now request their landlord’s consent to bring a new pet into the property. Landlords must not unreasonably refuse and must take their case to VCAT if they want to refuse. It does not matter when your lease started. For more information visit the Consumer Affairs Website 

If you feel that surrendering your pet is the best way forward please consider the following: 
• In some cases, severe behavioural issues can make it very difficult for us to take in your pets. Often the reasons you are surrendering them are the same reasons that we cannot rehome them safely into the community. These include severe aggression/reactivity, antisocial behaviour, severe anxiety, constantly escaping etc.
• Your pet will undergo a behaviour assessment before being accepted it is important to be upfront about any issues. 
•  Once you surrender your pet you will lose all rights. You will not be able to visit or have any decision-making power in its future care and arrangements.
• You must be the legal owner of the animal and be able to prove ownership.
• In line with state legislation we are unable to take stray animals.
• You may be asked to pay a surrender fee which goes towards covering some of your pet's expenses whilst in our care.
• Please complete the Pet Surrender Form below with as much information as possible and we will be in touch as soon as we can.