Surrender requests taken gently for intake
Around July 1, owners who are moving and can't take their dog call every day. She listens without judgement, explains your process, and intake gets a full picture of each animal.
An owner calls because they're moving, can't afford care, or their pet's behaviour has changed.
Listens, shares your keep-your-pet resources, gathers intake details and books an appointment or waitlist spot.
An intake request with the animal's age, health and behaviour, and urgency marked.
How it works
- Listens first
Owners are often upset or ashamed. She lets them explain, and thanks them for calling instead of leaving the animal somewhere.
- Offers other options
Your pet food bank, low-cost vet clinic, behaviour help line or rehoming support, if you run them.
- Explains your process
Intake appointments, any waitlist, what intake needs and any surrender fee from your list.
- Gathers the details
Age, health, vaccines, how the animal is with kids, dogs and cats, and any bite history.
- Marks the urgency
Moving Friday, an animal at risk, or an owner going into hospital is marked urgent for intake.
- Books or holds
An intake appointment if one's open, or a waitlist spot and the date intake will call.
Example call
- CustomerHi. We're moving on the first and the new place doesn't allow dogs. I don't know what to do with Bear.
- AI agentThat's a hard spot to be in, and I'm glad you called. Can you tell me a bit about Bear? How old is he, and how is he with people and other dogs?
- CustomerHe's six, a husky mix. Great with kids, not great with cats.
- AI agentThank you. Before we talk about intake, we do have a rehoming program where Bear could stay with you while we help find him a new family. Would that be helpful?
- CustomerMaybe, but we only have two weeks.
- AI agentUnderstood. I'll put in both: the rehoming listing and an intake request marked for the first. Our intake coordinator, Mel, will call you by Thursday.
After the call: Mel gets an intake request for Bear marked with the moving date, his age, breed and notes on kids and cats, plus a rehoming listing started with the owner's details.
What your team gets
- Intake requests with health, behaviour and bite history
- Urgent surrenders marked with the date that matters
- Keep-your-pet resources shared before intake
- A waitlist kept in order with callback dates
Questions
Does she accept or refuse surrenders?
Neither. She takes the request and explains the steps. Intake decides, and she tells the owner when they'll hear back.
Will she make the owner feel judged?
No. She thanks them for calling and treats it as the responsible choice it often is.
What about an animal that has bitten someone?
She asks about bite history plainly and marks it for intake, so staff can plan the safest next step.
Hear it on your phone
Request a demo call and the agent phones you, set up for animal shelters and rescues like yours.