Rehoming & Surrender Programs

Dog resting its head next to a plush dog toy on a cozy couch.

Rehoming Program

We understand that life circumstances can change, and making the decision to rehome your dog is never easy. Our Rehoming Program is designed to help families responsibly place their dog in a safe, loving home while the dog remains in your care during the process.

Three Stooges Rescue will help market your dog, screen applicants, assist with meet-and-greets, and guide the placement process—but you remain responsible for your dog’s daily care and for providing complete medical and behavioral history.

To participate, your dog must be:

✔ Spayed/neutered
✔ Microchipped
✔ Current on vaccinations (including rabies)
✔ Heartworm tested (dogs 6+ months)

$300 non-refundable service fee

This fee helps cover the real costs involved in responsibly rehoming a dog, including:

• Advertising and nationwide outreach
• Applicant screening and reference checks
• Adoption counseling and placement support
• Administrative time spent coordinating inquiries and meet-and-greets
• Record review and placement guidance to help ensure the best match

As a small volunteer-run nonprofit rescue, we do not receive government funding. This fee allows us to provide professional placement support while continuing to care for dogs already in our rescue program.

Close-up of a dog's eye behind a chain-link fence.

Owner Surrender Program

When families are no longer able to care for their dog, surrendering means requesting that Three Stooges Rescue fully accept the dog into our program and assume responsibility for care, placement, and medical decision-making.

Acceptance is by approval only and depends on foster space, medical needs, temperament, safety considerations, and available resources.

A heartworm test within the last 3 months is required before surrender can be considered.

Non-refundable surrender contribution:

$400 – Fully vetted
$500 – Needs routine vetting
$600 – Heartworm positive

These contributions help offset the immediate costs associated with intake, which may include:

• Veterinary exams and diagnostics
• Vaccinations and preventatives
• Spay/neuter surgery
• Microchipping
• Heartworm treatment (often $1,000–$3,000+)
• Food, supplies, foster support, and boarding costs when needed
• Ongoing medical care and rehabilitation

Please understand: surrender fees do not cover the full cost of care in most cases.
Three Stooges Rescue often spends significantly more on each surrendered dog than the surrender contribution received. The fee simply helps us responsibly absorb some of the financial burden so we can continue saying “yes” to dogs in need.

We know surrender is often a difficult and emotional decision. Our goal is not to profit—it is to create a safe, responsible pathway for dogs while protecting the sustainability of our rescue mission.

Bite History & Safety Disclosure

For the safety of our volunteers, fosters, adopters, veterinary partners, and the community, owners must fully disclose any known bite history, aggression concerns, attacks, quarantine orders, animal control involvement, or prior “dangerous dog” investigations/designations when applying for either program.

Complete honesty is essential. Behavioral concerns do not automatically disqualify a dog, but undisclosed history may result in denial of services or immediate removal from a program if discovered later.

Some cases may require additional documentation, including veterinary records, trainer evaluations, or animal control reports, before the Rescue can determine whether we are able to assist.

Our goal is responsible placement—not judgment—while protecting both people and dogs.

Program Guidelines & Participation Requirements

Our Rehoming and Owner Surrender Programs are designed to create a safe, transparent, and responsible path for dogs needing placement assistance.

Participation requires:

✔ Complete and truthful disclosure of medical and behavioral history
✔ Submission of requested veterinary records and documentation
✔ Timely communication and cooperation throughout the process
✔ Compliance with program requirements and signed intake/transfer paperwork (when applicable)

Please understand that submission does not guarantee acceptance into a program. Acceptance depends on available resources, foster capacity, medical or behavioral needs, and overall safety considerations.

Three Stooges Rescue reserves the right to deny, pause, or discontinue participation if required records are withheld, information is inaccurate, cooperation stops, or circumstances change.