Surrendering Your Dog – Steps For A Sometimes Necessary Thing

We understand that having to give up and re-home a beloved Wire Fox Terrier can be a difficult and emotional decision and there are many reasons why it must be done. Abandoned Terrier Rescue (ATRA) will assist and support you through the entire process. Our mission is to find forever homes for all Wires needing help, not just those who have been abandoned to the shelters or the streets.

There are two different ways we have helped people accomplish placing their Wire in a loving, understanding new home:

1) Relinquishment to the Rescue

2) Assistance with Re-homing

Relinquishing your Wire: If there is an emergent or other situation where a Wire cannot stay in its current home or environment, it can be surrendered to the Rescue to be placed in a foster home while awaiting adoption. Note that taking in a Wire is dependent on the availability of a foster home and our assessment of any behavioral issues that may affect having a safe and appropriate environment for resident dogs and fosters. These circumstances will be discussed with you when you contact us. Transport to us will be necessary. When you choose to relinquish a dog to us, you will sign a legally binding form indicating that you are the legal owner/representative and are giving up ownership rights of the Wire Fox Terrier to ATRA. Once signed, you will no longer have rights to the dog–including the prospect of having it returned to you–so consider this option carefully. 

Re-homing your Wire: In this approach, the Wire remains with you and we help by referring qualified applicants to you. We will review our applicant list for the best match for your dog, contact them with the information you provided about your dog in a “Personality Profile” that we provide, and arrange for contact between you and the prospective adopter(s).

Note: Since ATRA is primarily acting as a referral only, and does not conduct an evaluation of the dog, both parties are responsible to do their own due diligence such as (but not limited to) checking on the health of the dog, checking the environment where the dog will be placed and making sure there is a signed release of the dog. 

This placement will be a contract between private parties. ATRA will, however, lend support and guidance through this process and will have you sign a form releasing us from liability when the dog is placed.

The Surrender Process

1. To get started, complete the “Start the Surrender Process” quick form (click here to link). Once you have submitted the form, you will receive a confirmation email (if it is not readily available, check you promotions and spam folders).
2. Please reply to the confirmation email and attach photographs of the dog you plan to surrender. These photos may also be used to send to prospective adopters and to feature on our Facebook and website pages. If you have pedigree information, you may send that too, if you wish. We do not accept any shelter or vet papers that may indicate breed as they frequently mislabel dogs.
3. Nancy Smith, ATRA’s volunteer communication coordinator, will then contact you as soon as possible to acknowledge receipt of your form and pictures, and to discuss the situation and advise of next steps. If the dog qualifies for the ATRA program, you will be asked to complete a Personality Profile about the dog (Nancy will email the link).
4. Complete the Personality Profile. Important and vital information is covered in the Personality Profile: please fill this form out completely and in a timely manner. All information, both positive and negative, is essential. The profile is an important asset for making the best match for your dog.

See more information about the breed on our “Terrier Breed” page. (Click to link here).

NOTE: Unfortunately, we cannot take mixes or other Terriers.

NOTE: All dogs must be spayed/neutered by owners before relinquishment or placement and should be up to date on all vaccinations.

No Fees Required to Surrender Your WFT

Note that there is no fee to surrender your Wire Fox Terrier to ATRA for re-homing assistance. However, since we are a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, we rely entirely on private donations to help us continue with our mission. Please consider a generous donation.

A dog relinquished to us will always be checked by one of our veterinarians, receive grooming and, of course, be fed a good diet. A dog we help to place will often be given priority over a dog in rescue, meaning that we will have continuing expenses for a dog that remains in rescue. 

We appreciate a monetary gesture of good will that will go directly to the support all of the dogs who need us!