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Managed Admissions

The SPCA Cincinnati is an open admissions facility that practices managed intake. We receive around 3,000 animals each year. Length of stay and available kennel space does not determine an animal’s outcome but does impact the quality of life for the animals we care for. We do our best to keep your pet happy and healthy if you choose to bring them here, but a shelter is a very stressful environment for animals which can lead to behavior deterioration and illness. We are calling on the citizens of Cincinnati to help us limit the number of animals surrendered into our shelters. We ask that you do everything in your power to find alternatives to surrendering your pet to us.

To better serve the pets in our community, the SPCA Cincinnati is updating the procedures for unwanted pets AND where pets should be taken.

Mirroring nationally recognized animal welfare industry procedures, on September 4, 2019, the SPCA Cincinnati began operating as a “Managed Admissions” facility. This program improves and streamlines the relinquishment process.

“Managed Admissions” is a ‘best practice’ in animal sheltering across the country. This approach will reinforce the SPCA Cincinnati’s mission to rescue, heal and advocate for our community's sick, injured, abused, and homeless animals. “Managed Admissions” requires appointments for owner turn-in to ensure proper time and resources for each pet. Managed Admissions places the best interest of both the owner & the pet at the forefront.

The SPCA Cincinnati will only admit owned/personal companion animals from Hamilton County Residents.

The Managed Admissions Specialist will focus on each pet’s specific needs to make an informed decision about each pet’s future. After filling out a Surrender Questionnaire, a one-on-one consultation will provide the options regarding the pet’s proper placement. Additionally, the SPCA Cincinnati will provide or give direction to free and low-cost resources to maintain the care of pets at their home. This creates an ideal opportunity for the best possible pet care.

 

We Have Answers

We have answers for many of the reasons you may be thinking about rehoming your pet. Whether you’re experiencing issues with housing, new family members, cat or dog behavior, or the high cost of veterinary bills, we are here to help.  Please call 513-541-6100, email ManagedAdmissions@spcacincinnati.org or CLICK HERE for a list of resources the SPCA Cincinnati can provide to you!

At the SPCA Cincinnati, we want to see you and your pet stay together forever! We are here to provide you with resources for common pet surrender reasons.  Often, many issues you are facing with your pet have solvable answers with the right guidance.

Are you moving? CLICK HERE FOR PET-FRIENDLY RENTALS

Having trouble finding a rental due to your pet's breed? CLICK HERE FOR RENTALS WITHOUT BREED RESTRICTIONS

Are you having a baby? CLICK HERE FOR TRAINING TIPS

Are you or a family member allergic? CLICK HERE FOR TIPS TO COMBAT ALLERGIES

Is your cat not using the litterbox? CLICK HERE FOR TRAINING TIPS

Is your dog destructive? CLICK HERE FOR TRAINING TIPS

Does your dog bark too much? CLICK HERE FOR TRAINING TIPS

Does your dog escape the yard? CLICK HERE FOR TRAINING TIPS

Do you need financial assistance with veterinary costs? CLICK HERE FOR FINANCIAL AID INFORMATION and LOW-COST OPTIONS

CLICK HERE TO GO TO OUR ANIMAL RESOURCES PAGE FOR OUR FULL LIBRARY OF ANIMAL TRAINING TIPS

 

Still Need to Rehome?

If rehoming your pet is your best option, we encourage you to contact the many limited admission (often referred to as “no-kill”) shelters and rescue groups around the greater Cincinnati area and statewide. We also encourage you to place your pet on the Adopt-a-Pet.com website. These other shelters and groups are often limited and they tend to prioritize and accept highly-adoptable animals, so if your pet meets their criteria, they may have space available once a foster home opens.  CLICK HERE FOR A LIST OF LOCAL LIMITED ADMISSION SHELTERS AND RESCUES. If you choose to rehome your pet on your own, please consider having him/her fixed before sending them to their new home.  This will drastically help cut down on the number of unwanted animals in our community and leave shelter space and homes open for the thousands of homeless pets we already have.  CLICK HERE FOR A LIST OF LOW-COST SPAY AND NEUTER CLINICS 

The SPCA Cincinnati should be your LAST RESORT.  We are overwhelmed with animals and would like to reserve our limited space for truly homeless pets.  Try these options before coming to the SPCA Cincinnati:

 

Managed Admissions Process:

Before beginning the surrender process, please be aware of some of our admissions policies:

  • WE ONLY ACCEPT PETS FROM HAMILTON COUNTY. Due to our limited space, we do not accept animals from outside of Hamilton County. If you live outside of Hamilton County, please contact your local animal shelter.
  • We are only able to accept animals that are surrendered by the proper owner of the animal, or a representative that has authority and permission to surrender on the owner’s behalf. If you are looking into surrender for someone else, please direct them here to have them begin the process themselves.
  • We are unable to accept animals that were adopted from other local shelters. Please contact the shelter you received your animal from to discuss their return policy and surrender options.
  • For the safety of our staff, volunteers, and future adopters, we are unable to accept animals that have a history of aggressive or extremely fearful behavior. For clarification on what behavior constitutes as aggressive/fearful or for further resources on what to do with an aggressive animal, please contact us via phone or email.
  • Other clarifications and determinations for best placement for your animal may be made by a Managed Admissions Specialist at any point during the surrender process. Please be aware that filling out a Surrender Questionnaire does not guarantee a surrender appointment.

To Get Started:

  1. Fill out the digital Surrender Questionnaire with as much information as possible, then click Submit.
  2. A Managed Admissions specialist will review your questionnaire and determine the best path forward for you and your pet. You will receive a return email within 24-48 hours with the next steps forward.
  3. If we determine it is the best option, we will move forward with scheduling a surrender appointment for you to bring in your animal. This will be finalized via phone call.

At Your Appointment:

  1. Bring the animal in, on a leash or in a carrier, to the Managed Admissions entrance of the building. This is NOT the main, front entrance. The Managed Admissions entrance is located around the right side of the building, off of School Rd. There is a separate parking lot where you may park. The door says “Animal Receiving”. Buzz the buzzer to inform staff that you have arrived to your appointment.
  2. Bring veterinary records including vaccines, rabies, and spay/neuter (your pet will be available for adoption much sooner if he/she is already neutered/spayed and will have a better chance of staying illness-free if he/she is up to date on vaccines). CLICK HERE FOR A LIST OF LOW-COST SPAY/NEUTER AND VACCINE CLINICS
  3. Bring your ID and any remaining fees (specific fees will be discussed with you by the Managed Admissions Specialist during the scheduling process). We accept payment by cash and card. FEES: $25 for previously altered animals surrendered from Hamilton County or $50 for non-altered animals surrendered from Hamilton County. Why pay fees? When you surrender a pet to the SPCA Cincinnati, you are asking us to take on the responsibility of caring for your pet until he/she finds a new home. This responsibility includes a financial burden for care, food, and veterinary services.  As a nonprofit, our funds are limited to the donations we receive and your fees help us offset the expense of caring for your pet.
  4. Be prepared to complete an animal profile, or a “bio”, about your pet so we can place your pet in the best home possible for his/her needs. Think about the personality of the pet you have- what do they like? What do they dislike? Have they been around kids/cats/dogs? What kind of home do you think they would do best in? etc. This can be written prior to your appointment and brought in on paper, or emailed to us.
  5. Plan on the entire intake process taking between 30-40 minutes.
  6. We request that children are not present during your surrender appointment. This makes the process of surrendering harder on both the animals and the children. All good-byes should be done from home. If you are unable to come to an appointment without bringing children due to scheduling or childcare issues, please inform the Managed Admissions Specialist ahead of time so we can prepare accordingly.