Need to rehome your dog? Here is how it works.
One $295 fee. Two paths depending on the dog. Honest matching, no shortcuts, never Craigslist.
One fee, two ways forward.
Full Intake
What is included:
- Triage call to understand the situation
- Written Surrender Intake Agreement
- Foster care during transition
- Veterinary check
- Matching to a new family using our breed-specific adopter list
- Placement coordination and contract
- Written notification when your Shiba is settled
Best for: Pure Shibas whose owners cannot continue care, in California, ready to hand off the dog within 1–2 weeks of intake.
Matching Service
What is included:
- Triage call to understand the situation and the dog
- Written Surrender Intake Agreement
- Marketing through NorCal Shiba's audience and breed-rescue network
- Adopter screening
- Match coordination once we have a candidate family
- Handoff support when a match is confirmed
The next family's adoption fee is discussed during the consultation, case by case based on the dog. Best for: Owners with a non-Shiba dog who need help finding the right home but can continue care while we search.
What the $295 covers.
The $295 fee covers our intake work, written agreements, marketing, adopter screening, and coordination. It is non-refundable regardless of outcome. We do not take a cut of the next family's adoption fee for non-Shiba matches; that conversation happens between you and us during the consultation.
From inquiry to handoff in five steps.
You email us.
Send a note to norcalshiba@gmail.com with "Surrender inquiry" in the subject and a short description of your situation.
We respond within 5 business days.
Sooner for urgent cases.
Triage call.
15–30 minutes to understand the dog, your situation, and which track fits.
Surrender Intake Agreement signed.
Track A: in person at intake handoff. Track B: signed before we start marketing.
Matching begins.
Track A: dog moves to our foster network. Track B: dog stays with you while we find candidates.
What you should know.
Cases we cannot accept.
We may decline cases involving documented bite history, severe medical needs requiring round-the-clock care, or capacity limits at our foster network. We tell you honestly during the triage call.
If we cannot find a match.
For Track B matching cases, if we cannot find the right family after our typical timeline, the dog stays with you. We did the work, you did the right thing trying, and the $295 stays with us.
California only.
We do not operate outside California. If you are out of state, we are happy to refer you to a regional rescue. Scroll to the bottom of this page.
Payment policy.
All fees are paid in person at signing via Zelle to our business account, bank transfer, or check. We never request payment by DM or text. See our Payment Policy for details.
Common questions.
What if my dog has bitten someone?
What if I cannot keep my dog during the matching service?
How do I know you will actually find a good family?
Can I meet the new family?
What if I am in California but very far from the Bay Area?
Is the $295 fee tax deductible?
Tell us about your dog.
Outside California?
We do not operate outside California, but we want you to land somewhere good. Here are the Shiba and multi-breed rescue resources we can vouch for, with a national referral network for regions we do not cover directly:
- Saving Shibas Inc. — Southern California and the Southwest
- Southern California Shiba Inu Rescue — long-running SoCal foster network
- Shiba Inu Rescue Association — Texas and the Gulf
- National Shiba Club of America — regional referrals for other states
- Petfinder — search any breed in any state
If you are surrendering an aggressive dog or a dog with a bite history, contact a board-certified veterinary behaviorist (DACVB) before rehoming. Placement without honest disclosure creates a downstream problem, not a solution.