Souris Valley Animal Shelter is proud to be a no-kill shelter. We will not euthanize an animal to make space in our shelter.

To maintain our no-kill status, we operate on managed intakes. We do not accept more animals into our shelter care than we have space and resources available.

Our current intake priorities:

1. City of Minot impounded animals

2. Ward County Sheriff’s Department impounded animals

3. Non-contracted law enforcement emergency (neglect, abuse, hoarding)

4. Emergency housing programs

5. Animals previously adopted from SVAS that need to be returned to rescue

6. Non-contracted strays (Law enforcement or Good Samaritan)

7. Owner surrender for a military member that is either deploying or PCS’ing to a post where the animal cannot go

8. Owner surrender for owner death or health issues

9. Transfer in from an over capacity rescue/shelter in the state of ND

10. Owner surrender for any other reason

Requests for intake always exceed the available space in our rescue. Our priority order is meant to assist animals and people in the most vulnerable situations first.

With the City of Minot animal impound now at SVAS, our availability to assist lower priority intakes is very limited. For those cases, please seek other options if you need assistance with rehoming. Additional resources for rehoming are provided below.

*Lower priorities may be considered for intake if you are able to commit to fostering the animal in your home while we seek an adopter.

Things to consider before you surrender or try to rehome your pet:

If your decision is based on financial consideration, SVAS and other groups have pet food and supply pantries to support keeping your pet in your home.

If it based on time, there is no one who magically has more time than you.  We are all given the same 24 hours per day.  Your pet is going to be happy to spend whatever time you have with them.  

HowtoRehomeYourPet

Resources for rehoming your pet:

Rehome by AdoptAPet.com
List your pet as available for adoption nationwide. Rehome includes resources for accepting applications and screening potential adopters.  Click the “learn more” link above to start the Rehome process.
Post on local adoptable pet groups on Facebook
-Souris Valley Animal Shelter Community Pets
-Save the Roof Kitty! Adoptable Pets
-Minot’s All About Pets and Pet Owners/Parents
-Surrender your Pet ND or Adopt
Post flyers at area veterinary clinics and at the shelter
Contact all area animal rescue groups seeking assistance

Please know that North Dakota Century Code (NDCC) 36-21.2-04 states that intentionally abandoning an animal is a class A misdemeanor.  This includes dumping an animal onto another’s property (including SVAS) without them knowingly and willingly accepting responsibility for the care of that animal.  A class A misdemeanor is punishable by up to 360 days in jail and a $3000 fine.