If you feel you have to give up your pet do the following:

• Consider what are the genuine reasons behind your wish to give up your pet and whether these reasons are justified. For example, many behavioural problems may be caused by an illness. You should consult a veterinarian to make sure this is not the case. Perhaps a dog specialist might help - the dog whisperer (in Estonian).
• Advertise, advertise, advertise! Find a new home for your pet yourself! This is the only way you can ensure your pet is welcomed into a loving and caring family. Places where to advertise can be found here (in Estonian).
• Send an e-mail to your nearest shelter with a detailed description of your pet accompanied by a picture of it and your contact details. The shelter will post an advert on its web page in order to find a new home for your pet. If you have time to wait, keep the pet until we find a new home for it, since moving straight into a new home is less traumatising for the pet.  
• Contact your nearest shelter. Since one of our principles is that in case of lack of space we do not put down any animals, we often cannot welcome all pets straight away.
• With every pet comes responsibility. A pet owner should be able to take care of their pet until the end of the pet's life. If this is not possible then you have to try find a new home for your pet or take the difficult step of letting a veterinarian put it down.

If there is free space at the shelter:

• Your pet should be vaccinated with a complex- and rabies shot at least 10 days before it is brought to the shelter. The pet should be accompanied by a certificate of vaccinations.
• It is a lot easier for your pet to find a new home if it is sterilized/castrated and microchipped.
• We can only welcome animals during visiting hours. You have to pre-arrange your visit with us! 
• The pet owner shall sign an agreement giving up his rights to the pet after which the right of  ownership of the animal will go to us.
• The fee of leaving your pet with us is 125 Euros. 

If you have taken a pet from any of Varjupaikade MTÜ shelters and can no longer keep it: 

• Contact the shelter you took the animal from. 
• Until a satisfactory solution is found the owner has to take care of the pet and cover any expenses related to it.  
• You cannot put down your pet without the agreement of the shelter unless keeping the pet alive causes it pain and suffering (in case of an accident or emergency).
• You cannot give the pet away without the agreement of the shelter. 
• The shelter does not return any fees paid for the pet. 

There are frequently around 200 dogs and 400 cats in our protection. They all need food, medical care and shelter. Help us help them! Donate a sum that suits You best to the Varjupaikade MTÜ. International payment: Organisation name: Varjupaikade MTÜ. Address: Raba 32, Pärnu 80010, Estonia, Europe IBAN: EE561010220068203017 Bank details: Name of the bank: SEB (AS SEB Pank) The bank address: Tornimäe 2, 15010 Tallinn, Estonia, Europe BIC/ SWIFT code: EEUHEE2X. If you wish to aid a specific shelter, add a keyword to the explanation: Pärnu, Viljandi, Virumaa or Võru.