We deeply empathize with the challenging decision you're facing regarding the potential surrender of your Doberman. Recognizing the difficulty involved, we appreciate your consideration of rescue options, as alternatives like private sales, re-homing to friends, transfers, or Craigslist postings can pose risks for Dobermans.

Should you find it necessary to surrender your Doberman, we are committed to working with you compassionately, provided our resources permit. To guide you through our surrender process, please follow the steps outlined below:

Step 1: Initiate communication about surrender by completing our online surrender form, along with sharing photos. The more details you provide, the better we can match your Doberman with a suitable foster home. This step is informational and does not signify immediate surrender. Feel free to reach out via email or phone for discussions before filling out the form.

Step 2: Upon receiving the form, our team at DDR will promptly contact you (bearing in mind we operate with 100% volunteers). We offer support, address any queries, and, if surrender becomes the only option, we discuss the next steps and initiate the search for an appropriate foster home within our rescue.

Step 3: If a foster home is secured, we coordinate an evaluation date and location. Before intake, we conduct a surrender evaluation of your Doberman to determine if DDR can accept the dog into our program.

Step 4: If accepted, we will coordinate a surrender date and location and ask for a surrender fee of $150 to made to DDR. This fee allows us to cover some expenses we incur while your Doberman waits for his forever home. This may include but not limited to medical, training or basic care expenses. The duration of this process can vary.

Step 5: Once the Doberman is surrendered, surrender fee paid and the necessary paperwork is completed, we commence a confidential new placement process. The Doberman undergoes further medical and behavioral evaluation, receives required treatment, and is placed in a caring foster home for socialization, observation, and basic obedience training. Our meticulous adoption process ensures a perfect, loving, forever match.

It's important to share the dog's paperwork, license number (if applicable), health history, and comprehensive veterinary records to prevent undue vaccinations or services that the dog may have already received.

Donations of any dog-related items, such as crates, leads, bedding, toys, treats, and food, are welcome but not obligatory. Any voluntary contributions are always appreciated. We understand that circumstances vary, and if you can make a donation to DDR when feasible, it would be valued.

Returning a dog to a surrendering former owner is an exceptionally rare event. The decision to accept a dog is based on the belief that there were no better alternatives at the time. Our commitment is foremost to the well-being of the Doberman, and we evaluate such requests on a case-by-case basis, always prioritizing the dog's welfare.

We acknowledge the difficulty of your decision and assure you that we are here to support without judgment. If you have questions or need assistance, please don't hesitate to contact us.

If the online form is challenging, a PDF or Word version can be requested via email at info@dogwooddobermanrescue.org.