Humane Society of Lawton-Comanche County
Re-Homing Your Pet

Sometimes, regardless of everyone’s best intentions, you cannot keep your pet. There are many reasons to make this hard decision, and we will try to address them here.

Medical: Veterinary care can be expensive. If there is an accident, sometimes the veterinary care that your dog or cat needs isn’t affordable. There are some resources for financial assistance in these cases, however. If the cost of veterinary care is the only reason that you are considering relinquishment, we encourage you to see if any of the organizations below can help you out. 

Behavior: Training can be hard, especially if you work all day. The ability to train a dog is not an inborn trait. You need to be trained just as much as your dog in order to make progress. We get it: the money, the time, the consistency… your dog is misbehaving and it’s overwhelming.We have trainers that can offer free assistance and advice. We recommend giving one more effort before considering relinquishing your animal. To request a free consultation, call (580) 678-5256.

Landlord Says No: This is a problem in the city of Lawton and Fort Sill. Landlords have possibly had bad experiences with less-than-perfect pet owners in the past, or they want to keep their rentals allergen free. Regardless of the reason, this is a problem. The inability to find a pet-friendly living situation is the number one reason that pets are relinquished.
​As we continue to work to improve the situation by working with rental agencies and individuals , we have yet to find a surefire way to fix this problem. If you can afford it, offer to pay a pet deposit on top of your regular deposit. You can also offer a monthly rent, specifically for your pet, in addition to your normal rent. If you have some time, consider certifying your dog as an AKC Canine Good Citizen to show prospective landlords that your dog has passed an objective, measurable test that shows how friendly, obedient and well-behaved your dog is. If you are working with a Licensed Mental Health Professional, you can ask about Emotional Support Animal Certification. If all else fails, we are here help make sure that your dog or cat finds their final loving and caring home.
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How to Surrender a Dog/Cat 
  1. We do not take strays or another person’s pet that was “abandoned”. If you have found an animal, you may take the pet to PetCo, PetSmart, Petsence or any Veterinary hospital for a microchip scan. The Humane Society does not do microchip scans. Lawton Animal Welfare is the primary establishment for sheltering stray animals.  
  2. If you need to re-home YOUR pet, you may contact the Humane Society of Lawton- Comanche County by phone, email or Facebook message . No further action is required, we will schedule an appointment to discuss your options if we have a foster home available.
  3. We will accept pets from Comanche County. We ask that you can show residency in those areas with either a current driver’s license or by using last month’s utility bill.
  4. We require past documents and/or licensing of the pet to serve as proof of ownership in order to prevent someone other than the rightful owner from relinquishing a pet.
  5. If pet has come from another rescue/shelter/Humane Society, your pet may need to go back to the original shelter if there is a contract stating that you must return the animal to them in the event you cannot keep him/her anymore. We will assist you in finding the necessary course of action.
  6. Will not take in if there have been any recent bites or dangerous dog letters. 
  7. We may need to evaluate your pet for health or behavior before we make an appointment or agree on intake. We will determine this after relinquishment consultation.
  8. We can take in the same day as inquired if we do not feel the need for a health or behavioral evaluation, and if we have a foster home available.
  9. We may not be able to take in your pet because of unmanageable or untreatable health and/or behavior issues. We may recommend other alternatives or provide resources depending on the situation such as training or options for financial help.
Found a Stray Animal?
Lawton Animal Welfare is the primary establishment for taking in and sheltering stray animals. If you find a stray animal, you can call Lawton Animal Welfare to have an animal control officer pick the animal up. If you have the animal, you can take the dog to any participating location to have the dog scanned for a microchip. If the dog has a microchip, the owner can be contacted and the dog can be returned to it's family. ​
Participating establishments include:
  • PetSmart
  • Petsence
  • Any Veterinarian  ​