Surrender Policy

Good Life Refuge's mission is to provide sanctuary for abused, neglected and at-risk animals. We are focused on animals that come from neglect cases, have been seized by authorities or are at risk of being killed. 

We do not breed nor purchase animals and we generally do not take in owner-surrendered animals.  

We require species-appropriate biosecurity testing before we can take owner surrendered animals in. As many sanctuaries in the Front Range area, we are at capacity and can only take animals in if there is space and sufficient resources available. 

In the case we are able to accept an owner-surrendered animal, we require a surrender fee in relation to that animals’ continued care and feed. The most surrender-requested animals are roosters, chickens and pot-bellied or mini pigs. Because of this, shelters and sanctuaries are overrun with surrender requests for them and generally cannot accommodate more without donations for expanded housing and care. 

Pot-bellied Pig (Mini Pig) Surrender:

With the growing population of people purchasing pigs as pets and the myths surrounding the size of what a mini pig will be at maturity, thousands of pigs are now finding themselves homeless and abandoned. Despite what breeders will say to make a quick dollar, mini pigs are typically over 100 pounds. Many potbellied or mini pigs surpass the 100 pounds easily. We encourage people to do research before welcoming a pig into their home and always adopt one of the many pigs currently needing a home.

Pigs MUST be spayed or neutered and must have recent hoof and/or tusk trims prior to surrender. 

$1000 surrender fee in cash or money order is required in order to provide necessary expansion of proper housing, fencing and feeding for your pig. This amount is per pig. 

Transport to the sanctuary must be provided by the surrendering party. 

We require a signed contract stating that you agree to never purchase farm animals in the future and that if you adopt animals your home is properly zoned to keep those animals regardless of sex or size.

Rooster Surrender:

Homeless roosters are a side-effect from backyard chicken keeping. When you purchase chicks, 30% are incorrectly sexed and nearly every backyard flock ends up with a rooster even though this was unintended by the purchaser. We receive many requests to take in unwanted roosters every year. Our requirements for surrendering a rooster may appear strict, but we are attempting to mitigate a wide-spread problem created by people buying chicks and/or hatching eggs.

When we take in a rooster from a private party, we require the surrender of the entire flock. It’s emotionally stressful for a rooster to suddenly lose his flock and it isn’t his fault that people chose to keep chickens somewhere roosters aren’t allowed. All hens here already have a bonded rooster, therefore your rooster would have no companions. 

$1000 surrender fee in cash or money order is required to purchase suitable housing for him and his flock to ensures their safety and protection from predators.

We require a signed contract stating that you agree to never purchase farm animals in the future and that if you adopt animals your home is properly zoned to keep those animals regardless of sex or size.