Donating an Animal
Washington State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital (VTH) is always
very appreciative of people who wish to donate their animals to our
facility. There may be a tax-deductible donation fee for animals that are
donated. Additionally, there is a donation contract that must be signed and
notarized. This contract can be taken care of in our office, completed by
you and faxed or mailed in advance of your animal’s arrival or completed by
you and brought with the animal.
Agricultural Animals: Donated animals may be used for
routine teaching activities. There is no fee for donating agricultural
animals. Donating owners generally receive a written or verbal report
relating the clinical findings of any donated animal.
Equine: Donations are accepted on an as-needed basis. When
donations are accepted, the fee for donating a horse to WSU is $263.
Upon receiving a donated horse at our facility, the horse
may or may not be used as a teaching case or be placed in our research herd.
There is, also, the chance that a horse does not have a lasting teaching
value and may be euthanized. If the horse is euthanized, the body, with or
without necropsy, is disposed of via rendering.
If you choose to donate a horse to the VTH, you relinquish
all rights to the horse and regardless of outcome, it will NOT be returned
to you, nor will you be informed as to the animal’s progress or outcome.
Exotics: As a general rule exotic pets are not received as
donations to the VTH. If you have an exotic pet that you are needing to
place, you are welcome to call the VTH for suggestions regarding people who
may be interested in adopting the animal from the owner.
Small Animals: Small animals are not usually accepted as
donations to the VTH. If you have a pet, or know of a small animal that can
no longer stay with its owner, we recommend calling your local humane
society.
