RSPCA Adoption: How It Works in Each State

The short answer

To adopt from the RSPCA, use your own state's RSPCA: each runs its own adoptions. RSPCA NSW lists animals on its own website and in more than 30 Petbarn adoption centres; the other seven list on the RSPCA's Adopt A Pet site. RSPCA Victoria, ACT and WA take walk-ins, while RSPCA Queensland asks you to apply online first. On 10 November 2026 RSPCA NSW charged $500 for an adult dog and $220 for an adult cat, and RSPCA Victoria $500 to $1,000 for an adult dog (dated references, not quotes); Queensland, WA, South Australia, Tasmania and Darwin publish no fee schedule. Animals go home desexed, microchipped and vaccinated. LocalPetFinder is independent and not affiliated with the RSPCA.

A family meeting a shelter dog in a bright adoption meeting room — Each state and territory RSPCA runs its own adoptions, so the steps and fees depend on where you live.

Is the RSPCA one organisation?

No. RSPCA Australia describes itself as a federation. The national body works on animal welfare policy, law and science; the state and territory member societies run the rehoming shelters, inspectors and education. So “RSPCA adoption” really means RSPCA NSW, RSPCA Victoria, RSPCA Queensland, RSPCA WA, RSPCA South Australia, RSPCA Tasmania, RSPCA ACT or RSPCA Darwin, each with its own website, fees and rules.

LocalPetFinder is not part of the RSPCA and has no affiliation with it. We are an independent listings site: we link to RSPCA animals alongside those from other rescues and council pounds, and you always adopt directly from the shelter.

How does RSPCA adoption work in each state?

Where each RSPCA lists its animals, how you apply, and where you can meet them, as each published it on 10 November 2026:

RSPCA	Where it lists animals	How you apply	Shelters and stores
RSPCA NSW	Its own website (NSW animals are not on Adopt A Pet)	Visit a facility or adoption centre; listings are updated regularly but an animal may go before you arrive	RSPCA NSW shelters plus more than 30 Petbarn adoption centres
RSPCA Victoria	Adopt A Pet	No online application for dogs, cats or small animals. Walk in at Burwood East (10am to 4pm) or Peninsula (reception 12pm to 4pm)	Burwood East and Peninsula shelters, plus Petbarn and Petstock adoption centres (store named on the profile)
RSPCA Queensland	Its own website and Adopt A Pet	Apply online from the profile; the adoption team calls within 24 hours, then a meet and greet. No waitlists for small breed dogs. Adopters must be over 18	RSPCA adoption centres; select op shops and Petbarn stores for cats
RSPCA WA	Its own adoption search and Adopt A Pet	Walk the kennels and ask for a meet and greet (allow at least an hour for a dog); existing dogs must meet the new dog before the adoption is finalised	Malaga Animal Care Centre: walk-ins Tuesday to Saturday, Sunday by appointment
RSPCA South Australia	Adopt A Pet	Contact the shelter on the listing and arrange a visit; an adoption waitlist for a preferred breed, size or colour	Adelaide Animal Care Campus, O'Halloran Hill, and Whyalla; Adopt A Pet also lists Adelaide Petbarn stores such as Mile End and Norwood
RSPCA Tasmania	Adopt A Pet	Dogs: an expression of interest form, opened when dogs are available (closed when we checked). It says there are often more willing adopters than dogs	Devonport Animal Care Centre at Spreyton; Adopt A Pet also lists Petbarn Burnie, Devonport and Launceston
RSPCA ACT	Its own adoption page and Adopt A Pet	Walk in Monday to Saturday, 10am to 3pm, no appointment; no holds; the whole household meets the animal; renters may need landlord approval; yard photos may be requested for dogs	Weston shelter; Adopt A Pet lists Petbarn Belconnen, Gungahlin, Majura, Weston and Woden
RSPCA Darwin	Adopt A Pet	Contact the shelter and visit	Berrimah shelter, open Tuesday to Saturday 10am to 3pm

Checked 10 November 2026 on each RSPCA's own site and on Adopt A Pet. Opening hours and processes change; check the shelter's page before you go.

What is Adopt A Pet? Adopt A Pet (adoptapet.com.au) is the RSPCA's own adoption website. Its four steps are plan, search, contact the shelter, then visit. NSW animals are not on it, so in NSW use the RSPCA NSW website instead.

How much are RSPCA adoption fees?

Three state RSPCAs publish fee schedules; the other five publish no fee amounts and show or quote the fee for each animal. This is what each one showed on 10 November 2026:

RSPCA	Dogs and puppies	Cats and kittens
RSPCA NSW	Puppy under 12 months $620; dog over 12 months $500	Kitten under 6 months $270; cat over 6 months $220
RSPCA Victoria	Puppy under 6 months $650 to $1,000; adult $500 to $1,000; seniors no fee	Kitten under 5 months $235 to $400; adult $145 to $400; seniors no fee
RSPCA ACT	Puppy under 6 months $700 (popular breeds up to 12 months $900 or $1,200; medical or behavioural needs $350); dog 6 months to under 8 years $395 (popular breeds $650); senior 8+ $195; listed over 6 months $197.50; bonded pairs $600 or $975	Kitten under 6 months $375; cat 6 months to under 10 years $200; senior 10+ $100; high-demand breeds $500; listed over 6 months $100; bonded pairs $300 or $750
RSPCA Queensland	No published fee schedule; the fee is on each animal's listing
RSPCA WA	No amounts published; fees vary with age, breed or health and are comparable to other WA shelters, it says
RSPCA South Australia	No published fee schedule; check the listing on Adopt A Pet
RSPCA Tasmania	No amounts published; the cat fee includes a bag of Royal Canin food
RSPCA Darwin	No standard fee published

Published fees on 10 November 2026, not a quote. RSPCA ACT's bands took effect on 12 January 2026. RSPCA NSW says it runs discounted adoption events from time to time, so a fee on the day can be lower.

What the fee includes. The RSPCA's Adopt A Pet site says its dogs and cats are desexed, microchipped and vaccinated, and health and behaviour assessed. RSPCA Victoria lists vet health and behaviour checks, desexing, microchipping, vaccination, and worm and flea treatment, plus a Royal Canin care pack for shelter adoptions while stocks last. RSPCA ACT includes flea, tick and worm treatment and a vet examination. RSPCA WA adds two weeks of free vet support for pre-existing conditions and phone behaviour advice. RSPCA Queensland sends a free bag of pet food home.

Does the RSPCA have senior, foster or waitlist programs?

Some do. These are the programs each RSPCA described on its own pages on 10 November 2026:

Seniors for Seniors (RSPCA NSW). Seniors Card holders get 50% off the adoption fee for a pet aged over eight, plus 10% off at RSPCA NSW Veterinary Hospitals and access to its Home Ever After future care planning.
No fee for seniors (RSPCA Victoria). Senior animals are listed with no adoption fee.
Twilight Adoption (RSPCA ACT). Animals adopted through its Twilight Adoption or palliative care programs are in the lowest band: $195 for a dog, $100 for a cat.
Foster first (RSPCA Victoria and South Australia). RSPCA Victoria says a foster carer has priority to adopt the animal at the end of the foster period. RSPCA South Australia calls fostering a chance to trial an animal before you commit to adopting. Both cover vet care while the animal is in foster.
Adoption waitlist (RSPCA South Australia). If you want a particular breed, size or colour, its waitlist form asks for your preferences; it prioritises applicants by suitability, ability to foster before adopting, and the order received.
Greyhounds (RSPCA Tasmania). RSPCA Tasmania is accredited to assess greyhounds for adoption and takes applications on its site. Other states run separate greyhound programs; see our greyhound adoption guide.

For more on older dogs, read our senior dog adoption guide; for fostering with any rescue, see how to foster a dog or cat.

RSPCA, other rescues or the council pound?

The RSPCA is the biggest name, but not the only good place to adopt, and not always the cheapest. Each route works a little differently:

Route	How it works	Example fees
State RSPCA	Large shelters, often walk-in, with vet and behaviour teams on site and store adoption centres in some states	Adult dog $500 at RSPCA NSW; $395 at RSPCA ACT for a dog 6 months to under 8 years
Independent rescues	Often foster-based: you apply, then meet the animal in its foster home, where the carer knows it well. Some offer extras such as training support	Senior dog $200 at Hunter Animal Rescue; $850 for most dogs at Victorian Dog Rescue, which includes six weeks of behaviour support and a lifetime take-back
Council pounds	Rehome unclaimed strays, often at the lowest fees; some include registration	ACT Domestic Animal Services $109.95 plus registration (from 1 July 2026); Logan City Council $406.85 for a dog 1 to 5 years, $103.00 for a senior 10+, registration included until 31 August

Rescue and council fees checked 10 November 2026 on each organisation's own page. Not a quote.

Whichever route you choose, the animal should come desexed, microchipped and vaccinated, and you should meet it before you pay. PetRescue says it has supported more than 2,000 rescue organisations, and our guide to where to adopt a pet in Australia compares every route. For the full step-by-step, see adopting a dog in Australia or adopting a cat in Australia, and for in-store adoption, Petbarn and Petstock adoption.

See RSPCA and rescue animals in one place

Rather than checking each RSPCA, AWL, rescue and pound site separately, our city pages bring the dogs and cats we aggregate together, refreshed regularly. Each listing links back to the shelter, where you apply.

Dogs for adoption

Dogs in Sydney Dogs in Melbourne Dogs in Brisbane Dogs in Perth Dogs in Adelaide Dogs in Canberra Dogs in Hobart Dogs in Darwin

Cats for adoption

Cats in Sydney Cats in Melbourne Cats in Brisbane Cats in Perth Cats in Adelaide Cats in Canberra Cats in Hobart Cats in Darwin

Looking for something specific? Browse puppies in Sydney, senior dogs in Melbourne, apartment-friendly dogs in Brisbane, kittens in Sydney or senior cats in Melbourne.

Frequently asked questions

How does RSPCA adoption work?▼

Each state and territory RSPCA runs its own adoptions, so the process depends on where you live. You find an animal on that RSPCA's listings, visit or apply, meet the animal with your household, then sign the paperwork and pay the fee. RSPCA Australia, the national body, does not run shelters; its member societies do.

How much does it cost to adopt a dog from the RSPCA?▼

It depends on the state. On 10 November 2026 RSPCA NSW charged $500 for a dog over 12 months and $620 for a puppy, RSPCA Victoria $500 to $1,000 for an adult and $650 to $1,000 for a puppy, and RSPCA ACT $395 for a dog aged 6 months to under 8 years and $700 for a puppy under 6 months. RSPCA Queensland, WA, South Australia, Tasmania and Darwin publish no fee schedule; the fee is on each listing. These are dated references, not quotes.

How much does it cost to adopt a cat from the RSPCA?▼

On 10 November 2026 RSPCA NSW charged $270 for a kitten and $220 for a cat, RSPCA Victoria $235 to $400 for a kitten and $145 to $400 for an adult cat, and RSPCA ACT $375 for a kitten and $200 for an adult. The other state RSPCAs show the fee on each cat's listing. These are dated references, not quotes.

Do I need to apply online to adopt from the RSPCA?▼

Only in some states. RSPCA Victoria says dogs, cats and small animals no longer need an online application, and RSPCA ACT and RSPCA WA take walk-ins. RSPCA Queensland asks you to apply online from the animal's profile, and its adoption team calls you within 24 hours. RSPCA Tasmania opens expressions of interest for dogs when it has dogs available.

Can I reserve or hold an RSPCA animal?▼

Usually not. RSPCA ACT says it is unable to place animals on hold, and RSPCA NSW warns that an animal listed online may be adopted before you arrive. If you have your heart set on one animal, go during opening hours as soon as you can, or ask the shelter what it allows.

What is the RSPCA Adopt A Pet website?▼

Adopt A Pet (adoptapet.com.au) is the RSPCA's own adoption site. It lists animals from the RSPCA in the ACT, NT, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria and WA. NSW animals are not on it; RSPCA NSW lists them on its own website. You contact the shelter shown on the listing to arrange a visit.

What is included in an RSPCA adoption fee?▼

Desexing, a microchip and vaccination at a minimum, according to the RSPCA's Adopt A Pet site. Most state RSPCAs add a vet health check and flea and worm treatment, and RSPCA Victoria and RSPCA WA list a behaviour check too. RSPCA WA gives two weeks of free vet support for pre-existing conditions, RSPCA Victoria (shelter adoptions, while stocks last) and RSPCA Queensland send pet food home, and RSPCA Tasmania includes a bag of food with its cats.

Does the RSPCA adopt pets through Petbarn?▼

Yes, in several states. RSPCA NSW has animals in more than 30 Petbarn adoption centres, RSPCA Victoria places animals in Petbarn and Petstock stores, and RSPCA Queensland lists Petbarn stores for cats. The RSPCA runs the adoption and sets the fee; the store hosts the animals. Check the animal's profile for the store.

Are senior pets cheaper at the RSPCA?▼

Often, yes. RSPCA Victoria charges no fee for senior animals, RSPCA ACT charges $195 for dogs 8 and over and $100 for cats 10 and over, and RSPCA NSW gives Seniors Card holders 50% off the fee for a pet over eight through its Seniors for Seniors program. Other state RSPCAs set senior fees per animal.

Is the RSPCA cheaper than other rescues or the pound?▼

Not always. Council pounds are often the cheapest: ACT Domestic Animal Services listed a $109.95 adoption fee from 1 July 2026, plus registration. Independent rescues vary widely, from $200 for a senior at Hunter Animal Rescue to $850 at Victorian Dog Rescue. Compare what each fee includes, not just the number.

Can I foster an RSPCA animal before adopting it?▼

Some state RSPCAs make that possible. RSPCA Victoria says a foster carer has priority to adopt the animal at the end of the foster period, and RSPCA South Australia describes fostering as a chance to trial an animal before you commit to adopting. Both cover the animal's vet care while it is in foster.

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