Where to Adopt a Dog or Cat in Australia

The short answer

You can adopt a dog or cat from your state's RSPCA, an Animal Welfare League or other large shelter, a council pound, an independent foster-based rescue, or a breed rescue or Greyhound program. PetRescue and LocalPetFinder are listing sites that show pets from many of these groups in one place; you apply to the group that has the pet. Charity shelter fees usually include desexing, microchipping and vaccinations: RSPCA NSW lists $500 for an adult dog and $220 for an adult cat (9 November 2026, reference only, not a quote). Council pounds can charge less but may include less.

A volunteer kneels on the grass to greet a brown and white mixed-breed dog on a lead while a family watches, outside a low-set Australian animal shelter building on a sunny morning — Most Australian adoptions start online, then end with a meeting in person.

Where can you adopt a pet in Australia?

From five kinds of organisation, plus the websites that list their animals. The RSPCA Knowledgebase also points people to shelters and rescue groups first when they are looking for a new companion animal.

Where	Who runs it	How you meet the pet	Usually included in the fee
State RSPCA	A member Society in each state and territory	At a shelter, an adoption centre or a pet store adoption centre	Desexing, microchip, vaccinations, worming, vet check
Animal Welfare League and other large shelters	State-based charities and independent shelters	At the shelter or a branch	Usually the same package; check each one
Council pound or animal management facility	Your local council (or territory government in the ACT)	At the facility, often walk-in	Varies: some pounds rehome animals not yet desexed
Foster-based rescue	Volunteer-run charity or incorporated group	At the foster carer's home or an adoption day, after an application	Usually desexing, microchip and vaccinations
Breed rescue or Greyhound program	Breed volunteers, or a state program for Greyhounds	At a foster home or adoption centre	Check each program
PetRescue, LocalPetFinder	Listing platforms, not shelters	You contact the rescue that has the pet	Set by that rescue

Is the RSPCA one national organisation?

No, and this surprises a lot of adopters. RSPCA Australia describes a federation: its “member Societies in each state and territory run animal rehoming shelters, investigate and prosecute animal cruelty complaints”, while RSPCA Australia, the national body, works on animal welfare science and with governments and industry. So each state RSPCA has its own website, fees, opening hours and adoption process.

RSPCA NSW: a Sydney adoption centre at Yagoona plus regional shelters, and adoptions from more than 30 Petbarn stores.
RSPCA Victoria: shelters at Burwood East and the Peninsula, plus animals housed at Petbarn and Petstock adoption centres. The adoption process page says you no longer need to submit an online application for most animals.
RSPCA Queensland: a Brisbane centre at Wacol and other centres around the state.
RSPCA WA: an Animal Care Centre at Malaga in Perth's north.
RSPCA South Australia: an Animal Care Campus at O'Halloran Hill.
RSPCA Tasmania, RSPCA ACT and the RSPCA Darwin Regional Branch in the Northern Territory.

The practical point: search for “RSPCA” plus your state, not just “RSPCA”, and read that organisation's own fees and process.

What is the Animal Welfare League?

A name used by charities in different states, each with its own shelters and adoptions, not one national organisation. Animal Welfare League NSW runs a shelter at Kemps Creek in western Sydney and volunteer branches around the state. Animal Welfare League Queensland (AWLQ) runs rehoming centres in south-east Queensland, including the Gold Coast and Brisbane. The Animal Welfare League of South Australia has adoption centres at Wingfield and Edinburgh North. Each sets its own fees and process.

Every state also has other large independent shelters. In Sydney, for example, Sydney Dogs and Cats Home and the Cat Protection Society of NSW; in Perth, the cat-only Cat Haven. Our city guides to the best dog rescues in Sydney and Melbourne list the main ones city by city.

Can you adopt from a council pound?

Yes, in many areas. Councils hold stray and surrendered animals, and animals nobody claims are often rehomed directly or passed to a rescue. Some councils run their own adoption centres, such as the Logan City Council Animal Management Centre and the Redland Animal Shelter in south-east Queensland.

The terms can be different from a charity shelter, so read them first. In the ACT, Domestic Animal Services lists a $109.95 adoption fee, registration of $66.55 ($25.05 concession) and a microchip fee of $50.25 if the dog was not microchipped when impounded, current from 1 July 2026. It also says a dog that is not desexed must be desexed afterwards, arranged and paid for by the adopter. A lower fee that leaves desexing to you is not always cheaper.

A pound adoption is still a rescue, and many rescue groups also take animals from pounds into foster care.

What are foster-based and breed rescues?

Most rescue groups in Australia are small, volunteer-run and have no central shelter. Each animal lives with a foster carer until it is adopted. You apply online, the rescue checks the match, and you meet the pet at the carer's home or an adoption day. The big advantage is information: the carer has watched the animal with visitors, other pets and time alone, which tells you far more than a few minutes in a shelter. If you want to help before you adopt, see our guide to fostering a dog or cat.

Breed rescues focus on one breed or type, such as working dogs, Huskies or Greyhounds. Retired racing Greyhounds are rehomed through state programs linked to the racing industry: Greyhounds As Pets NSW, the Greyhound Adoption Program run by Greyhound Racing Victoria, the Greyhound Adoption Program Queensland, Greyhounds As Pets SA and Greyhounds As Pets WA, alongside independent Greyhound rescues. If you are after a particular breed, check the breed pages: they show the dogs of that breed listed by every rescue we track, which is quicker than searching each breed group.

What is PetRescue, and how is LocalPetFinder different?

PetRescue is a national charity and pet adoption platform. It does not house animals. It says it maintains “Australia's only national directory of verified organisations”, that every member rescue is legitimate and reputable, and that it has supported more than 2,000 rescue organisations. You find a pet on PetRescue and apply to the rescue that listed it.

LocalPetFinder is also a listing site, not a shelter. We aggregate adoptable dogs and cats from shelters, pounds and rescues, sort them by city, and add filters such as low energy, good with cats or senior. Every listing links back to the organisation that has the pet, and that is who you apply to. We do not foster, sell or place animals ourselves.

How much does it cost to adopt a pet?

Each organisation sets its own fee. These are published fees from three different kinds of organisation, so you can see how much they vary and what each covers.

Organisation	Dogs	Cats	Included
RSPCA NSW	$620 (under 12 months); $500 (over 12 months)	$270 (under 6 months); $220 (over 6 months)	Desexing, microchip, vaccinations, health checks
RSPCA Victoria	$650 to $1,000 (puppy under 6 months); $500 to $1,000 (adult)	$235 to $400 (kitten under 5 months); $145 to $400 (adult)	Vet and behaviour check, desexing, microchip, vaccination, worm and flea treatment; no fee for senior animals
ACT Domestic Animal Services (government pound)	$109.95 adoption, plus $66.55 registration and microchip costs if needed	Dogs only on this page	A dog not yet desexed must be desexed at the adopter's cost

Fees as published on each organisation's page, checked 9 November 2026 (ACT fees current from 1 July 2026). They are a reference, not a quote: rescues change fees, run promotions and price some animals individually.

Fees at small foster-based rescues often sit in a similar range and usually cover the same vet work. Run the full first year through the dog cost calculator before you choose, because food, insurance and vet care cost far more over a pet's life than the adoption fee.

How do desexing, microchipping and registration differ by state?

Your shelter or rescue will normally desex and microchip the animal before it goes home and transfer the microchip to you. Registration is your job, and the system depends on where you live.

State	Registration	Desexing rule	Official source
NSW	NSW Pet Registry, by 12 weeks or on transfer. Nil fee for a desexed dog or cat from an eligible pound, shelter or approved rehoming organisation.	An additional payment applies for a dog not desexed by 6 months, and an annual permit fee for a cat not desexed by 4 months.	Office of Local Government
VIC	Local council, for dogs and cats aged 3 months and over; microchip before first registration.	Check your council: some set their own rule, such as the City of Melbourne, where all cats must be desexed. Registration fees are reduced for a desexed pet.	Agriculture Victoria (fees)
QLD	Dogs with the local council; cats depend on the council. Microchip by 12 weeks or before sale or giving away.	Check your council. Redland City Council, for example, says desexing is encouraged but not compulsory and discounts registration for desexed pets.	Queensland Government
WA	Local council for dogs and cats. All dogs must be microchipped.	Cats must be sterilised, microchipped and registered by 6 months. Dogs: registration costs less if the dog is sterilised; ask your council about local rules.	WA Government: cats, dogs
SA	Dogs and Cats Online (DACO), one state-wide database that replaced the separate council registers (SA Government).	Dogs and cats born after 1 July 2018 must be desexed by 6 months, or within 28 days of the owner taking them. Exemptions include vet exemptions and registered breeders.	Dog and Cat Management Board: dogs, cats
TAS	Dogs with the local council by 6 months, and microchipped by 6 months.	Cats over 4 months must be desexed and microchipped.	NRE Tasmania (cats), Premier and Cabinet (dogs)
ACT	ACT Government, through an ACT Digital Account; dogs and cats over 8 weeks.	Dogs over 6 months and cats over 3 months must be desexed unless a permit is held.	ACT City Services: dogs, cats
NT	Set by each council's by-laws; in Darwin, microchipping is a condition of registration.	Check your council.	City of Darwin

Summarised from each official page, checked November 2026. Rules have exceptions (vet exemptions, registered breeders, working dogs), so read the page for your state. This is general information, not legal advice.

How to adopt safely

Decide what fits your life first. The adoption readiness check and the dog or cat quiz take a few minutes.
If you rent, get landlord approval in writing. Many rescues ask for it. The renting with pets guide has each state's rules.
Browse listings and shortlist. Read the notes on energy, children, cats and other dogs.
Apply to the organisation that has the pet, then meet the animal. Bring any resident dog if asked.
Check the paperwork: desexing, vaccination record and the microchip transfer into your name.
Register the pet under your state's system in the table above.

Be wary of pets advertised for free or for sale online by people you cannot verify. Scamwatch warns that scammers use fake websites and fake profiles on social media and marketplaces to sell pets that do not exist, and that a very cheap price is a warning sign. View the pet in person before you pay anything. A registered shelter, or a rescue listed through PetRescue or LocalPetFinder, removes most of that risk.

See dogs and cats from many shelters in one place

RSPCA, AWL, council pound and foster rescue listings, sorted by city and refreshed regularly. Every listing links to the organisation you apply to.

Browse dogs →Browse cats →

Find a dog or cat to adopt near you

Sydney: dogs for adoption, cats for adoption, and the best dog rescues and best cat rescues in Sydney
Melbourne: dogs for adoption, cats for adoption, and the best dog rescues and best cat rescues in Melbourne
Brisbane: dogs for adoption, cats for adoption, and the best dog rescues and best cat rescues in Brisbane
Perth: dogs for adoption, cats for adoption, and the best dog rescues and best cat rescues in Perth
Adelaide: dogs for adoption, cats for adoption, and the best dog rescues and best cat rescues in Adelaide

Looking for a particular kind of pet? See the guides to adopting a senior dog, calm dog breeds, and adopting through Petbarn and Petstock.

Frequently asked questions

Where can I adopt a dog or cat in Australia?▼

From five main kinds of organisation: your state or territory RSPCA, an Animal Welfare League or other large shelter, a council pound or animal management facility, an independent foster-based rescue, or a breed rescue or Greyhound adoption program. Listing sites such as PetRescue and LocalPetFinder do not hold animals themselves; they show pets from many of these groups in one place, and you apply to the group that has the pet.

Is the RSPCA one organisation?▼

No. RSPCA Australia describes itself as a federation: the member RSPCA in each state and territory runs its own shelters, adoptions and cruelty investigations, while RSPCA Australia is the national body that works on animal welfare science and policy. So RSPCA NSW, RSPCA Victoria and RSPCA Queensland each have their own fees, adoption process and website.

Is the Animal Welfare League the same in every state?▼

Do not assume so. Animal Welfare League NSW, Animal Welfare League Queensland (AWLQ) and the Animal Welfare League of South Australia each run their own shelters, website, fees and adoption process. Check the one in your state directly.

Can you adopt a dog from a council pound?▼

Often, yes. Many councils run an animal management facility that rehomes animals nobody claims, and some list them online. The terms can differ from a charity shelter. In the ACT, for example, Domestic Animal Services charges a $109.95 adoption fee plus registration and microchipping, and says a dog that is not yet desexed must be desexed at the adopter's own cost. Ask what is included before you commit.

What is a foster-based rescue?▼

A rescue with no central shelter, where each animal lives with a volunteer foster carer until it is adopted. You usually apply online, then meet the pet at the carer's home or an adoption day. The upside is that the carer can describe how the animal behaves in a real home: with visitors, children, other pets and time alone. Most of the smaller rescues on PetRescue and LocalPetFinder work this way.

Is PetRescue a shelter?▼

No. PetRescue is a national charity and adoption platform that lists pets from member rescue organisations; it says it maintains a national directory of verified organisations and has supported more than 2,000 rescue groups. You find a pet there, then apply to the rescue that has it. LocalPetFinder works the same way: we aggregate listings and you apply to the shelter or rescue.

How much does it cost to adopt a pet in Australia?▼

Each organisation sets its own fee. As published on 9 November 2026, RSPCA NSW charges $500 for an adult dog, $620 for a puppy under 12 months, $220 for an adult cat and $270 for a kitten under 6 months. RSPCA Victoria lists $500 to $1,000 for an adult dog and $145 to $400 for an adult cat, with no fee for senior animals. These are reference figures, not quotes, and fees change.

What does an adoption fee include?▼

At most charity shelters and rescues, desexing, microchipping, vaccinations, worming and flea treatment and a vet check. RSPCA NSW and RSPCA Victoria both list those items on their fee pages. That work would cost you more at a vet if you got an unvaccinated, entire animal for free. Council pounds can differ, so always ask what is included.

Do I need to register a pet I adopt?▼

Yes, in every state and territory, but the system differs. NSW uses the state-wide NSW Pet Registry, South Australia uses Dogs and Cats Online, and most other places register through your local council. In NSW the lifetime registration fee is nil for a desexed dog or cat sold by an eligible council pound, shelter or approved rehoming organisation. The microchip details should be transferred to you as part of the adoption.

Does my pet have to be desexed?▼

It depends on where you live. South Australia requires dogs and cats born after 1 July 2018 to be desexed by six months, or within 28 days of a new owner taking them, with some exemptions. The ACT requires dogs over six months and cats over three months to be desexed unless a permit is held, Tasmania requires cats over four months to be desexed, and Western Australia requires cats to be sterilised by six months. Elsewhere, check your council: some, such as the City of Melbourne for cats, set their own rule, and registration is usually cheaper for a desexed animal. Most adopted pets are desexed before they go home.

Where can I adopt a retired racing Greyhound?▼

Through your state's Greyhound adoption program. Greyhounds As Pets NSW, the Greyhound Adoption Program run by Greyhound Racing Victoria, the Greyhound Adoption Program Queensland, Greyhounds As Pets SA and Greyhounds As Pets WA all rehome retired racing dogs. Independent Greyhound rescues also exist. Fees and lead or muzzle rules differ by state, so check the program's own page.

Is it safe to get a pet from an online ad?▼

Be careful. Scamwatch warns that scammers set up fake websites and social media or marketplace profiles to sell pets that do not exist. It advises seeing the pet in person, or at least on a video call, checking the seller is legitimate, and treating a very cheap price as a likely scam. Never pay for a pet you have not met. Adopting through a registered shelter or a rescue listed on PetRescue or LocalPetFinder avoids most of that risk.

Sources

Keep reading

Live listings