Penrith Dog Rescues and Pounds: Where to Adopt

Where to adopt a dog near Penrith

If you have lost a dog, check both council shelters, because a Penrith stray could be held at either. Our Penrith dog adoption page brings together the dogs we track near Penrith.

Why Penrith has two pounds

Penrith City Council's registration and microchipping page says it uses two animal shelters for lost and found dogs and cats. They are the Hawkesbury Companion Animal Shelter and the Blue Mountains Animal Care Centre. Both list Penrith animals on their lost-pet pages.

1. Hawkesbury Companion Animal Shelter, Mulgrave

The Hawkesbury Companion Animal Shelter is owned and run by Hawkesbury City Council at 10 Mulgrave Road, Mulgrave. It handles lost, found and adoptable dogs and cats from the Hawkesbury, Penrith, The Hills, Hornsby and Cumberland council areas. Many Penrith strays, found in suburbs such as St Marys, Kingswood and Cranebrook, end up there.

Each dog on its adoption page shows its own fee. The shelter says its prices include microchipping, lifetime council registration, desexing and a first vaccination. Some dogs are marked application only, which usually means they need an experienced home.

2. Blue Mountains Animal Care Centre, Katoomba

The Blue Mountains Animal Care Centre at 121 Mort Street, Katoomba, has been run by Blue Mountains City Council since July 2024. It took over the site from RSPCA NSW. It holds lost dogs and cats from both the Blue Mountains and Penrith council areas.

Adoption is by appointment, through a conversation that checks the dog and your home suit each other. The centre is open daily from 10am to 4pm but closed on Wednesdays except for emergencies, so ring ahead on (02) 4780 5791.

How long strays are held

Both shelters hold a microchipped dog for 14 days while they try to reach the owner, and an unchipped dog for seven days. After that, a suitable dog may be listed for adoption. That is why a missing Penrith dog can turn up on an adoption page a couple of weeks later.

Other rescues near Penrith

Animal Welfare League NSW at Kemps Creek is the closest of the big Sydney shelters to Penrith. RSPCA NSW at Yagoona and foster-based DCH Animal Adoptions also rehome dogs to Penrith families.

How to choose where to adopt

• Check both council shelters. They hold different Penrith dogs, and neither lists the other's animals.
• Ring before you drive. Katoomba is closed on Wednesdays, and some Mulgrave dogs are by application only.
• Plan for summer heat. Penrith summers run hot, so ask how a heavy-coated or flat-faced dog has coped.
• Ask about other pets. Listings often say whether a dog needs to be the only dog in the home.

Registering your new dog

Every dog in NSW needs lifetime registration on the NSW Pet Registry by six months of age, and a dog must be microchipped by 12 weeks under the Companion Animals Act 1998. A desexed dog from an eligible pound, shelter or approved rehoming organisation qualifies for $0 lifetime registration. A dog from Hawkesbury CAS comes with lifetime registration in its price, so check the details move into your name. Our Sydney dog registration guide covers the steps.

Red flags and pet scams

Scammers know people search for cheap or free dogs. The usual pattern is a bargain puppy, a seller who will not meet, and a request for a deposit or transport fee first. Never send money before you have met the dog in person, and adopt through a council facility or a rescue with its own website. Report suspicious ads to Scamwatch.

Frequently Asked Questions

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