Dog Adoption Hervey Bay

The Fraser Coast's longest-running independent rescue is the Maryborough District Animal Refuge at 4 Bright Street in Maryborough, a short drive from Hervey Bay. Volunteers founded it in the 1970s, and it still runs without council or government funding, paying its way through a boarding kennel and cattery and community donations. Dogs it lists show first on this page, followed by RSPCA Queensland dogs from Bundaberg.

The refuge is open Monday to Saturday from 10am to 2pm and closed on Sundays and public holidays. To adopt, you download the dog application form from its website and email it in. It does not publish its fees, so ask when you enquire. Each dog's post gives its date of birth, breed and sex, and lists the vet work done before it goes home: desexing, vaccination, microchipping, flea and worm treatment and a health check.

Fraser Coast Regional Council requires dogs to be microchipped and registered from 12 weeks of age, and within 14 days of you taking the dog home. First-time registration is free, and renewals are due by 31 October each year. How many dogs you can keep depends on your block: one on a unit or a lot under 600 square metres, and two on 600 to 2,000 square metres, before you need approval for another.