The short answer
You can readily adopt a Maltese in Perth, because they are one of the most common small dogs in rescue. Set alerts across Dogs' Refuge Home WA at Shenton Park, RSPCA WA at Malaga, the foster-based SAFE Perth and SAFE, and PetRescue, be application-ready, and stay open to a Maltese cross or an older dog. Adoption runs about $600 for an adult, all-inclusive, against several thousand dollars from a breeder, and the breed is not restricted in WA. The honest commitment is the coat, which needs regular clipping or daily brushing to prevent painful matting, and the company, because a Maltese bonds hard and does not suit a home that is out all day. Meet those needs and you have a devoted, affectionate companion for well over a decade.
Why Maltese end up in Perth rescue
A Maltese in rescue is rarely a broken dog. It is usually a gentle companion whose last home underestimated what the breed needs, and understanding why tells you how to give one a better one.
The grooming outpaced the owner. The long white coat mats if it is not brushed or clipped regularly, and matting is painful and can hide skin problems. Owners who did not plan for the grooming, or the cost of a regular groomer, sometimes surrender the dog once the coat becomes a daily job.
Separation anxiety and barking. A Maltese bonds closely to its people and can become anxious and vocal when left alone for long stretches, which strains households that are out all day. The behaviour usually eases with company, routine and gentle training, but it is a common reason a dog reaches rescue.
Overbreeding. Small white companion dogs are in constant demand, so Maltese and Maltese crosses are produced in volume by backyard and commercial breeders, and rescues take in the surrendered and the discarded. Crosses appear often, especially Maltese Shih Tzu and Maltese Poodle blends.
Life changes. Many reach rescue through no fault of their own after a relationship breakdown, a house move or an owner who could no longer care for a pet. These dogs are often already house-trained and settled, and simply need a new home.
Where to adopt a Maltese in Perth
Maltese are common in rescue, so a wide alert net is the right approach. Set listing alerts on every rescue you would consider so you hear the moment one comes in. For a fuller directory, see our Perth adoption resources hub.
1. Dogs' Refuge Home WA
A dogs-only, not-for-profit shelter at Shenton Park in inner Perth, running since 1935 and one of Australia's oldest animal welfare agencies. It takes in a steady stream of small dogs under a pro-life policy, and Maltese and Maltese crosses appear regularly. Adoption includes desexing, vaccination, microchipping and a vet check. Browse the current dogs at dogshome.org.au.
2. RSPCA Western Australia
The state welfare body, running since 1892, with its Animal Care Centre at 108 Malaga Drive in Malaga, northern Perth. Adoptions run by appointment and every animal is health- and behaviour-checked before it is listed, so you get an honest read on how a small dog is with people and other animals. Apply at rspcawa.org.au.
3. SAFE Perth and SAFE
Both run a foster-care model rather than a central metro shelter, so a Maltese waits in a home rather than a kennel. Because the dog lives in a foster home, the notes on its coat, temperament and behaviour with people and other animals tend to be detailed and honest. SAFE Perth lists at safeperth.com.au and SAFE at safe.org.au. Both operate under the SAFE banner in WA, so confirm which organisation holds a given dog.
4. PetRescue
A national aggregator that lists Maltese and Maltese crosses from many smaller WA rescue groups in one searchable place, at petrescue.com.au. It is the fastest way to scan many WA rescues at once rather than checking each site in turn.
Be wary of any group that asks for money before you have confirmed a real address, a current adoptable-dog list and registered status. Browse the current Maltese and Maltese crosses on the Perth Maltese listings.
What a Maltese costs: adopt versus buy
Adoption is far cheaper at the outset. A rescue fee for an adult Maltese or Maltese cross through a Perth rescue commonly runs about $600, all-inclusive, and that fee already covers desexing, vaccination, microchipping, worm and flea treatment and a vet check. A Maltese from a breeder in WA, by contrast, often runs to several thousand dollars, with none of that vet work done yet.
Council registration is a separate legal step, with the fee set by your local council rather than a single Perth figure. Under the Dog Act 1976, a dog must be microchipped by 3 months and before it changes hands, and registered with your local council from 3 months. A desexed and microchipped Maltese pays a substantially reduced registration fee, and pensioner or concession card holders commonly get a further discount. Check the WA Government dog ownership hub and your own council for the current amount.
The ongoing cost worth planning for is grooming: a regular clip every six to eight weeks or daily brushing, plus dental care and routine parasite prevention. Adopting an assessed adult lets you see the temperament, coat and any known history rather than gamble on a puppy, and small dogs live a long time, so the years of companionship are many.
Maltese and Western Australian dog law
The Maltese is not a restricted breed in Western Australia. Under the Dog Act 1976, only five breeds are restricted: the American Pit Bull Terrier, Dogo Argentino, Fila Brasileiro, Japanese Tosa and Perro de Presa Canario. A Maltese is legal to own and to rehome normally. It simply needs to be microchipped by 3 months of age and before it changes hands, and registered with your local council from 3 months, with a substantially reduced fee for a desexed and microchipped dog. A rescue Maltese arrives already desexed and microchipped. Check the WA Government dog ownership hub for the current rules.
Browse adoptable Maltese in Perth
Maltese are common in rescue, and an adult lets you see the temperament and coat before you commit. Browse live WA listings and set an alert.
See Available Maltese →If you have been searching “Maltese for sale Perth”
Plenty of people arrive here after searching for a Maltese to buy, and for this breed adoption is a genuinely strong alternative, because Maltese and Maltese crosses are among the most common small dogs in rescue and an adult lets you see the temperament and coat rather than gamble on a puppy. The for-sale listings are easy to find, but this popular small breed attracts backyard breeding and the occasional scam, so a cheap puppy or a deposit request for a dog you have not met in person is a warning sign rather than a bargain, and Scamwatch has documented deposit scams for puppies that do not exist.
WA does not run a Pet Exchange Register or a breeder source-number scheme, so there is no source number to look up here. The practical safeguard is the microchip: a dog sold or given away legally in WA must be microchipped and registered, so ask to see the microchip paperwork before you pay anything, and treat a seller who cannot produce it as a red flag. Adoption sidesteps most of that risk, costs a fraction of a breeder price, and gives a vet-checked dog a home. The RSPCA Australia Knowledgebase has good general guidance on choosing a dog and avoiding poorly bred puppies.
Adult or puppy, and is a Maltese right for you?
For most adopters an assessed adult is the better choice. An adult shows you the real temperament, the coat and how it is with people and other animals, often has some training in place, and comes with a lower adoption fee, while a puppy is a gamble on temperament and needs intensive early socialisation and house-training. A foster-assessed adult Maltese, matched to the right home, is the easier and more predictable way into the breed.
A Maltese suits a home that will keep up the grooming, give the dog company rather than leaving it alone all day, and enjoy a gentle, affectionate companion that wants to be near its people. It is a fine choice for apartments, units and smaller Perth homes, and often for older owners who want a devoted lap dog. If you wanted a low-grooming dog, or one you could leave alone for long hours, be honest with the rescue and let them steer you to a better fit. Read the foster carer's notes on a specific dog with children, cats and other dogs, because they predict the match far better than the breed average.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I adopt a Maltese near me in Perth?
Start with the main Perth shelters and rescues and widen out. Dogs' Refuge Home WA at Shenton Park and RSPCA WA at Malaga both take in small dogs, and the foster-based SAFE Perth and SAFE rehome Maltese and Maltese crosses through the year. PetRescue lists small dogs from many smaller WA rescues in one place. Maltese and Maltese crosses, including Maltese Shih Tzu and Maltese Poodle mixes, are one of the more common small dogs in rescue, so set listing alerts across every rescue you would consider and have your application ready. Never send money to a group before you have confirmed it is a real, registered rescue.
Why do Maltese end up in rescue?
Rarely because of the dog. The long white coat needs regular grooming or clipping, and when it is neglected it mats painfully, so some Maltese are surrendered once the grooming becomes more than the owner bargained for. Maltese bond closely to their people and can develop separation anxiety and barking if left alone too much, which is another common surrender reason. Small-dog overbreeding and puppy farming put a steady supply of Maltese and crosses into rescue. Others arrive through no fault of their own after a relationship breakdown, a house move or an owner who could no longer care for them. Most are gentle, affectionate dogs that settle quickly once their grooming and company needs are met.
How much does it cost to adopt a Maltese versus buy one?
Adoption is far cheaper up front. A rescue fee for an adult Maltese or Maltese cross through a Perth rescue commonly runs about $600, all-inclusive, and that fee already covers desexing, vaccination, microchipping, worm and flea treatment and a vet check. A Maltese from a breeder in WA, by contrast, often runs to several thousand dollars, with none of that vet work done yet. So adopting is many times cheaper at the outset and the dog arrives already vetted. The ongoing cost worth planning for with this breed is grooming: regular clipping or daily brushing to prevent matting, plus dental care and routine parasite prevention.
Are Maltese restricted in Western Australia?
No. The Maltese is not a restricted breed in WA. The five restricted breeds under the Dog Act 1976 are the American Pit Bull Terrier, Dogo Argentino, Fila Brasileiro, Japanese Tosa and Perro de Presa Canario. A Maltese is legal to own and to rehome normally. Like any WA dog it needs to be microchipped by 3 months of age and before it changes hands, and registered with your local council from 3 months, with a substantially reduced registration fee for a desexed and microchipped dog.
Are Maltese good with children and other pets?
With the right home they can be, but their size needs care. A well-socialised Maltese is gentle, affectionate and sociable, but it is small and delicate and can be injured by rough or excited handling, so it often suits a home with older, gentle children better than one with toddlers. Most get on well with other small dogs and cats they are raised with. Early socialisation helps, and a foster carer who has lived with the individual dog can tell you exactly how it is with children, other dogs and visitors.
Should I adopt an adult Maltese or a puppy?
For most adopters an adult is the better choice. An adult shows you its real temperament and how it is with people and other animals, often has some training in place, and comes with a lower adoption fee. A puppy is a gamble on temperament and needs intensive early socialisation and house-training. A vet-checked, foster-assessed adult Maltese, matched to the right home, is the easier and more predictable way into the breed, and small dogs live a long time so an adult still gives you many years.
How much grooming does a Maltese need?
A fair amount, and it is the single biggest commitment with the breed. The long, silky white coat has no undercoat and does not shed much, but it mats easily, so it needs either daily brushing to keep the full coat or a regular clip into a shorter, low-maintenance puppy cut every six to eight weeks. Eyes and the face need gentle cleaning to manage tear staining, and the ears and nails need routine care. Many Perth owners keep a rescue Maltese in a short clip for comfort in the warmer months, which is both practical and kind.
Are there free Maltese in Perth, or ones under $500?
Be careful with free or very cheap Maltese. A legitimate rescue charges an adoption fee, commonly around $600 all-inclusive, because the fee part-covers the desexing, vaccination, microchipping and vet check the dog has already had. A Maltese advertised free to a good home, or well below a rescue fee, is one of the classic scam and backyard-breeding setups, and this popular small breed given away cheaply is a common trap, so treat a bargain as a warning sign and check any seller against the Western Australian rules below before paying anything.
I keep seeing Maltese puppies for sale. Is adopting really an option?
It is, and for this breed adoption is a strong option, because Maltese and Maltese crosses are one of the most common small dogs in rescue, and an adult lets you see the temperament and coat rather than gamble on a puppy. The for-sale listings are easy to find, but this popular small breed attracts backyard breeding and the occasional scam, so a cheap puppy or a deposit request for a dog you have not met is a warning sign rather than a bargain. WA does not run a Pet Exchange Register or a breeder source-number scheme, so the practical safeguard is the microchip: a dog sold or given away legally in WA must be microchipped and registered, so ask to see the microchip paperwork before you pay. Adoption costs a fraction of a breeder price and gives a vet-checked dog a home.
Keep reading
Adoptable Maltese in Perth
Live listings of Maltese and Maltese crosses across Perth and WA rescues.
Best Dog Rescues in Perth
The verified shelters and foster rescues to set alerts with across Perth and WA.
Registering a Dog in Perth
Council registration, microchipping and the WA rules for a new dog.
Perth Adoption Resources
Guides on adopting, costs, council rules and settling a rescue dog in Perth.