Adopt a pet
Choose RSPCA first - animals available for adoption at RSPCA are medically and behaviourally sound, most have not been neglected, and are perfectly healthy and sociable, simply waiting for a new home and a loving family. Please think about your next family member coming from RSPCA. Do not support the problem of pet overpopulation in Australia, do not support the profit making intensive breeding industry - support animal welfare, support RSPCA.
Our Philosophy
RSPCA receives very little funding from the government, and we need your support to keep operating. Please click here to donate.
In total government funding equates to about 14% of our annual budget. This limited funding is used to fund some of the core services RSPCA ACT provides on behalf of govenrment. This includes an animal curelty inspectorate, wildlife care, stray dog and cat management.
At RSPCA ACT every healthy companion animal is given every opportunity to find a home. All surrendered adult dogs, all puppies, all kittens, all cats and all small animals (such as rabbits, ferrets, guinea pigs) stay with us for as long as it takes to find a home. There are no time limits and no puppy, kitten, cat or small animal is ever put to sleep because they have been with us too long or we have no space.
With regard to stray adult dogs, we work collaboratively with the local government run pound, DAS. RSPCA and the ACT government have a shared responsibility for looking after stray dogs. This means that from time to time dogs are transferred between the two facilities. We take this approach in an attempt to maximise the homing chances of every stray dog in Canberra.
RSPCA ACT may transfer stray dogs to DAS when we have no space to provide care (ie our kennels are completely full to capacity), we may also transfer dogs where the owner is required to comply with government regulations – RSPCA can not enforce domestic animals laws. RSPCA ACT never transfers sick, injured, frightened or compromised stray dogs to DAS.
RSPCA ACT regularly visits DAS and reclaims dogs and moves them back to RSPCA to continue the search for a new home. DAS and RSPCA ACT also work with a number of local rescue groups who provide support and assistance in finding homes for adult dogs.
The ACT boasts the highest homing rate of dogs in Australia – RSPCA ACT homes 94% and DAS advertises a homing rate of 92%. We believe that this collaborative approach is one of the reasons for this success.
We are very progressive, modern animal care centre that believes every companion animal deserves the best chance of finding that 'forever' home.
For RSPCA to continue this great work, we look to the community to choose us, companion animal rescue groups, and pounds as their preferred places from which to adopt a pet.
Pets obtained from RSPCA are as good as, if not better, than pets available at pet shops, market places, and in the local press. You are assured of a great companion who is behaviourally sound, medically fit, and suited to your lifestyle.
Do every cat and dog a favour, give pet shops a miss, don't purchase from a "Puppies for Sale" website and pelase don't support back yard breeding. Visit RSPCA ACT today. Adopting/Buying a pet from the RSPCA is a wonderful, fulfilling and exciting experience.
We take pride in our adoption process as we work with you to find that special animal that is not only right for you and your family, but a perfect match for your new pet as well.
Before being adopted, all animals are checked by a veterinarian, and if required they are vaccinated and wormed. All cats, dogs and rabbits are desexed prior to adoption. Our adoption prices are all inclusive, so you pay one simple fee and go home with your new pet and the knowledge that everything possible has been done to ensure their physical and mental health is in the best shape possible.