The best dog rescues in Birmingham, compared

Every rescue below is based, or keeps the dogs we list, within about 25 miles of central Birmingham. Click a name to see the dogs it has listed with us today, or follow the fee link to the rescue's own page. Each rescue runs its own application, home check and fee: we don't rehome dogs ourselves.

One thing surprises people: none of the kennel-based dog rescues we list is inside the City of Birmingham. Birmingham Dogs Home's centres are in Solihull and at Coven, and the rest sit around the edge of the West Midlands and in Staffordshire, Worcestershire and Warwickshire. The Animal House Rescue, a small Birmingham-based rescue, keeps its few dogs in foster homes.

The table is alphabetical. Grouped by the dog you have in mind, the picture looks like this.

Start from your own circumstances, because each rescue's rules decide who it can rehome to. These are the ones Birmingham adopters run into most.

• Your garden and fence. Most rescues want a secure garden, and the height varies: at least 4ft at Birmingham Dogs Home, 5ft for dogs at Wythall Animal Sanctuary, and Brighter Days Rescue says "A back garden secured by a 6-foot high fence is a must".
• You live in a flat or rent. Small Dog Rescue doesn't rehome to flats or bedsits. If you rent, have your landlord's permission ready: Birmingham Dogs Home asks for it.
• You have children. Wythall Animal Sanctuary doesn't rehome to homes with children under 3, Pawprints Dog Rescue not to children under 9 unless the dog is known to be good with them, and Brighter Days Rescue not to children under 10 for an adult dog.
• You work full time. Brighter Days Rescue says "Preferably no full-time workers", Small Dog Rescue is unlikely to rehome to anyone out all day, and Wythall Animal Sanctuary asks that dogs aren't left for longer than 4 hours. Say honestly what your days look like.
• Where you live. Paws A While Shelter rehomes within 30 miles of Alrewas, Wythall gives priority within 15 miles, and Ravens Rescue UK rehomes only within the West Midlands. The Animal House Rescue asks dog adopters from outside the Birmingham area for a vet reference and two recent household bills.

The order varies, but most rescues around Birmingham follow the same steps. A "home check" is a visit, by a volunteer or sometimes by video, to see that your home suits the dog. It is not an inspection of how tidy you are.

1. Find a dog on the rescue's site or ours, and read its profile for the home it needs (children, cats, other dogs, garden).
2. Apply or enquire. Some rescues reply only if you are successful: Pawprints Dog Rescue says that if you haven't heard within 7 days, your application has not been successful.
3. Meet the dog, often more than once and with the rest of your household and any dog you already have.
4. Reserve, where the rescue does that. Home Run Hounds asks for a £30 non-refundable deposit to reserve a greyhound for up to two weeks, and Daybreaks Trust lets you reserve for £25. These are the rescues' own processes.
5. Pass the home check, and in some cases a trial: Paws A While Shelter starts every dog with a 3-week foster to adopt.
6. Pay the fee and take your dog home. The fee usually covers vet work already done, such as neutering and microchipping, and the rescue registers the microchip to you.

Some of the best-known rehoming charities have centres within reach of Birmingham. We don't list their dogs, so search their own sites. Birmingham City Council's own list of local rescue centres names them too, alongside Birmingham Dogs Home, Wythall Animal Sanctuary, The Animal House Rescue and Senior Staffy Club.

• Dogs Trust Kenilworth, at Honiley near Kenilworth, about 13 miles from the city, says it is "the largest Dogs Trust rehoming centre" and cares for around 180 dogs at any one time. You can browse on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday from 12 to 4pm. Dogs Trust fees are in the cost box above.
• Blue Cross Bromsgrove rehoming centre at Catshill has space for 24 dogs and 24 cats, plus puppy and kitten facilities. You apply through the form on the pet's profile, and you can't meet a pet without an appointment.
• The RSPCA has its Birmingham Animal Centre at Frankley. The RSPCA also rehomes animals; search on its own site.

Each breed page lists every dog of that breed with the rescues above, nearest first, with its own questions and answers. These breeds have had dogs listed near Birmingham this month: greyhounds, lurchers, whippets, crossbreeds, German Shepherds, Belgian Malinois, Cane Corsos, Staffies, Cavaliers, Dachshunds, Labradors, Huskies, Shih Tzus, French Bulldogs, Border Collies, Shar Peis and poodles and doodles. There are also pages for puppies, older dogs and small dogs.