Rescue guide
Dog rescues in Bristol: the best ones compared
None of the five rescues in this guide has kennels inside Bristol, so most adopters here choose between a foster network and a kennel a drive away. This guide sets the five rescues whose dogs we list around the city side by side, then covers Dogs Trust Cardiff, the RSPCA's Bristol branch, the council's stray dogs and the breed charities that cover the area.
By the LocalPetFinder Team · Checked 27 October 2026
The short answer
The dog rescues we list near Bristol are mostly outside the city. Dogs' Friends, a Somerset rescue, keeps almost all its dogs in foster homes, some of them in Bristol itself, and asks usually £400 to £500. The kennels are further out: Happy Landings Animal Rescue Centre near Shepton Mallet, Teckels Animal Sanctuaries in Gloucestershire, which had the most dogs listed with us near Bristol when we checked in October 2026, and All Creatures Great and Small at Cwmbran, in south Wales. Dogs Trust's nearest centre is Dogs Trust Cardiff, in Wales, and we don't list its dogs.
- Rescue adoption fees
- Each rescue sets its own adoption fee. Dogs Trust charges £300 for a puppy or adult dog in England, Wales and Scotland, and Blue Cross fees start from £235 for dogs aged 8 or over and £335 for dogs aged 1 to 7. The fee usually covers neutering, microchipping and first vaccinations, and each rescue confirms its own fee.
- Rescues near Bristol that publish a fee
- From £300 for an adult dog: £300 at Teckels Animal Sanctuaries, a £300 donation at All Creatures Great and Small in south Wales, a minimum of £300 at Forest of Dean Dog Rescue, and usually £400 to £500 at Dogs' Friends. Happy Landings Animal Rescue Centre doesn't publish a fee. Puppies cost more: see the fee table below.
- Buying a puppy
- Blue Cross puts the cost of buying a puppy at £400 to £3,000, before food, insurance and vet bills.
- Owning a dog
- PDSA estimates a dog costs at least £6,200 over its lifetime, and up to a minimum of £18,800 depending on the breed (its 2024 figures, not counting buying the dog).
Dog rescues near Bristol compared
These are the rescues whose dogs we list within about 25 miles of Bristol city centre, A to Z. Click a rescue's name for the dogs it has with us today; links to its own site follow in the sections below. Adoption itself happens with the rescue: its checks, its fee, its decision. LocalPetFinder only shows you the dogs.
Two of the five work mainly through foster homes, so a dog may be living a few streets away or out in Somerset: its page says where. The three with kennels are each a 20 to 25 mile drive, south into Somerset, north up the M5 into Gloucestershire, or west over the Severn into Wales.
| Rescue | Where | Dogs | How you adopt |
|---|---|---|---|
| All Creatures Great and Small | Church Farm, Llanfrechfa, Cwmbran, in south Wales (about 21 miles) | Dogs, cats and rabbits; a sanctuary as well as a rescue | A "Perfect match form", a meet and greet with the whole household, then a home visit |
| Dogs' Friends | Foster homes around Bristol and Somerset; kennels at Westbury-sub-Mendip (about 16 miles) | Dogs only, many of them ex-breeding dogs | An enquiry form for a listed dog, a home check, then at least two visits to the dog |
| Forest of Dean Dog Rescue | Foster homes; based at Bream, Gloucestershire (about 21 miles) | Dogs, including older, nervous and ex-breeding dogs | An online application for a listed dog; it contacts only applicants who suit that dog |
| Happy Landings Animal Rescue Centre | Pye Hill, Pylle, near Shepton Mallet, Somerset (about 22 miles) | Dogs, cats, rabbits and other small animals | Its rehoming form by email, a viewing by appointment, then a home check |
| Teckels Animal Sanctuaries | Bristol Road, Whitminster, Gloucestershire (about 25 miles) | Dogs and cats | An online application for a named animal, then meetings outdoors by appointment |
Published adoption fees near Bristol
Each fee below is the one the rescue prints on its own site, in its wording. It goes towards vet work already paid for: Dogs' Friends, for example, gives each dog a health check, a microchip, vaccinations and neutering. Where no fee is published, ask when you enquire.
| Rescue | Fee (their words) |
|---|---|
| Teckels Animal Sanctuaries | £300 for an adult dog and £400 for a puppy under 6 months (its adoption page) |
| All Creatures Great and Small | A £300 donation for an adult dog and £375 for a dog under 12 months |
| Forest of Dean Dog Rescue | "Our rehoming donation, currently a minimum of £300" |
| Dogs' Friends | Usually £400 to £500 |
| Happy Landings Animal Rescue Centre | Not published |
Which rescue near Bristol for which dog
The table runs A to Z. Grouped by how they work and where they are, the five look like this.
Foster networks: Dogs' Friends and Forest of Dean Dog Rescue
Dogs' Friends describes itself as based in the heart of Somerset, and almost all its dogs live in individual foster homes, with a few at its kennels at Westbury-sub-Mendip, between Cheddar and Wells. Its adoption page names Bristol, Bath, Weston-super-Mare and Wiltshire as part of its rehoming area. You send an enquiry for a dog it has listed; volunteers read it, a home check follows (by video if a visit isn't possible), and it asks your vet about the pets you have had. Everyone at home, and any dog you already have, meets the dog, and you go to see it at least twice, with 24 hours to think after the meeting. Be ready to meet within a few days of applying and to take the dog home within a week, and it can't hold dogs over holidays.
Forest of Dean Dog Rescue is a volunteer-run charity at Bream, across the Severn in Gloucestershire, about 21 miles north. Its dogs live with fosterers, and it takes in older dogs, scared dogs, ex-breeding dogs and local strays. There is no waiting list: you apply online for a dog on its dogs for adoption page, and it gets back only to people who suit that dog. Every home needs a secure garden and someone in for part of the day, and every member of the household, plus any resident dog, meets the dog before a home check.
Kennels in Somerset: Happy Landings Animal Rescue Centre
Happy Landings Animal Rescue Centre has been rehoming animals from Pye Hill, Pylle, near Shepton Mallet, since 1983, about 22 miles south of Bristol. You download its dog rehoming form and email it in, and every viewing is booked: the public can't look round the kennels. After a first meeting it holds the dog for 24 hours while you decide, then you call to reserve it fully. Your family and any dog you have meet it, and a home check follows. It phones new owners after 3 days and again after 3 weeks, a volunteer visits within 6 months, and it asks that the dog only ever comes back to it if things go wrong.
In Gloucestershire: Teckels Animal Sanctuaries
Teckels Animal Sanctuaries is a small independent charity at Whitminster, Gloucestershire, about 25 miles north up the M5, set up in 2003 and run on a non-destruction policy. It has taken in Stroud District Council's stray dogs for more than 15 years.
Rehoming at Teckels is by appointment only. You apply online for a particular animal, it picks the best match rather than the first applicant, and it may not reply to everyone. Meetings with staff are held outdoors whatever the weather, every dog adoption has a home check, and renters need written permission from their landlord. Its FAQs say it rehomes to families with children of any age if the animal suits, sets no upper age limit for adopters, and that dogs usually go home within 3 days of the meetings.
Across the Severn in south Wales: All Creatures Great and Small
All Creatures Great and Small is a sanctuary at Church Farm, Llanfrechfa, near Cwmbran, in south Wales, about 21 miles north west of Bristol. Animals it can't rehome stay with it for life, and it says it does not operate a euthanasia policy. To adopt, you fill in its Perfect match form or get in touch, everyone in the household comes to a meet and greet, and it visits to see your home and garden before an adoption date is set. Renters need their landlord's permission in writing, and outside medical or exceptional cases it doesn't place dogs in homes with an unneutered resident dog. Its dogs are neutered, microchipped and flea and worm treated, and go home with 4 weeks of free Petplan insurance.
Breed rescues that cover Bristol
These breed rescues aren't on our listings, but each says on its own site that it covers Bristol, the South West, Wales or the whole UK. Get in touch with them yourself, and read their rules before applying.
- Labradors: The Labrador Rescue Trust has volunteers across the South West and lists Bath and Bristol among the areas it rehomes in. It has no kennels and doesn't advertise its dogs, it matches each dog to a home instead, and it won't place a dog where it would be alone for more than 4 hours a day. Its donation is £250, less for dogs over 8. See our Labrador page.
- Dachshunds: Dachshund Rescue UK has a regional rehoming contact whose area takes in Somerset, Bath and Bristol. Its fees run from £150 to £650, and its criteria ask for a secure garden and rule out children under 10. See our Dachshund page.
- Chihuahuas: British Chihuahua Rescue keeps its dogs with foster carers around the UK, and its dog list can be filtered to the South West of England or to Wales. Its adoption donation is £350, and it doesn't normally place dogs with children under 10. See our Chihuahua page.
- Cocker Spaniels: Spaniel Aid had Cocker Spaniels in foster homes in Gloucestershire and Swindon when we checked in October 2026, and Second Chance Spaniel Rescue had spaniels in Wiltshire and south Wales. Spaniel Aid doesn't place a dog where it would be left alone for more than 4 hours in a day. See our Cocker Spaniel page.
- Staffies: Happy Staffie Rescue takes enquiries only from people ready to adopt straight away, and Senior Staffy Club finds homes for older Staffies anywhere in the UK. See our Staffy page.
- Poodle crosses: Doodle Trust, DoodleAid and Doodle Rescue rehome Cockapoos and other poodle crosses across the UK. See our Cockapoo page.
- Jack Russells: Jack Russell Terrier Rescue UK has foster homes in several parts of the country, Wales among them, places dogs UK-wide and doesn't home them with young children. See our Jack Russell page.
How to choose a rescue near Bristol
Each rescue's rules filter its dogs before you ever meet one, so check them against your own life first. These are the points that separate the five.
- You have children. Teckels Animal Sanctuaries homes to families with children of any age when the dog suits, Dogs' Friends usually asks for children to be 4 or older, and Forest of Dean Dog Rescue is unlikely to place a dog with children under 5.
- You live in a flat or have no garden. Dogs' Friends will consider a flat or a home without a garden if it suits the dog. Forest of Dean Dog Rescue needs a secure garden for every home, and Happy Landings checks your fencing on its home visit.
- You already have a dog. Many Dogs' Friends dogs are ex-breeding dogs that need a resident dog in their new home. All Creatures Great and Small won't home a dog with an unneutered resident dog, and most rescues here want your dog to meet the new one first.
- You want an older dog. Forest of Dean Dog Rescue takes in older dogs, The Labrador Rescue Trust lowers its donation for Labradors over 8, and Senior Staffy Club rehomes only older Staffies. Today's older dogs around Bristol are gathered on our older dogs page.
- You don't drive. Some Dogs' Friends dogs are fostered in Bristol itself, but you still need to visit at least twice. Every kennel here is a 20 to 25 mile trip, and Forest of Dean Dog Rescue asks you to travel to meet its dogs.
How adopting from a rescue near Bristol works
Whichever rescue you pick, expect these stages. A "home check" just means the rescue sees where the dog would live, in person or on a video call.
- Find a dog on our Bristol pages or the rescue's site and note its must-haves, such as a secure garden, no cats in the house or older children only.
- Apply for that dog. Dogs' Friends takes an enquiry form, Teckels Animal Sanctuaries and Forest of Dean Dog Rescue an online application, and Happy Landings Animal Rescue Centre its rehoming form by email.
- Meet the dog at the booked time, with everyone you live with and any dog you already have.
- Have the home check, and give the rescue your landlord's written permission if you rent.
- Pay the fee or donation and bring your dog home, then keep any promise you made, such as neutering a young dog when it is old enough.
Dogs Trust Cardiff, the RSPCA and stray dogs
Three more routes to a rescue dog sit outside our listings, so you deal with each one directly.
- Dogs Trust has no rehoming centre in Bristol. Its nearest is Dogs Trust Cardiff on Nettlefold Road, in Wales, about 24 miles west, which says it helped 893 dogs find homes in 2025. Drop-in browsing runs noon to 4pm five days a week, with Wednesday and Friday mornings kept for appointments. Its £300 fee is quoted in the cost box above.
- Bristol Animal Rescue Centre in St Philips is the working name of the RSPCA's Bristol branch, and on the Bath side Bath Cats & Dogs Home at Claverton Down is the RSPCA's Bath and North Somerset branch. Both rehome animals from their own centres; search their own sites.
- Bristol City Council takes stray dogs found in the city to Bristol Animal Rescue Centre. Its stray dog page says an owner pays a collection fee from £59 for one day up to £124 for six, and a dog that isn't collected in that time is put up for adoption. That is the City of Bristol only: South Gloucestershire, North Somerset and Bath and North East Somerset run their own services.
Find a breed near Bristol
Each breed or type page below collects one kind of dog from the five rescues we list, closest first, and answers the usual questions. Start with the crossbreed page, then try Staffies, collies, spaniels and Patterdale Terriers. There are also pages for puppies, older dogs and small dogs.
The law in England
Microchipping and change of keeper
In England, as everywhere in the UK, every dog must be microchipped and registered by 8 weeks old. Since 6 April 2016 a dog in England can't pass to a new keeper until it is chipped, and the new keeper must update the database (the England regulations). A rescue chips before rehoming; after adoption, keep the details up to date.
Lucy's Law: buying a puppy
In England, Lucy's Law has meant since 6 April 2020 that puppies under six months can't be sold by a third party such as a pet shop or dealer: you buy direct from the breeder or adopt from a rehoming centre.
Banned dog types
In England, it is against the law to sell, abandon, give away or breed from a banned type: the Pit Bull Terrier, Japanese Tosa, Dogo Argentino, Fila Brasileiro and XL Bully. Whether a dog is banned depends on what it looks like rather than its breed or name, so no rescue can rehome one and none appear on LocalPetFinder. The Staffordshire Bull Terrier is not a banned type.
XL Bully dogs
In England, since 31 December 2023 it has been illegal to breed, sell, advertise, gift, exchange or abandon an XL Bully or let it stray, and since 1 February 2024 illegal to own one without a Certificate of Exemption (gov.uk: England and Wales).
Questions
Tap a question to expand
What is the best dog rescue in Bristol?
That depends on you: the right rescue is the one whose dogs and rules fit your household. Dogs' Friends fosters its dogs around Bristol and Somerset, Forest of Dean Dog Rescue fosters from Bream, and Happy Landings Animal Rescue Centre, Teckels Animal Sanctuaries and All Creatures Great and Small have kennels within about 25 miles.
Are there dog rescues inside Bristol itself?
None of the five rescues in this guide has kennels in the city, though some Dogs' Friends dogs live with fosterers in Bristol. Its kennels are at Westbury-sub-Mendip in Somerset, and the other rescues are near Shepton Mallet, at Bream and Whitminster in Gloucestershire, and at Cwmbran, in south Wales. In St Philips, Bristol Animal Rescue Centre is the RSPCA's Bristol branch, and we don't list its animals.
How much does it cost to adopt a dog from a rescue near Bristol?
Expect £300 or more for an adult dog wherever a fee is published. Teckels Animal Sanctuaries asks £300, All Creatures Great and Small a £300 donation and Forest of Dean Dog Rescue a minimum of £300, while Dogs' Friends usually asks £400 to £500. Puppies cost more: £400 under 6 months at Teckels and £375 under 12 months at All Creatures Great and Small.
Is there a Dogs Trust in Bristol?
No. Dogs Trust's nearest rehoming centre is Dogs Trust Cardiff, on Nettlefold Road, in Wales, about 24 miles west. Browsing is open from noon to 4pm on five days a week, with Wednesday and Friday mornings by appointment. Its dogs aren't on LocalPetFinder, so use Dogs Trust's own website.
Can I adopt from the RSPCA in Bristol?
Yes, through its local branches, which run their own centres. Bristol Animal Rescue Centre in St Philips is the working name of the RSPCA's Bristol branch, and Bath Cats & Dogs Home is its Bath and North Somerset branch. We don't list RSPCA animals, so search on their own websites.
Can I visit dog rescues near Bristol without an appointment?
Generally not. Teckels Animal Sanctuaries rehomes by appointment only, Happy Landings Animal Rescue Centre doesn't let the public walk round its kennels, and Dogs' Friends dogs are mostly in foster homes. Apply for a particular dog first and the rescue will arrange the meeting.
Can I adopt a rescue dog near Bristol if I have young children?
Often, but it depends on the dog. Teckels Animal Sanctuaries rehomes to families with children of any age when the animal suits, Dogs' Friends usually asks that children are 4 or older, and Forest of Dean Dog Rescue is unlikely to place a dog with children under 5. Some breed charities go further: Dachshund Rescue UK won't place a dog in a home with children under 10.
What happens to stray dogs in Bristol?
In the City of Bristol, the council takes strays to Bristol Animal Rescue Centre. An owner pays a collection fee from £59 for one day to £124 for six, and a dog nobody collects in that time is put up for adoption. South Gloucestershire, North Somerset and Bath and North East Somerset run their own services, and we don't list stray kennel dogs.
Do rescues near Bristol rehome puppies?
Sometimes. Teckels Animal Sanctuaries asks £400 for a puppy under 6 months and All Creatures Great and Small a £375 donation for a dog under 12 months. Teckels neuters before adoption, or gives a voucher and a signed agreement for a puppy too young. Our Bristol puppies page shows any listed today.
Keep reading
- All rescue dogs in and around Bristol
- Adopting a Dachshund in Bristol: rescues, rules and costs
- Adopting a Staffy in Bristol: rescues, costs and the law
- Adopting a Cockapoo or Cavapoo in Bristol: rescues, costs and health
- Adopting a Chihuahua in Bristol: rescues, costs and health
- Adopting a Cocker Spaniel in Bristol: rescues, costs and health
- Adopting a Jack Russell in Bristol: rescues, costs and health
- Adopting a Labrador in Bristol: rescues, costs and health
- Every dog adoption guide for Bristol
- Rescue pets in Bristol
For rescues and rehoming centres
Are you a rescue near Bristol? Get your animals listed free.
Every animal links back to your own adoption page, and you can ask to be removed at any time.
Sources: Dogs' Friends: adopting (process, fee, children, rehoming area) · Dogs' Friends: about · Forest of Dean Dog Rescue: adoption procedure · Forest of Dean Dog Rescue: dogs for adoption · Happy Landings Animal Rescue Centre: how to rehome a dog · Happy Landings Animal Rescue Centre: about · Teckels Animal Sanctuaries: how to adopt (fees) · Teckels Animal Sanctuaries: frequently asked questions · Teckels Animal Sanctuaries: what we do · All Creatures Great and Small: the adoption process (rehoming donations) · All Creatures Great and Small: the sanctuary · Dogs Trust: Cardiff rehoming centre · Bristol Animal Rescue Centre · Bath Cats & Dogs Home · Bristol City Council: dog and animal issues (stray dogs) · Blue Cross: getting a puppy · PDSA: the cost of owning a dog · The Labrador Rescue Trust: about us · The Labrador Rescue Trust: adopt a Labrador · The Labrador Rescue Trust: FAQs (donation) · Dachshund Rescue UK: regional rehoming contacts · Dachshund Rescue UK: adoption fees · Dachshund Rescue UK: criteria for adoption · British Chihuahua Rescue: our dogs · British Chihuahua Rescue: FAQ · Spaniel Aid: available dogs · Spaniel Aid: adoption process · Second Chance Spaniel Rescue: find a dog · Happy Staffie Rescue: adopt · Senior Staffy Club: adopt a Staffy · Doodle Trust: adopt · DoodleAid: the adoption process · Doodle Rescue · Jack Russell Terrier Rescue UK: about us · gov.uk: Get your dog microchipped · gov.uk: Banned dogs · gov.uk: Lucy's Law in England · legislation.gov.uk: Microchipping of Cats and Dogs (England) Regulations 2023 · gov.uk: Ban on XL Bully dogs