Dog rescues in Liverpool: the best ones compared

The nearest of the larger rescues we list, at East Lodge Farm in Ince Blundell, Sefton, about 8 miles north of the city centre. You read a dog's profile, fill in its adoption application form, and if you are a suitable match it arranges an appointment to visit; it says it tries to contact everyone who applies, but that isn't always possible. Everyone in the home meets the dog, with any dog you already have, then the dog is reserved and a home check follows, in person or by video. The adoption is completed at the centre.

Its fee is £220 for applications made from 15 October 2026, and covers a microchip, vaccinations, flea and worm treatment and neutering; Freshfields also stays on the microchip as a second contact. Its insurance doesn't allow it to rehome dogs to families with children aged 5 or under, and renters need evidence of their landlord's permission. Its bull breed welfare page says many of the dogs it takes in are bull breeds such as Staffies, and asks owners to neuter.

Across the Dee at Trelogan, near Holywell in Flintshire, about 16 miles from Liverpool in a straight line. It is a Welsh rescue, but its FAQs say it accepts adoption requests from people who live up to 70 miles away, and Merseyside is on its list. You apply online from the dog's page; if it looks like a match you are invited to visit by appointment. You don't go into the kennels: staff bring each dog out to meet you.

Reserving a dog needs a £20 deposit, which is North Clwyd's own process, set out on its dog page. A home check follows on every adoption, to see that the garden is secure and that you don't live next to a main road, and the process shouldn't take more than a week. Its fee is £200 for a dog of 6 months and over and £250 for a puppy. Because many of its dogs come in as strays with no known history, it doesn't rehome them to families with children under 5, and it doesn't rehome dogs at all to families with children under 2.

Warrington Animal Welfare on Slutchers Lane, about 16 miles east, starts with an enquiry on the dog's profile and a phone call; you meet the dog, then it is reserved and a home check is arranged. It doesn't rehome to families with children under 5, dogs must have access to a secure garden, and renters need evidence of their landlord's permission. Its adult dog fee is £250 or more, and a puppy under 12 months is £500.

Manchester & Cheshire Dogs' Home has a second home at Grappenhall, near Warrington, and the dogs we list from there appear on our Liverpool pages. Its process has five steps: an application, an assessment by its adoptions team, contact from its team if you are successful, a virtual home visit, and then meeting the dog. It is open for viewing from Wednesday to Sunday, 1pm to 4pm. The £200 adult fee includes a health check, neutering, a first vaccination, a microchip and four weeks' free Pet Plan insurance.

Makants Greyhound Rescue N.W has kennels at Tyldesley. They aren't open for general visits, so you meet hounds by arrangement, have a home visit, and get a two week home trial before adopting; it asks a £175 homing donation, a fence at least 5 foot high, and it says ex-racers wouldn't be suitable to live with cats. Home Run Hounds North West says it rehomes greyhounds within Cheshire, Merseyside and across the North West. Its kennels are at Rixton and visits are by appointment; to adopt, you complete its interest form.

Labrador Rescue (North West Area) describes itself as a voluntary non-profit scheme, and the Labradors we list from it are at Eccleston, near Chorley. You apply with the button on the page of the dog you are interested in. Ask about its fee when you enquire.

Greenleaf Animal Rescue runs a national foster and boarding network, so each dog's page says where it is, and it asks you to donate what you can. Many Tears Animal Rescue is based in Carmarthenshire and places some dogs in foster homes, sometimes near Liverpool. Neither is a Liverpool rescue.

These breed rescues are not rescues whose dogs we list, but each says it covers Merseyside or the North West, or rehomes across the UK. Contact them directly, and expect their own rules.

• Staffies: Happy Staffie Rescue rehomes Staffies from all over the UK, and Senior Staffy Club rehomes older Staffies throughout the UK, for £120. See our Staffy adoption guide.
• German Shepherds: German Shepherd Rescue names Merseyside in its North West Region, and says its adoption fees vary between £150 and £500. See our German Shepherd adoption guide.
• Springer Spaniels: English Springer Spaniel Rescue North West England names Merseyside among its areas, and won't offer dogs to families with children under 6.
• Jack Russells: Jack Russell Terrier Rescue UK has foster homes in Cheshire, among other places, and rehomes across the UK, but not to households with young children.
• Chihuahuas: British Chihuahua Rescue rehomes Chihuahuas across the UK.
• Poodle crosses: Doodle Trust keeps its dogs in foster homes across the UK, and DoodleAid is a UK charity that helps rehome poodle crosses.