Rescue guide
The best dog rescues in London, compared
There is no single best dog rescue in London: the right one depends on the dog you want, where you live and how you live. These are the rescues within about 35 miles of central London whose dogs we list, side by side.
By the LocalPetFinder Team · Checked 17 October 2026
The short answer
For a greyhound, try one of the five greyhound rescues around London, such as Wimbledon Greyhound Welfare in Hersham. For a Staffy, Rescue Remedies near Horley runs its own Staffie Rescue site. For a general rescue inside a London borough, Foal Farm Animal Rescue is in Biggin Hill, Bromley. Battersea, Dogs Trust and Mayhew also rehome dogs from London centres; we don't list their dogs, so check their own sites.
- Rescue adoption fees
- Each rescue sets its own adoption fee. Battersea charges £230 for a dog over six months and £275 for a puppy under six months, 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.
- London rescues that publish a fee
- From a minimum donation of £150 (Wimbledon Greyhound Welfare, Romford Retired Greyhounds) to £420 at Love Underdogs and "usually" £400 to £450 at Cheshunt Animal Rescue. The table below quotes each one.
- 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).
London dog rescues compared
Every rescue below is based, or keeps the dogs we list, within about 35 miles of central London. 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.
| Rescue | Where | Dogs | How you adopt | Fee (their words) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| All Dogs Matter | Office in north London (N2); dogs at its kennels or in foster homes | All types | Questionnaire, then meet the dog at the kennels or with the foster carer | Between £150 and £220 |
| Barley Greyhound Sanctuary | Waltham Abbey, Essex | Greyhounds | Contact the sanctuary before visiting | Minimum £200 (basic pack), £350 premium pack |
| Cheshunt Animal Rescue | Cheshunt, Hertfordshire; foster homes, no kennels | Small dogs | Form, reply within 2 weeks if successful, home check, meet and greet | Usually £400 to £450 |
| Diana Brimblecombe Animal Rescue Centre | Hurst, near Wokingham, Berkshire | All types | Form on the dog's profile, a chat, then a meet and greet; home visit case by case | Not published |
| Foal Farm Animal Rescue | Biggin Hill, London Borough of Bromley | All types | Application, usually at least two introductions, then a home checker visits | £150 to £350, by age |
| German Shepherd Rescue Elite | National; we list dogs at its Essex kennels | German Shepherds, Malinois, Dutch Herders | Screener call, vet reference, volunteer home visit | Not quoted here |
| Greyhound Trust Harvel | Harvel, near Meopham, Kent | Greyhounds | Choose a greyhound, then a home visit | £250, non-refundable |
| Last Chance Animal Rescue | Edenbridge, Kent | All types | Whole household visits, then a home check | Not published |
| Love Underdogs | Waltham Abbey, Essex (kennels) | Dogs mostly rescued from Romania | Enquiry form, home check, then a kennel visit | £420 for each dog |
| Mutts in Distress | Little Hallingbury, near Bishop's Stortford | All types | Home check before you visit | Not published |
| National Animal Welfare Trust Hertfordshire | Watford | All types | Contact the centre | £250 for a dog, the charity-wide fee |
| Pro Dogs Direct | Foster homes across London and the South East | All types, often small dogs | Apply per dog; the chosen applicant pays a £25 deposit, then a home check | Set per dog |
| RATS Animal Rescue | Kennels near Buntingford, Hertfordshire | All types | Call or email, meet the dog, home check | Not published |
| Rescue Remedies | Smallfield, near Horley, Surrey | Many Staffies | Homing questionnaire first | Not published |
| Romford Retired Greyhounds | Kennels in Wickford, Essex | Greyhounds | Home check | Minimum donation £150, with lead, muzzle and coat |
| Stokenchurch Dog Rescue | Stokenchurch, Buckinghamshire | All types, including litters | Home visit; 50 mile rehoming radius | Minimum donation on each dog's bio |
| Wallace Kennels Dog Rescue | Stondon Massey, near Brentwood, Essex | Stray and unwanted dogs | Online application | From £280 to £350 |
| Whittingham Kennels Retired Greyhounds | Waltham Abbey, Essex | Greyhounds and lurchers | Phone or email the kennels | Not published |
| Wimbledon Greyhound Welfare | Hersham, Surrey | Greyhounds | Pre-home check form, then meet the hounds at the kennels | Suggested minimum £150 |
Which London rescue for which dog
The table is alphabetical. Grouped by the dog you have in mind, the picture looks like this.
Greyhounds and lurchers
Five greyhound rescues sit around London, so greyhounds are well covered. Wimbledon Greyhound Welfare says "we have many dogs living happily in flats, especially in London". Romford Retired Greyhounds says greyhounds "do not do stairs very well", so it normally limits homes to first-floor flats, and it does rehome with cats. Greyhound Trust Harvel doesn't rehome over Christmas and New Year, and Whittingham Kennels Retired Greyhounds rehomes "generally" within an hour of Waltham Abbey. Barley Greyhound Sanctuary completes the five. Our greyhound adoption guide for London compares their fees and rules on flats and cats.
Staffies and bull breeds
Rescue Remedies runs a dedicated Staffie Rescue site alongside its main one, and asks every adopter to complete its Homing questionnaire first. Foal Farm Animal Rescue, Last Chance Animal Rescue and All Dogs Matter rehome Staffies too. Our Staffy adoption guide for London covers costs, health and the law.
German Shepherds and other working breeds
German Shepherd Rescue Elite is a national breed rescue; the dogs we list from it are at its Essex kennels. It rehomes German Shepherds, Malinois and Dutch Herders. Our German Shepherd adoption guide for London covers its process and the breed rescue for the South of England.
Small dogs and poodle crosses
Pro Dogs Direct keeps its dogs in foster homes across London and the South East and does not rehome "on a first come first served basis": it chooses the applicant it thinks offers the best home, then asks that person for a deposit of £25 before arranging a home check. Cheshunt Animal Rescue specialises in small dogs, all in foster homes, but won't place a dog with anyone who works full time or with children under 5. Diana Brimblecombe Animal Rescue Centre, to the west, also rehomes small breeds and poodle crosses. Our Cockapoo and Cavapoo adoption guide covers the doodle rescues too, and our Chihuahua adoption guide the UK-wide Chihuahua rescue.
Dogs from overseas
Love Underdogs rehomes dogs mostly rescued from Romania from its Waltham Abbey kennels. Every family has a home check before visiting the dogs, and it rehomes to families with children "on a case by case basis", with children at least 8 years old.
General rescues around the edge of London
Foal Farm Animal Rescue in Biggin Hill is inside the London Borough of Bromley. Further out, Wallace Kennels Dog Rescue is the stray dog pound for the boroughs of Brentwood and Chelmsford, Mutts in Distress takes adopters living "within sixty minutes travel" of its kennels, Stokenchurch Dog Rescue has a 50 mile rehoming radius, and RATS Animal Rescue, Last Chance Animal Rescue and National Animal Welfare Trust Hertfordshire each rehome all kinds of dogs.
Breed rescues that take London adopters
These breed rescues are not based in London and we don't list their dogs, but each one says it covers London or rehomes across the UK, and each has its own rules.
For Labradors, Labrador Rescue South East & Central covers areas including Kent and South East London, Surrey and South West London, and North West London, and has no rescue centre: it rehomes dogs from the old home to the new one. The Labrador Lifeline Trust covers NW London and counties including Surrey, Bucks, Beds and Herts, and doesn't take general applications: you apply for a dog on its available dogs page. Our Labrador adoption guide for London covers both.
For poodle crosses, Doodle Trust keeps its dogs in foster homes across the UK and matches them on suitability, "not on a first-come, first-served basis", and DoodleAid, a UK-based poodle-cross rehoming charity, asks for at least two visits to meet a dog before it moves. See our Cockapoo and Cavapoo adoption guide. For French Bulldogs, Phoenix French Bulldog Rescue rehomes across England, Scotland and Wales, but says "You need to foster before you are able to adopt"; our French Bulldog adoption guide explains how that works.
For Staffies, Happy Staffie Rescue and Senior Staffy Club are Midlands-based and rehome across the UK, and for German Shepherds, German Shepherd Rescue South takes adopters who live in the South of England.
How to choose a London rescue
Start from your own circumstances, because each rescue's rules decide who it can rehome to. These are the ones London adopters run into most.
- You live in a flat. Greyhound rescues are often the most open to flats: see Wimbledon Greyhound Welfare and Romford Retired Greyhounds above. Other rescues judge each dog; Last Chance Animal Rescue checks for a secure rear garden "with a minimum 5 foot fence depending on the type of dog".
- You rent. Expect to show your landlord's written permission. Last Chance Animal Rescue asks for it, and Battersea may too.
- You work full time. Cheshunt Animal Rescue won't place a dog with you; others decide case by case, so say honestly what your days look like.
- You have children. Love Underdogs asks that children are at least 8, and Cheshunt Animal Rescue won't rehome dogs to homes with children under 5. All Dogs Matter profiles say whether each dog can live with children, cats or other dogs.
- You live further out. Check the distance rule before you fall for a dog: Mutts in Distress wants adopters within sixty minutes of its kennels and Stokenchurch Dog Rescue within 50 miles.
How adopting from a London rescue works
The order varies, but most London rescues 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.
- Find a dog on the rescue's site or ours, and read its profile for the home it needs (children, cats, other dogs, garden).
- Apply. Most rescues use a form or questionnaire. Many don't work on a first come, first served basis: Diana Brimblecombe Animal Rescue Centre says it gets multiple applications for each animal and works through them before choosing.
- Talk to the rescue, then meet the dog, often more than once and with the rest of your household and any dog you already have.
- Pass the home check. Some rescues do it before you meet the dog: Love Underdogs and Mutts in Distress both check your home before you visit.
- Pay the fee and take your dog home. The fee usually covers vet work already done, such as neutering, microchipping and first vaccinations, and the rescue registers the microchip to you.
Charities with London centres you can contact directly
Some of the best-known rehoming charities have centres in or near London. We don't list their dogs, so search their own sites. Battersea, Dogs Trust and Blue Cross fees are in the cost box above.
- Battersea Dogs & Cats Home rehomes from its London centre in Battersea, as well as Old Windsor and Brands Hatch. You start by registering online.
- Dogs Trust has two centres within reach: Harefield (West London) near Uxbridge, and Basildon (Essex) near Wickford.
- Mayhew is a London animal welfare charity in Kensal Green that rehomes dogs and cats.
- Blue Cross rehomes dogs from its Hertfordshire rehoming centre at Kimpton. Its Hammersmith, Merton and Victoria sites are animal hospitals, not rehoming centres.
- The RSPCA also rehomes animals; search on its own site.
Find a breed in London
Each breed page lists every dog of that breed with the rescues above, nearest first, with its own questions and answers: Staffies, German Shepherds, greyhounds, lurchers, Labradors, French Bulldogs, poodles and doodles, Cockapoos, Cavapoos, spaniels, Cocker Spaniels, Springer Spaniels, Jack Russells, Belgian Malinois, Chihuahuas, Beagles, Dachshunds, Rottweilers, Akitas, Huskies, Pugs, Border Collies, Boxers, British Bulldogs, Golden Retrievers, Pomeranians, Shar Peis, Yorkies and crossbreeds. 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 London?
There isn't one best rescue: it depends on the dog you want and your home. For greyhounds, Wimbledon Greyhound Welfare says many of its dogs live happily in London flats. For Staffies, Rescue Remedies runs its own Staffie Rescue site. For a general rescue inside a London borough, Foal Farm Animal Rescue is in Biggin Hill. The comparison table on this page sets out each rescue's area, process and fee.
How much does it cost to adopt a dog from a London rescue?
Each rescue sets its own fee, and those around London that publish one ask from £150 to £450. All Dogs Matter charges between £150 and £220, Foal Farm Animal Rescue £150 to £350 depending on age, Greyhound Trust Harvel £250, Love Underdogs £420, and Cheshunt Animal Rescue usually £400 to £450. Battersea charges £230 for a dog over six months, and Dogs Trust £300 in England.
Why aren't Battersea or Dogs Trust dogs on LocalPetFinder?
We don't list dogs from Battersea Dogs & Cats Home, Dogs Trust or the RSPCA, so search their own sites. Battersea has a London centre, Dogs Trust has centres at Harefield in West London and Basildon in Essex, and Mayhew rehomes from Kensal Green. The rescues in our table are the ones whose dogs you can browse here.
Can I adopt a dog in London if I live in a flat?
Often, yes, depending on the dog. Wimbledon Greyhound Welfare says many of its greyhounds live happily in London flats, and Romford Retired Greyhounds normally limits homes to first-floor flats because greyhounds don't do stairs well. Other rescues decide dog by dog, and some, such as Last Chance Animal Rescue, look for a secure garden.
Can I adopt a rescue dog if I work full time?
Sometimes. Cheshunt Animal Rescue won't place a dog with anyone who works full time, while other rescues decide case by case and look at how long the dog would be alone. Last Chance Animal Rescue doesn't like puppies left alone for more than 2 hours at a time. Be honest on the form about your working hours.
Why does Pro Dogs Direct ask for a £25 deposit?
It is part of Pro Dogs Direct's own process. It reads every application for a dog, chooses the person it thinks offers the best home, and then asks that applicant for a £25 deposit before arranging a home check and a meeting with the dog. It does not rehome on a first come, first served basis.
How far from the rescue can I live?
Each rescue sets its own limit. Mutts in Distress asks that adopters live within sixty minutes' travel of its kennels near Bishop's Stortford, Stokenchurch Dog Rescue has a 50 mile rehoming radius, and Whittingham Kennels Retired Greyhounds rehomes generally within an hour of Waltham Abbey. Check before you apply.
Do London rescues do home checks?
Yes, almost all of them. Foal Farm Animal Rescue sends a home checker after introductions, while Love Underdogs and Mutts in Distress check your home before you meet the dogs. A home check makes sure your home suits the dog; it is not a test of tidiness.
Keep reading
- All rescue dogs in and around London
- Adopting a Staffy in London: rescues, costs and the law
- Adopting a German Shepherd in London: rescues, costs and the law
- Adopting a Labrador in London: rescues, costs and the wait
- Adopting a Cockapoo or Cavapoo in London: rescues, costs and health
- Adopting a French Bulldog in London: rescues, costs and breathing
- Adopting a greyhound in London: rescues, rules and costs
- Adopting a Chihuahua in London: rescues, costs and health
- Adopting a Cane Corso in London: rescues, costs and the law
- Adopting a Cocker Spaniel in London: rescues, rules and health
- Adopting a Dachshund in London: rescues, rules and health
- Adopting a Golden Retriever in London: rescues, costs and health
- Adopting a Jack Russell in London: rescues, costs and health
- Adopting a Maltipoo in London: rescues, costs and health
- Adopting a Pomeranian in London: rescues, costs and health
- Adopting a Poodle in London: Toy, Miniature and Standard
- Adopting a Rottweiler in London: rescues, rules and health
- Adopting a Shih Tzu in London: rescues, costs and grooming
- Adopting a Whippet in London: rescues, rules and health
- Every dog adoption guide for London
- Rescue pets in London
For rescues and rehoming centres
Are you a rescue near London? 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: All Dogs Matter: how rehoming works · Barley Greyhound Sanctuary: adoption packs · Cheshunt Animal Rescue: adoption process · Diana Brimblecombe Animal Rescue Centre: adoption process · Foal Farm Animal Rescue: rehoming process · Greyhound Trust Harvel: requirements · Last Chance Animal Rescue: adopt · Love Underdogs: adoption FAQ's · Mutts in Distress: rehoming · NAWT: frequently asked questions · Pro Dogs Direct: dog adoption · RATS Animal Rescue: rehome with us · Rescue Remedies: Staffie Rescue, adopt a Staffie · Romford Retired Greyhounds: FAQs · Stokenchurch Dog Rescue: adoption FAQs · Wallace Kennels Dog Rescue · Whittingham Kennels Retired Greyhounds · Wimbledon Greyhound Welfare: adoption · Battersea: dog rehoming FAQs · Dogs Trust: Harefield (West London) · Dogs Trust: Basildon (Essex) · Mayhew: how rehoming works · Blue Cross: Hertfordshire rehoming centre · RSPCA · Blue Cross: find us (animal hospitals) · Labrador Rescue South East & Central: what we do · The Labrador Lifeline Trust · Doodle Trust · DoodleAid · DoodleAid: the adoption process · Doodle Trust: adopt · Labrador Rescue South East & Central: FAQs · Phoenix French Bulldog Rescue: fostering and adoption · Happy Staffie Rescue · Senior Staffy Club · German Shepherd Rescue South: adoption · PDSA: the cost of owning a dog · 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