Rescue dogs for adoption and rehoming in and around North Wales

The dogs on this page are centred on Colwyn Bay and reach about 25 miles along the coast and inland. Most come from North Clwyd Animal Rescue at Trelogan, near Holywell in Flintshire, about 17 miles east of Colwyn Bay. Many of its dogs arrived as strays, and when we checked on 7 November 2026 Staffy crosses, collie crosses and lurchers were the commonest types.

Almost Home Dog Rescue, a small charity whose dogs live in kennels or with fosterers and whose meetings happen at its base in Flintshire, joins our listings with this update. Every profile links back to the rescue caring for the dog, and you apply to that rescue: LocalPetFinder doesn't rehome dogs itself.

In Wales a finder who can't trace the owner must report the dog to the council. In Conwy county, check for a tag first, then report it to Conwy County Borough Council online or by phone. A dog with no traceable owner goes to the council's contracted kennels at Abergele for at least 7 days, after which it may be rehomed or put to sleep.

Getting a dog back from the Conwy kennels costs a £75 statutory fee including collection, plus £15 for each day or part of a day; the council puts the minimum 7 day stay at £190 in all. Across the county line, North Clwyd Animal Rescue is the appointed kennels for Denbighshire, Flintshire and Anglesey strays.

North Clwyd Animal Rescue charges £200 for a dog of 6 months or more and £250 for a younger puppy, with a £20 deposit when you reserve. The dog leaves neutered (or with a date to come back for it), vaccinated, microchipped and treated for fleas and worms.

Almost Home Dog Rescue asks a minimum donation of £200 for a dog over 6 months and £225 for one under 6 months, and says successful applicants can agree to pay in instalments.

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.

Both rescues start with an application for a particular dog, not a drop in visit (North Clwyd's adoption page).

• Appointment, not a walk round. North Clwyd Animal Rescue won't let visitors into the kennels: staff bring a dog out to meet you, and you should allow up to an hour. A home check follows, looking for a secure garden and a house that isn't beside a main road, and the whole thing usually takes about a week.
• Children. Because so many of its dogs came in as strays with no known history, North Clwyd won't place them with children under 5, and won't rehome any dog into a family with a child under 2.
• Distance. North Clwyd Animal Rescue takes adoption requests from people living up to 70 miles away, which covers Conwy, Denbighshire, Gwynedd and beyond.
• A form for a named dog. Almost Home asks you to apply only when a suitable dog is available, and its form covers your fence height, landlord permission and how long a dog would be alone.

The RSPCA Bryn-y-Maen Animal Centre at Upper Colwyn Bay rehomes dogs too, from 30 kennels. We don't list RSPCA animals, so look for its dogs on its own site; it opens 11am to 3pm, closed Wednesdays.

Our guide to dog rescues in North Wales compares the rescues side by side. For a particular type, the Staffy, lurcher, crossbreed and puppies pages each show the matching dogs today.

Need to give up your own dog? Our North Wales rehoming page sets out who takes dogs from owners and how.