Rehome your dog, cat or rabbit in Banbridge

Checked 6 November 2026

The short answer

From Banbridge, the rescues with an owner surrender form are on the far side of Belfast: Assisi Animal Sanctuary at Conlig, about 31 miles away, and The Barn Animal Rescue at Carrowdore, about 33. For a cat, Cats Protection's Northern Ireland Cat Centre at Dundonald is about 26 miles away. Banbridge's own small rescues publish no owner route, and Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council says rehoming a dog is the owner's job, so you can also list your pet on LocalPetFinder and choose the new home yourself, checking that a dog's new owner holds a dog licence first.

Banbridge shares its rescues with the Belfast area: our Banbridge pages list animals in Banbridge first, then those with rescues around Belfast, so the options below cover both. Rehoming in Belfast

List your pet in Banbridge for free

Every listing checked by a person. Adopters message you through the site; your details stay private.

Start your listing

Before you rehome

Start with whoever you got your pet from: many rescues ask for their own animals back.
If the problem is behaviour or money, Battersea's Behaviour Advice Line helps dog owners and PDSA is a vet charity for people who qualify.
Never leave an animal outside a centre: Blue Cross warns it "could put them at risk". Arrange a handover first.

Your options in and around Banbridge

1. List your pet on LocalPetFinder

Free, about ten minutes; a person checks every listing, adopters message you without seeing your email or phone, and you hand over in person.

2. Local rescues that take owners’ pets

Cats Protection Northern Ireland Cat Centrecats · 270 Belfast Road, Dundonald, about 26 miles from Banbridge
Cats Protection's centre says it supports cats in Belfast and across Northern Ireland, which takes in Banbridge. Its page lists no hand-in steps, so phone or email the centre to ask about a space for your cat.
Assisi Animal Sanctuarydogs, cats, rabbits · Conlig, near Newtownards, about 31 miles from Banbridge
The surrender form on its website takes dogs, cats, rabbits, guinea pigs and other small pets, but not ferrets, birds or reptiles. Set aside 5 to 10 minutes and have a recent photo ready. Demand is very high, so say on the form if your case is urgent; an animal that was adopted from Assisi in the first place goes to the front.
The Barn Animal Rescuedogs, cats · Carrowdore, on the Ards Peninsula, about 33 miles from Banbridge
For a dog or a cat, send its rehoming form and wait for the volunteers to reply. The Barn relies on donations and works with other rescues and shelters across Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

Before a dog leaves your hands in Northern Ireland, see the new owner's own dog licence. nidirect says taking possession of an unlicensed dog is an offence, and so is giving or selling one to that person. A licence costs £12.50 and needs the dog's chip details to be correct; Banbridge owners buy theirs from the council.

Banbridge's own rescues post their animals on the PAW adoption site: Paws and People, a small home-run charity in Banbridge (NIC101959); Animal Connexions, a volunteer-run rescue that rehomes its dogs only within Northern Ireland; and Petal's Place Cat Rescue, based about 20 minutes from Banbridge and Newry. None of their profiles describes taking owners' pets, so ask them directly rather than assume a space.

Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council's animal welfare page says rehoming a dog is the owner's responsibility and to contact animal sanctuaries, with the dog's breed, age, microchip number, vaccinations and temperament to hand. Its dog wardens collect strays (reports after 5pm wait until the next working day) and rehome suitable stray, unclaimed or unwanted dogs with local charities, posting them on the council's Dog Control Facebook page. nidirect says to ask your council whether it takes unwanted dogs.

Adopted from Almost Home Animal Rescue NI at Moira, about 9 miles away? Its adopters promise to return the animal to Almost Home if they can no longer keep it, so contact it first.

3. National charity schemes

Dogs Trust: Dogs only, and free. Homestay keeps your dog with you while a new home is found; call 0300 303 2188.
Cats Protection: Cats. Contact your local branch or centre, where "there can often be waiting lists", or ask about Home to Home, which keeps your cat at home.
Rabbit rescues: The Rabbit Welfare Association & Fund points owners to Rescue Review, Save a Fluff and Rabbit Rehome to find a local rescue. Keep a bonded pair together.

Waiting times and how each scheme works: rehoming in Northern Ireland.

If you rehome privately: the must-dos

Dog licence first. In Northern Ireland the new owner needs their own dog licence from their council before taking your dog, and "the person who gave or sold you the dog is also guilty of an offence" (nidirect). Ask to see the licence before the handover.
Microchip. In Northern Ireland a dog's chip details must be accurate or "the dog licence will not be valid" (nidirect), so update the record at the handover. Chipping a cat is optional in Northern Ireland.
No deposits, no couriers. Take no money before an adopter has met your pet, and hand over face to face. A deposit request is the classic pet scam sign.
Banned dogs and XL Bullies. In Northern Ireland you can't "make a gift of a dog of a banned type" (nidirect), and "it is illegal to rehome, sell or transfer ownership of XL Bully type dogs", exemption certificate or not (nidirect). Don't list one.
Adults, and honesty. Adopters must be 18 or over, and your listing must be honest about health and behaviour.

The full wording, with each regulation: the law in Northern Ireland when you rehome a pet.

What’s listed in and around Banbridge right now

Right now LocalPetFinder lists 87 dogs, 48 cats and 5 rabbits from 13 rescues reachable from Banbridge.

Looking to adopt instead? Rescue dogs in and around Banbridge · rescue cats · rabbits

Rehoming a particular breed? Our breed rehoming guides cover what to tell adopters and the breed rescues that take owners’ pets.

Rehoming a pet in Banbridge: your questions

Tap a question to expand

Will Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Council take my dog?

Its animal welfare service says rehoming a dog is the owner's responsibility and points you to animal sanctuaries. Its dog wardens deal with strays and rehome unclaimed or unwanted dogs they hold through local charities, so you can ask them, but plan on a rescue or a private home instead.

Is there a rescue in Banbridge that takes owners' pets?

Not one that says so. Paws and People, Animal Connexions and Petal's Place all rehome animals around Banbridge but publish no owner route, so ask them directly. The nearest rescues with a surrender form are Assisi at Conlig and The Barn at Carrowdore, both over 30 miles away, and Cats Protection's centre at Dundonald for cats.

How do I rehome my dog in Banbridge?

List your dog on LocalPetFinder (free, and checked by a person), ask one of the rescues above, or use a national scheme such as Dogs Trust Homestay. Your dog must be microchipped, with the chip transferred to the new keeper.

Is it free to rehome my pet?

Listing on LocalPetFinder is free. Giving up a dog to Dogs Trust is free; many other rescues ask for a donation, so ask what they charge and whether they can help if money is tight.

Can I charge a rehoming fee?

Yes, paid at the handover after the adopter has met your pet, never as a deposit. A fee makes it a sale, so no buyer under 16, and be honest about your pet's health. PAAG warns a "free to good home" advert "may devalue an animal" (PAAG).

How long does it take to rehome a pet?

Dogs Trust says Homestay dogs "generally find a new home within two weeks"; a kennel space "could take a few weeks". A LocalPetFinder listing is usually reviewed within a day. If you have to move your pet today, see our urgent guide.

Can I rehome a puppy or kitten?

Not on LocalPetFinder: we only list animals aged 6 months or older, in the spirit of Lucy's Law. If you have a young animal or a litter, a rescue can help.

More help

Owner pages nearby: Belfast

List your pet in Banbridge for free

Every listing checked by a person. Adopters message you through the site; your details stay private.

Start your listing

Sources: Cats Protection: Northern Ireland Cat Centre · Assisi Animal Sanctuary: pet surrender · The Barn Animal Rescue: rehome your dog or cat (surrender form) · Almost Home Animal Rescue NI: application form (return promise) · Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council: animal welfare (re-homing your dog) · Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council: dog control (strays, rehoming) · Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council: buy a dog licence · nidirect: dog licensing and microchipping · nidirect: lost and stray dogs (unwanted dogs) · PAW: Paws and People profile · PAW: Animal Connexions Rescue & Rehoming profile · PAW: Petal's Place Cat Rescue profile · The Barn Animal Rescue: home page · Dogs Trust: Giving up your dog · Blue Cross: Giving up a pet · Cats Protection: Giving up a cat · RWAF: Rehoming rabbits · Battersea: Giving your dog up for adoption · PAAG: Free to a good home adverts · gov.uk: Get your dog or cat microchipped · nidirect: Banned breeds of dogs in Northern Ireland · nidirect: XL Bully dogs