Rehome your dog, cat or rabbit in Cambridge

Checked 11 November 2026

The short answer

Around Cambridge, RATS Animal Rescue takes dogs, cats and small pets from owners who can no longer keep them (email it first; it asks a discretionary donation, not a fixed fee), Heathlands Animal Sanctuary in Royston asks owners to phone its rehoming line, and Toe Beans Cat Rescue near Saffron Walden takes in cats whose owners can no longer cope. A LocalPetFinder advert lets you choose the new owner yourself while you wait for a space.

List your pet in Cambridge for free

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

Start your listing

Before you rehome

  • Responsible breeders and most rescues take an animal back; the RSPCA's first suggestion is to contact the original seller.
  • 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 Cambridge

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

  • RATS Animal Rescuedogs, cats, rabbits · Kennels near Buntingford, about 19 miles south; a cattery in Bedfordshire and foster homes

    Email it to talk through your situation; it says it is never judgemental and will explain your options. It charges no fixed fee to take a pet in but normally asks for a discretionary donation.

  • Heathlands Animal Sanctuarydogs, cats, rabbits · Foster homes, run from Royston, about 12 miles south

    Its contact page asks anyone with an animal in need of a home to phone the right rehoming line (dogs, or cats and small animals) and leave one message; it does not take enquiries by email. It publishes no fee for taking an animal in.

  • Toe Beans Cat Rescuecats · Volunteer foster homes, mainly in and around Saffron Walden, about 14 miles south

    A volunteer cat charity that takes in cats whose owners have died or can no longer look after them, and places them in foster homes until they are adopted. Get in touch through its website.

Rabbits: The Rabbit Residence Rescue said on 11 November 2026 that its waiting list was closed and it could not take new rabbits for the foreseeable future, as it moves its rabbits into foster care.

Adopted a greyhound from GREYS at March? It says it will always take its dogs back, so contact it first.

Cambridge City Council handles stray dogs, taking them to Woodgreen; its page offers no route for owners giving up their own dog.

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.
  • Blue Cross: Dogs, cats, rabbits and small pets. Home Direct keeps your pet with you, because its own space "is very limited"; call 0300 777 1960.
  • 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 England.

If you rehome privately: the must-dos

  • Microchip. In England a dog or cat must be microchipped before it goes to a new keeper, who then updates the database (2023 Regulations, reg. 9). Do the transfer at the handover.
  • 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 England it's against the law to give away a banned dog, and in England and Wales it's illegal to "rehome, sell, buy, or transfer ownership of an XL Bully" (gov.uk). If your dog could be an XL Bully, contact your local police force rather than listing.
  • 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 England when you rehome a pet.

What’s listed in and around Cambridge right now

Right now LocalPetFinder lists 23 dogs, 5 cats and 2 rabbits from 6 rescues within about 25 miles of Cambridge.

Looking to adopt instead? Rescue dogs in and around Cambridge · 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 Cambridge: your questions

Tap a question to expand

Who will take my dog near Cambridge if I can't keep him?

RATS Animal Rescue, with kennels near Buntingford, takes dogs from owners after an email, and Heathlands Animal Sanctuary in Royston asks owners to phone its dog line. While you wait for a space, you can list him on LocalPetFinder.

Does it cost anything to give up a pet near Cambridge?

RATS charges no fixed fee but normally asks a discretionary donation. Heathlands publishes no fee, so ask when you phone.

Where can I rehome my cat near Cambridge?

Toe Beans Cat Rescue, whose fosterers are around Saffron Walden, takes in cats whose owners can no longer look after them, and RATS fosters cats too. You can also list your cat on LocalPetFinder.

Can I give up my rabbits near Cambridge?

The Rabbit Residence Rescue's waiting list was closed on 11 November 2026. RATS and Heathlands both rehome small animals, so ask them, or list your rabbits with us.

How do I rehome my dog in Cambridge?

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 but, the RSPCA says, will still help if you're struggling financially.

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).

Will the RSPCA take my pet?

Usually not: the RSPCA says its national centres "can't take in unwanted pets" because it prioritises cruelty and neglect cases. A local RSPCA branch may be able to help, and it points owners to other rehoming charities.

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: Bury St Edmunds, Peterborough, Luton, Wellingborough, Chelmsford, Milton Keynes, Colchester, Spalding

List your pet in Cambridge for free

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

Start your listing

Sources: RATS Animal Rescue: rehome with us (owners, discretionary donation) · Heathlands Animal Sanctuary: contact (rehoming lines) · Toe Beans Cat Rescue: home · The Rabbit Residence Rescue: giving up your rabbit (waiting list closed) · GREYS Finding Homes For Hounds: homing (always takes its dogs back) · Cambridge City Council: lost and stray dogs · Dogs Trust: Giving up your dog · Blue Cross: Giving up a pet · Cats Protection: Giving up a cat · RSPCA: Giving up a pet · RWAF: Rehoming rabbits · Battersea: Giving your dog up for adoption · PAAG: Free to a good home adverts · Microchipping of Cats and Dogs (England) Regulations 2023 · gov.uk: Get your dog or cat microchipped · gov.uk: Ban on XL Bully dogs (England and Wales)