Rehome your dog, cat or rabbit in Liverpool

Checked 19 October 2026

The short answer

Every rescue around Liverpool that takes owners’ pets says it runs a waiting list, so start early and ask more than one. The quickest routes keep your pet at home while a new owner is found: list them on LocalPetFinder, or for a dog ask Dogs Trust Merseyside in Huyton about Homestay. Freshfields Animal Rescue at Ince Blundell and Carla Lane Animals in Need at Melling both take dogs and cats onto waiting lists, and Carla Lane has a rabbit form too.

List your pet in Liverpool for free

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

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Before you rehome: worth trying first

Ask the breeder or rescue you got them from

The RSPCA's first suggestion is to contact the original seller. Responsible breeders and most rescues will take an animal back. Dogs Trust says it will "always take back a dog adopted from us".

Get help with the problem itself

Many rehomings are about behaviour, housing or money rather than the pet. Battersea runs a Behaviour Advice Line for dog owners, and PDSA is a vet charity for pets of people who qualify for help. Both are worth checking before you decide.

Keep your pet at home while they’re rehomed

If you can wait a little, stay-at-home schemes spare your pet a kennel: Dogs Trust Homestay, Blue Cross Home Direct and Cats Protection Home to Home. Listing on LocalPetFinder works the same way: your pet stays with you until you've chosen the new home.

Don’t leave a pet anywhere

Blue Cross warns that leaving an animal outside a centre, especially when it's closed, "could put them at risk", so always arrange a handover. And vets aren't rehoming centres, the RSPCA notes.

Your options in and around Liverpool

There are three routes: list your pet yourself on LocalPetFinder, ask a local rescue to take them, or use a national charity scheme. Which is right depends on your pet, how soon you need to move them, and how involved you want to be.

1. List your pet on LocalPetFinder

Fill in the listing form. It takes about ten minutes, and listing is free.
A person checks every listing before it goes live, usually within a day.
Adopters message you through LocalPetFinder; your email address and phone number stay private.
You choose who to meet, and you hand your pet over in person, never by courier.

2. Local rescues that take owners’ pets

Dogs Trust Merseysidedogs · Whiston Lane, Huyton (L36), about 7 miles east of the city centre
With Homestay “your dog stays with you in your home while we look for their new home”. Or your dog can go into its kennels or foster care, but it operates “at full capacity, so there is usually a wait”. Call 0300 303 2188 or use the form on its giving up your dog page. It can’t offer temporary boarding.
Freshfields Animal Rescuedogs, cats, rabbits · East Lodge Farm, Ince Blundell (L29), about 8 miles north of the city centre; visitors by appointment
Add your dog to its waiting list, which “cannot operate in numerical order”: it can only bring a dog in “when another is rehomed”. Some friendly dogs are advertised and rehomed straight from their own homes. Its cattery runs a waiting list too, which is sometimes closed, and it takes rabbits and other small animals. Call the Liverpool centre on 0151 931 1604.
Carla Lane Animals in Needdogs, cats, rabbits · Spurriers Lane, Melling (L31), about 8 miles north east of the city centre
Separate online forms for dogs, cats and rabbits. It is “always at full capacity” with a waiting list, so tell it if time is short. It takes only animals given up for good (you sign them over to its trustees), and each form says every animal must come with a donation towards its care.
North Clwyd Animal Rescuedogs, cats · Trelogan, near Holywell, Flintshire, in North Wales (CH8), about 16 miles south west
Its rehome your pet page has a form, and its team gives advice by phone. It has “a long waiting list of animals waiting to come into our care” and may not be able to take every dog; if so, it says it will explain why and offer other arrangements where it can. Its page sets no area limit for owners, so ask whether it can help from Liverpool.
Warrington Animal Welfaredogs, cats, rabbits · Slutchers Lane, Warrington (WA1), about 16 miles east
Two routes: a place at the centre from its waiting list (dogs are assessed first), or “re-home from home”, where your pet stays with you until a new home is found. It can’t help with breeds banned under the Dangerous Dogs Act.
Jackson’s Animal Rescuecats, rabbits · Jackson’s Place, near Mold, Flintshire (CH7), about 18 miles south west
Cats, rabbits and other small pets, not dogs: fill in the waiting list form linked from its contact page. It says its waiting lists are “currently at least six months for all species of animals”.
Cats Protection (Merseyside)cats · Merseyside Cat Centre, Chester Lane, St Helens (WA9), and volunteer branches by postcode
Go to the branch for your postcode. L postcodes: the Liverpool branch works through the Merseyside Cat Centre, 0300 666 0169. CH41 to CH49: North Wirral. CH60 to CH66: South Wirral. Widnes and Runcorn (WA7, WA8): Warrington Cat Centre. Its national guide says there can be waiting lists, and its shops can’t help with rehoming.

No Blue Cross rehoming site is near Liverpool: the closest on its list is Radcliffe, in Greater Manchester, about 29 miles away. Its national scheme, below, still covers you.

The RSPCA Liverpool Branch is an advice and referrals charity with no animal centre of its own, and its page points rehoming enquiries to the RSPCA’s Southport and Wirral branches. We don’t list RSPCA animals.

Found a stray rather than giving up your own dog? In Liverpool, Acorn Kennels Limited runs the council’s stray dog service: call 01948 662 931, 8am to 6pm, and it may ask you to keep hold of the dog until it can collect. Unclaimed strays are kept for up to seven days and then passed to Acorn Kennels for rehoming.

3. National charity schemes

Dogs Trustdogs
Two routes: Homestay, where your dog stays with you while Dogs Trust finds a new home (it says Homestay dogs "generally find a new home within two weeks"), or a kennel or foster place, which "could take a few weeks". Giving up a dog to Dogs Trust is free, and it aims to reply within 72 hours. Start with a call on 0300 303 2188 or its online form.
Blue Crossdogs, cats, rabbits
Home Direct keeps your pet with you while Blue Cross finds a new owner. That is "the quickest way", it says, because space in its own kennels, cattery and small pet units "is very limited". It takes dogs, cats, rabbits and small pets. Call pet admissions on 0300 777 1960 or use its online form.
Cats Protectioncats
Contact your local Cats Protection branch or centre (not its charity shops), and plan ahead: "there can often be waiting lists". Its Home to Home scheme lets your cat stay at home while it's rehomed, with no specific fee.
Rabbit rescuesrabbits
The Rabbit Welfare Association & Fund doesn't rehome rabbits itself, but points owners to Rescue Review, Save a Fluff and Rabbit Rehome to find a local rescue. It also asks you never to split a bonded pair.

If you rehome privately: the must-dos

The microchip has to be transferred

In England, a dog or cat can't be passed to a new keeper until it's microchipped, and the new keeper must update the microchip database (Microchipping of Cats and Dogs (England) Regulations 2023, reg. 9). Check the chip is on a government-approved database and do the transfer at the handover.

No deposits, no couriers

Never ask for, or accept, money before an adopter has met your pet in person, and hand over face to face. A request for a deposit is the classic sign of a pet scam, and on LocalPetFinder it gets a listing taken down.

Banned dog types can’t be rehomed at all

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: England and Wales). If you think your dog could be an XL Bully, contact your local police force rather than listing.

Adopters must be adults, and you must be honest

Adopters must be 18 or over, and the listing must be accurate about health, behaviour, and whether your pet is good with children, dogs and cats. A good match is the one that lasts.

What’s listed in and around Liverpool right now

LocalPetFinder gathers adoptable animals from rescues within about 25 miles of Liverpool. Right now that is 141 dogs, 155 cats and 28 rabbits from 19 rescues, plus 1 pet listed by its owner. Local rescues are often full, which is one reason owner-to-owner rehoming exists. But if a rescue can take your pet, its assessment and matching are worth a lot.

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

Rehoming a particular breed?

Each guide covers what to tell adopters about the breed, and the breed rescues that take owners’ pets.

Cats

British Shorthair Siamese Bengal Cat Maine Coon Ragdoll Persian Cat Russian Blue Burmese Birman Norwegian Forest Cat Sphynx Cat

Rehoming a pet in Liverpool: your questions

Tap a question to expand

Where can I take my dog in Liverpool if I can’t keep him?

Start with Dogs Trust Merseyside in Huyton: its Homestay scheme keeps him with you while it finds an adopter, or he can wait for a kennel place. Freshfields Animal Rescue at Ince Blundell, Carla Lane Animals in Need at Melling and North Clwyd Animal Rescue at Trelogan, in North Wales, all run waiting lists, and Warrington Animal Welfare can rehome from home. Or list him on LocalPetFinder and choose the new home yourself.

How do I rehome a cat in Liverpool?

Contact the Cats Protection branch for your postcode: for L postcodes that is the Merseyside Cat Centre on 0300 666 0169, and the Wirral has its own branches. Freshfields Animal Rescue and Carla Lane Animals in Need keep cat waiting lists, and Jackson’s Animal Rescue near Mold takes cats too, with a wait of at least six months. You can list your cat on LocalPetFinder at the same time.

Will Liverpool City Council take my dog?

No. The council’s service, run by Acorn Kennels Limited, is for stray dogs found wandering, not for owners giving up their own. To give up your dog, contact the rescues on this page or list him yourself.

How do I rehome my dog in Liverpool?

You have three routes: list your dog yourself on LocalPetFinder (free, with every listing checked by a person and messages relayed so your details stay private), ask a local rescue to take them, or use a national scheme such as Dogs Trust Homestay, which keeps your dog at home while it finds a new owner. Whichever you choose, your dog must be microchipped and 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; Battersea asks for a suggested donation of £50; 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?

You can ask for a rehoming fee, paid at the handover after the adopter has met your pet, and never as a deposit beforehand. PAAG's worry with "free to good home" adverts is that people may take an animal on impulse and that a free advert "may devalue an animal" (PAAG). A fee does make the handover a sale, though, so animals can't go to anyone under 16 and you should be honest about your pet's health.

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?

It varies. Dogs Trust says a kennel space "could take a few weeks", while dogs on its Homestay scheme "generally find a new home within two weeks". On LocalPetFinder your listing is reviewed usually within a day and then goes live to adopters near you.

What about rehoming a rabbit?

Rabbit rescues are often full, so start early. The Rabbit Welfare Association & Fund suggests your vet's noticeboard and local rescues (found through Rescue Review, Save a Fluff or Rabbit Rehome), never a "free to good home" advert. Keep a bonded pair together. You can list rabbits on LocalPetFinder too.

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

List your pet in Liverpool for free

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

Start your listing

Sources: Dogs Trust: Merseyside · Dogs Trust: Giving up your dog · Freshfields Animal Rescue: Rehoming your dog · Freshfields Animal Rescue: FAQs · Carla Lane Animals in Need: I need to rehome my dog · Carla Lane Animals in Need: I need to rehome my cat · Carla Lane Animals in Need: I need to rehome my rabbit · North Clwyd Animal Rescue: Rehome your pet · North Clwyd Animal Rescue: FAQs (rehoming your dog or cat) · Warrington Animal Welfare: Rehoming responsibly · Jackson’s Animal Rescue: Contact us and FAQs · Cats Protection: Merseyside Cat Centre · Cats Protection: Liverpool · Cats Protection: North Wirral · Cats Protection: South Wirral · Cats Protection: Warrington Cat Centre · Cats Protection: Giving up a cat · Liverpool City Council: Stray dogs · RSPCA Liverpool Branch · Blue Cross: Find us · 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)