Rehome your dog, cat or rabbit in North Wales

Checked 12 November 2026

The short answer

In North Wales, North Clwyd Animal Rescue at Trelogan helps owners of dogs and cats through a rehoming form and phone advice, though it warns of a long waiting list. Almost Home Dog Rescue takes requests for dogs once owners have tried everything to keep them. For cats, Freshfields keeps a waiting list and Cats Protection’s North Wales Cat Centre covers the Wrexham, Denbighshire and Flintshire postcodes. The RSPCA centre at Bryn-y-Maen does not accept unwanted pets. A LocalPetFinder advert lets you choose the new owner yourself while you wait.

List your pet in North Wales 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 North Wales

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

  • North Clwyd Animal Rescuedogs, cats · Trelogan, near Holywell, about 17 miles east of Colwyn Bay

    Fill in its rehoming form or ring for advice, offered without judgement. It may not be able to take every dog because of space, keeps a long waiting list, and says it will tell you honestly if it can't help and suggest other arrangements.

  • Almost Home Dog Rescuedogs · A North Wales dog charity working with fosterers

    Its surrender form asks about your dog's health, behaviour and history and why it needs a new home. It warns that every UK rescue has a long waiting list and asks owners to have tried all the options for keeping the dog first.

  • Freshfields Animal Rescuecats · Wales centre at Bryn Melyn, Nebo, near Caernarfon (LL54), about 29 miles west of Colwyn Bay

    Its FAQs describe a waiting list for owners who need to rehome a cat but are not in a desperate situation: it contacts you when a space comes up. It says it is always full, sometimes has to close the list, and can’t give a timescale, so ask other rescues at the same time.

  • Cats Protection North Wales Cat Centrecats · Bradley Road, Wrexham (LL13); covers postcodes including LL11 to LL16, LL20 to LL23, LL32 and CH5 to CH8

    If your postcode is on its list, call the centre or use its contact form. Cats Protection’s guide to giving up a cat asks owners to contact their local centre or branch and warns there can often be waiting lists, so get in touch early. It doesn’t cover Colwyn Bay, Llandudno, Rhyl or Gwynedd postcodes (LL18, LL28 to LL31, LL57).

The RSPCA Bryn-y-Maen Animal Centre at Upper Colwyn Bay says it prioritises animals rescued from cruelty and neglect and is unable to accept unwanted pets.

Conwy County Borough Council deals with found and stray dogs; its dog pages are not a route for giving up a pet.

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 Wales.

If you rehome privately: the must-dos

  • Microchip. In Wales a dog must be microchipped before it goes to a new keeper, who then records their details (2015 Regulations, reg. 8). Chipping a cat is optional in Wales; if yours is chipped, update it too.
  • 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 Wales 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 Wales when you rehome a pet.

What’s listed in and around North Wales right now

Right now LocalPetFinder lists 46 dogs, 56 cats and 0 rabbits from 4 rescues within about 25 miles of North Wales.

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

Tap a question to expand

Who takes unwanted dogs in North Wales?

North Clwyd Animal Rescue at Trelogan and Almost Home Dog Rescue both take requests from owners, through a form. Both warn of waiting lists, so start early and keep your dog until a space comes up.

Who takes unwanted cats in North Wales?

North Clwyd Animal Rescue takes requests for cats through its rehoming form, Freshfields keeps a cat waiting list, and Cats Protection's North Wales Cat Centre helps owners in the Wrexham, Denbighshire and Flintshire postcodes it covers. Expect to wait, and contact more than one.

Will the RSPCA at Bryn-y-Maen take my pet?

No. The centre says it prioritises animals rescued from cruelty and neglect and can't accept unwanted pets.

Can North Clwyd Animal Rescue help with my dog's behaviour instead?

It offers advice and contacts for behaviour experts, but asks owners to be realistic about what it can tackle and suggests paying for a behaviourist yourself.

How do I rehome my dog in North Wales?

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: Wrexham, Brecon, Carmarthen, Llanelli, Swansea, Newport, Cardiff

List your pet in North Wales for free

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

Start your listing

Sources: North Clwyd Animal Rescue: rehome your pet · Almost Home Dog Rescue: rehome (surrender form) · Freshfields Animal Rescue: FAQs (cat waiting list) · Cats Protection: North Wales Cat Centre · Cats Protection: Giving up a cat · RSPCA: Bryn-y-Maen Animal Centre, contact us (unwanted pets) · Conwy County Borough Council: found dogs · Dogs Trust: Giving up your dog · Blue Cross: Giving up a pet · RSPCA: Giving up a pet · RWAF: Rehoming rabbits · Battersea: Giving your dog up for adoption · PAAG: Free to a good home adverts · Microchipping of Dogs (Wales) Regulations 2015 · gov.uk: Get your dog or cat microchipped · gov.uk: Ban on XL Bully dogs (England and Wales)