Thank
you for considering adopting a companion animal from
us!
The
RSPCA believes that pets are for life and that when
you take on the responsibility of owning a pet it
should be for the length of that animal's life.
The
RSPCA advises that you carefully consider all of the
implications of owning a pet before adopting an animal.
Factors to consider are lifestyles changes or other
changes in circumstances; for example - are you likely
to move and will you be able to take your pet with
you?
Do
you have the time to devote to caring for a pet? Animals
thrive on TLC and need feeding, grooming, walking
and someone to play with them. Even rabbits require
a lot of care and attention.
Financial
costs are also a consideration (it can cost around
$1,500 per year to own a dog and around $1,100 per
year to own a cat - costs such as routine veterinary
care, food, boarding, training etc.). Many cats and
dogs live to 15 years or older - many requiring increased
veterinary care as they age.
Other
considerations:
- You
must be 18 years of age or over to legally own a
companion animal in NSW.
- You
must be able to comply with the requirements of
the Companion
Animals Act.
- Check
with everyone in your household and ensure that
they agree to have a pet in the home.
- Consider
that you are making a commitment to keep this animal
as your family pet for the rest of his/her life.
- Check
with your landlord or strata group to make sure
that you are allowed to have a pet.
- Think
about what type of pet would most suit your lifestyle
and home.
If
you have carefully considered all of the above and
decided to get a pet please consider adopting your
next pet from the Society. By adopting an animal from
the RSPCA NSW you will be contributing to saving a
life.
The
RSPCA operates Shelters throughout NSW and last year
took in over 32,400 animals. These animals came to
the Society as a result of abandonment, acts of cruelty,
unreclaimed stray animals and those whose owners could
no longer care for them. Many of these animals are
homeless as a result of pet overpopulation caused
by people not desexing their pets and allowing them
to breed.
There is a large range of breed types of all ages
to choose from, even purebred cats and dogs. Each
Shelter receives animals every day so if you don't
find the right pet on your first visit, please keep
trying.
The
goal of the Society is to find as many lifelong and
suitable homes as possible for all adoptable animals
that come into our care so when you come to the Shelter
to adopt an animal we will ask you lots of questions
and we encourage you to do the same. Before you choose
a pet one of our Adoption Officers will discuss with
you the type of pet that will be the most suitable
for you and your situation.
There
are many different shapes and sizes when it comes
to dogs and although you might love the look of a
St Bernard you must consider whether you will be able
to meet all of the needs of a breed that takes up
a lot of space, costs more to feed and needs a lot
of grooming; or a dog like a Border Collie that often
demands constant activity and could easily become
bored and develop behavioural problems if left for
long periods of time with nothing to do.
We
recommend that if you are interested in a particular
breed that you learn as much as you can about it before
making a decision. You can ask our staff for advice,
just call or visit your local RSPCA Shelter.
All
dogs and cats adopted from the RSPCA NSW must be desexed
before leaving the Shelter. You must have personal
identification with your current address. If you have
another dog you should bring him or her in with you
to see if they approve of your choice - unfortunately
it is no guarantee but at least it will give you an
indication of how they may behave together.
Adoption
Package
An
adoption fee is charged for all animals adopted from
the RSPCA NSW. This fee goes towards some of the costs
involved in preparing the animal for a new home. The
adoption fee will usually be much cheaper than what
it would cost to buy a pet from a breeder or a pet
shop and includes a lot more. See below for details
on what is included in the Adoption Package.
The
adoption fees for dogs: Please see individual shelter/branch
pages for prices.
The
adoption fee for cats: Please see individual shelter/branch
pages for prices.
The
Adoption Package includes:
 |
A
full vet check |
|
Desexing
|
|
Age-appropriate
vaccinations |
|
Deworming
|
|
Heartworm
test (dogs over 6 months) (excluding Broken Hill) |
|
Microchip
implant |
|
Warranty
|
Additional
optional services available (fees apply):
Warranty
All
animals adopted from a RSPCA NSW Shelter have a two
week warranty. Although all animals are vet checked
it may still be possible that an animal is incubating
a disease that is not apparent at the time of adoption
- to cover this contingency the Society offers a two
week warranty period whereby an animal can be brought
in to our veterinary clinic for a free consultation.
This warranty applies only to animals brought in to
the RSPCA nominated vet clinic - unfortunately we
cannot cover costs incurred at other clinics.
If
you have any further questions please see our FAQ
section.
Top
