Adopt a pet
Adopting frees up a foster carer's home for the next animal in need, and gives you a new family member who is already desexed, vaccinated and microchipped.
Browse
Pets looking for a home
A sample of the kinds of animals Canberra Pet Rescue places. See their live Adoptables page for real, current listings.
Adult cat
From $395, or $250 via PetConnect
Kitten
$450 solo, $400 each for a bonded pair
Dog / puppy
Dogs from $495, puppies from $895
Other pets
Fee depends on species and vet work required
See who's actually available right now on Canberra Pet Rescue's Adoptables page ↗
Process
How adoption works
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Enquire
Submit an expression of interest through Canberra Pet Rescue's adoption form when you're ready to adopt (they can't hold a pet for you in the meantime).
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Video interview
Shortlisted applicants have a video interview with everyone in the household; adopting a dog also needs an in-person meeting.
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Prepare
Set up a secure carrier or harness, and the same food your pet is used to, before pickup.
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Agreement & payment
Confirm the adoption agreement and pay the adoption fee electronically.
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Adoption day
Pick up your pet and sign the microchip change-of-ownership form: this starts your two-week trial.
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Trial & settle in
If it isn't the right fit within two weeks, Canberra Pet Rescue will take the pet back with a full refund.
Fees
What adoption costs
| Animal | Standard fee | Via PetConnect |
|---|---|---|
| Kitten (single) | $450 | N/A |
| Kitten (bonded pair) | $400 each | N/A |
| Cat | from $395 | $250 |
| Puppy | from $895 | N/A |
| Dog | from $495 | from $350 |
| Other pets (rabbits, guinea pigs, etc.) | varies by species and vet work required | N/A |
A second vaccination adds $70 for kittens or $100 for puppies. All cats, kittens, dogs and puppies are desexed, vaccinated (first round) and microchipped before you take them home; council/state registration is the new owner's responsibility. Adoption includes a two-week trial with a full refund if the pet doesn't settle in.
A different kind of adoption
Scaredy-Pants Program
For timid, undersocialised kittens under six months old who need more one-on-one time than the foster network can always give, the Scaredy-Pants Program lets you adopt a kitten (or bonded pair) directly and socialise them yourself, with structured support. Over an initial four-week period you get guidance, tools and an online group of other participants, while working with Canberra Pet Rescue's partner vets to get the kitten desexed, vaccinated, microchipped and parasite-treated.
Before you adopt
Adopter resources
Canberra Pet Rescue also publishes practical guidance for new adopters, including a kitten shopping checklist and an explainer on the real ongoing cost of taking on a "free" kitten. Find these, and more, on their website ↗ .