Shelters & Rescues in Shepparton

Looking to adopt, foster, or support local animal welfare in Shepparton? Here you’ll find a list of shelters, rescue groups, and adoption centers dedicated to helping animals in your community. Owned and operated by the Greater Shepparton City Council, the Shepparton Animal Shelter is a large-scale regional facility that cares for over 2,000 animals annually. The shelter manages a wide variety of animals, including dogs, cats, rabbits, guinea pigs, and various livestock such as sheep, horses, and cattle. The facility serves as both a council pound for lost animals and a proactive rehoming centre, working closely with community foster networks to ensure positive outcomes for every rehomable pet.

Services Offered

• Pet Adoption: A structured program for dogs, cats, and small animals. Adoption fees include a vet check, vaccination, desexing, and microchipping.
• Reunification & Pound Services: The primary collection point for stray animals in the Greater Shepparton area. Staff use microchip records to reunite lost pets with their owners.
• Livestock Management: One of the few shelters in the region equipped to handle and rehome various types of livestock.
• Surrender Assistance: Accepting animals from owners who are unable to care for them. While donations are requested to cover costs, the shelter accepts surrenders from within the municipality regardless of the owner’s ability to pay.
• Cat Trap Hire: Residents can hire traps to manage nuisance or stray cats within the community.
• Foster Carer Scheme: A registration program for locals to provide temporary homes for animals requiring extra care before adoption.

Shepparton Animal Rescue and Rehoming (SARR) is a registered, non-profit volunteer association dedicated to giving abandoned and surrendered animals a second chance. Unlike the local council shelter, SARR is a foster-based rescue, meaning they do not have a physical facility. Instead, animals are cared for in the private homes of volunteers across Shepparton, Mooroopna, and surrounding areas. They operate with a strict no-kill policy, taking in animals from rural pounds and private surrenders, nursing them back to health, and providing them with a loving family environment until they find their "forever" homes.

Relevant Tip for Adopters (The 4-Hour Rule)

Because SARR is entirely volunteer-run and relies on home-based foster care, they typically prioritize applicants who live within a 4-hour radius of Shepparton. This ensures that "meet and greets" and potential property checks are feasible for their team. The shelters and rescue groups in Shepparton are working every day to care for animals in need—and they can't do it alone. Whether you choose to adopt, foster, volunteer, or donate, your support helps save lives and build a more compassionate community. Reach out to a local organization today and become part of the change.You might also be interested in