If you’re on the lookout for a list of the best dog rescues in New Zealand, the compilation below features 9 rescue centres across the country.
1. SPCA Auckland
This pet rescue organisation is the largest animal welfare centre in New Zealand. The organisation was started in 1883 and has been protecting animals and preventing animal cruelty for over 140 years.
The Auckland facility is located on a 10-acre plot in South Auckland and accommodates sick, neglected, injured, abused, and abandoned pets. SPCA Auckland takes care of over 40,000 each year with the help of 120 staff.
SPCA Auckland offers a variety of services including educating and engaging the public about responsible pet ownership, advocating and influencing animal welfare policies, seeking justice for incidences of animal cruelty, delivering positive animal outcomes, rehabilitation, reuniting lost and found pets with their parents, and rescuing animals.
You can support SPCA Auckland by making a donation, volunteering, fundraising, corporate sponsorship, or adopting a pet. Get in touch with SPCA Auckland to find out more about their services and join the team.
2. DC Rescue Dogs
This non-profit pet rescue organisation rescues pets throughout the Waikato and Auckland regions. The facility started its dog rescue activities in 2012 and quickly grew to accommodate over 200 pets a year.
DC Rescue Dogs also runs Desex a Dog which offers discounted desexing services for dogs of all breeds and sizes in Waikato. The organisation was founded by Cherie Baker and her partner David. Over the years, the registered charitable trust has helped thousands of pets in New Zealand and re-homed hundreds more.
The facility provides a variety of services for all its rescued pets including desexing, vaccinating, microchipping, registering them with NZCAR, flea and worm treatment, and more. DC Rescue Dogs also carries out thorough home checks before permanently re-homing the pets.
You can support this charity by making a donation, fostering a pet, or adopting a pet. Get in touch with Cherie and David to find out more about DC Rescue Dogs and find out how you can help.
3. Saving Hope Foundation
This charitable trust was founded in 2017 to rescue and rehabilitate dogs in Auckland and other areas in New Zealand. The registered organisation does not turn away any pets and has a strict no-kill policy. To date, Saving Hope has helped over 1000 dogs find loving forever homes.
Saving Hope was founded by Janine and Anita Hinton, a dog-loving mother-daughter duo. The organisation is run by an advisory board consisting of professionals and behavioural experts who are all passionate about animal welfare. The board ensures that all donations are directed towards the organisation’s animal rescue operations.
This facility offers a variety of services including training, rescue and rehabilitation, vaccination, desexing, flea and worm treatments, educating parents about responsible pet ownership, and more.
You can support Saving Hope Foundation by fostering a dog, fundraising, volunteering, adopting a dog, or making a donation. Get in touch with Janine and Anita to find out more about their organisation and find out how you can support them.
4. Ellie’s Canine Rescue
This not-for-profit animal welfare organisation was founded by Vicky and Nicole. The charity currently does not have a shelter for rescued dogs and places all rescued pets in foster care until they can be adopted.
Ellie’s Canine Rescue, based in Wellington, offers a variety of services to rescued pets including desexing, medical care from qualified veterinarians, vaccinations, flea and worm treatments, and training among others.
You can support Ellie’s Canine Rescue by volunteering, fostering a pet, adopting a pet, or making a donation. Get in touch with Vicky and Nicole to find out more about their services and learn more about how you can help.
5. Helping You Help Animals
This charitable trust is committed to teaching the community about empathy to animals and offering shelter to neglected, abandoned, lost, and stray pets. HUHA is actively involved in finding foster care and permanent homes for abandoned animals by involving the community.
The registered organisation also participates in rescue missions to save animals who are victims of cruelty and sick, injured pets who have nowhere to go. HUHA was started by Carolyn Press-McKenzie, a life-long animal lover.
This animal welfare facility offers a variety of solutions for rescued pets including medical care, vaccinations, sanctuary for homeless pets, flea and worm treatments, and educating the public about animal welfare. The facility also takes in unwanted pregnant dogs and provides them with medical care, desexing, and behaviour training.
You can get involved by donating, fundraising, leaving a legacy gift, volunteering, sponsoring a dog, fostering a pet, or adopting a pet. Get in touch with the friendly team at HUHA to find out more about their services.
6. Dogwatch Sanctuary Trust
This registered charity was founded in 1982 to help dogs abandoned in pounds in Canterbury, Christchurch, and other areas in New Zealand. The animal welfare organisation offers these dogs sanctuary on a five-acre adoption centre in Bromley before they can be permanently re-homed.
Dogwatch Sanctuary Trust places rescued pets in kennels and foster families to ensure they are in a safe environment before they can be re-homed to permanent forever homes. For over 35 years, Dogwatch has worked tirelessly to educate the public about animal welfare and promote their rights.
Dogwatch Sanctuary Trust offers rescued pets a variety of services including medical care, shelter, food, vaccination, desexing services, and flea and worm treatments as well as advice and education for new pet parents.
You can support Dogwatch Sanctuary Trust by working as a volunteer, donating, sponsoring a pet, fundraising, and promoting the organisation. You can also reach out to the friendly team at this organisation to find out how to adopt a pet.
7. New Lives Rescue
New Lives Rescue, established in 2014, is dedicated to rescuing, rehabilitating, and re-homing mistreated and unwanted pets in Hamilton and other areas in the Waikato region. The registered charity welfare organisation is also actively engaged in encouraging desexing and teaching the community on the significance of reducing unwanted pets.
This rescue organisation offers various services including desexing, vaccination, medical care for rescued pets, foster care, flea and worm treatments, and more. The facility also performs thorough checks before re-homing pets and advises new parents on safety around dogs and responsible pet ownership.
You can support New Lives Rescue by offering to volunteer, fostering a pet, making a donation, or adopting a pet. Get in touch with the animal-loving team at this charity welfare to find out more about their services and inquire about how you can get involved.
8. Rescue Revive Rehome
This pet rescue organisation provides a safe haven to cats and dogs of all breeds and sizes. The not-for-profit animal rescue facility finds homeless and abandoned pets in Tauranga and helps re-home them in loving forever families.
The facility relies heavily on well-wishers and volunteers to keep the animals safe. Rescue Revive Rehome takes in pets of all breeds and sizes and never turns an animal away. Pets who cannot be kept at the facility are placed in foster homes until they can permanently be re-homed.
Rescue Revive Rehome also offers medical care services to rescued pets nursing them until they are back to good health. The animal welfare organisation also conducts behaviour assessments and training to teach pets how to blend in with their forever families.
The organisation offers support and training for new pet parents to help them give their new furry companions a happy and relaxed future. You can support this organisation by making a donation, volunteering, or adopting a pet. Get in touch with the friendly team at Rescue Revive Rehome to find out more about their services and find out how you can help.
9. Bay of Islands Animal Rescue
Bay of Islands Animal Rescue has helped re-home over 3000 dogs and other animals including cats, pigs, cows, ducks, and more. The organisation is a member of the Humane Society of New Zealand and is affiliated with Paw Justice and Bay of Islands Veterinary Services.
This rescue and re-homing non-profit animal welfare organisation works hard to stop unnecessary euthanasia and promote animal welfare education. Bay of Islands Animal Rescue also provides a safe environment for homeless animals.
BOIAR offers a variety of services for rescued pets including obedience training, behaviour modification, teaching and supporting parents to care for their pets, medical care from qualified veterinarians, and vaccination among others. The animal welfare organisation also reunites lost and found pets with their parents.
You can support this facility through donations, fostering a pet, sponsoring a pet, or adopting a pet. Get in touch with the friendly team at Bay of Islands Animal Rescue to find out more about their services.
