14 Leading Dog Rescues in the North East

In this article, we’ve featured 15 of the best dog rescues in the North East of England. Continue reading to learn about them.

1. Newcastle Dog and Cat Shelter

Newcastle Dog and Cat Shelter is a registered animal rescue organisation established in 1896. The pet rescue organisation helps thousands of abandoned, unwanted, and neglected pets throughout Newcastle Upon Tyne and neighbouring areas.

The facility has continued to uphold its commitment to the prevention of animal cruelty and promoting kindness to pets of all breeds and sizes. This pet rescue centre also has a shelter for lost and abandoned pets in Clairemont where parents can leave their pets if they are unable to care for them.

Newcastle Dog and Cat Shelter offers a variety of services including re-homing services, vaccination, flea and worm treatments, and medical care for qualified veterinarians. The animal rescue centre also reunites lost and found pets with their pet parents.

You can support Newcastle Dogs and Cats Shelter by volunteering, making a donation, fundraising, or shopping at the organisation’s charity shops. Reach out to the friendly team at this pet rescue organisation to find out more about their services and adopt a pet.

2. Pawz For Thought

Pawz For Thought is a small animal charity organisation that helps pets across the North East of England. The facility was founded to help the high number of distressed pets in the region and has continued to uphold its mission to help animals in need throughout the years.

For over 12 years, Pawz for Thought has rescued and re-homed pets in Newcastle, Sunderland, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear, Durham, and other areas in North East England. The organisation has steadily grown into a vibrant rescue facility that accommodates pets of all breeds and sizes including dogs, cats, rabbits, birds and other companion animals.

Pawz For Thought offers rescued pets vaccinations, shelter, food, medical care, first aid, and microchipping, and specialist treatment. The rescue organisation also has a strong neutering policy and ensures all pets are neutered before adoption.

This charity organisation takes lifelong responsibility for all animals that come to the organisation and offers help for adoptive parents who are no longer capable of caring for their pets. You can support Pawz For Thought through fundraising, making a donation, or adopting a pet. Reach out to the facility to find out more about their services.

3. RSPCA Newcastle and Northumberland Branch

The RSPCA Newcastle and Northumberland Branch rescues pets from unsuitable homes, starvation, abandonment, abuse, and neglect. This registered charity organisation is the most northern of the RSPCA branches in England and covers Newcastle Upon Tyne and other areas in North East England.

This branch is operated by a committee of elected volunteers who provide management and administration services. The Newcastle and Northumberland branch of RSPCA raises funds through fundraising events, legacies, and donations from well-wishers.

Some of the services available at this registered pet rescue organisation include microchipping, neutering, veterinary care, flea and worm treatment, vaccination, and specialist treatments among others. This organisation also offers home visits for adoptive parents throughout the pet’s life.

You can support the RSPCA Newcastle and Northumberland Branch through fundraising, volunteering, and making a donation. You can contact this animal welfare organisation to find out more about their services and adopt a pet.

4. Dogs Trust

This pet rescue and re-homing centre serves Darlington and other areas in North East England. Dogs Trust Darlington was founded in 1994 is managed by Sue Embleton. Sue and her dog-loving team have rehabilitated and re-homed over 18,000 dogs since they opened their doors and hope to rescue and re-home even more abandoned pets.

The facility currently takes in 50-60 dogs annually and offers free community education about responsible pet ownership. Dogs Trust is also committed to helping pets across North East England enjoy a happy life without fear of destruction.

This facility offers rescued pets a variety of services including microchipping, neutering, vaccination, flea and worm treatment, medical care, and specialist care. Dogs Trust also offers re-homing services to parents who are unable to care for their pets and reunites lost and found pets with their families.

You can help Dogs Trust to support abandoned pets by working as a volunteer, donating, sponsoring a pet, fundraising, corporate sponsorship, and more. Get in touch with Dogs Trust in Darlington to find out more about their services and adopt a pet.

5. Animal Krackers

Animal Krackers is an animal rescue charity organisation that was founded in 2002. The pet welfare organisation offers its services to pets and families in Sunderland, Durham, Newcastle, South Tyneside, and other neighbouring towns in North East England.

This registered pet rescue organisation was started by Andrea Parkin and Susan Hardy and is run by volunteers and well-wishers. Animal Krackers is well-known for its rescue services and partnership with several animal welfare organisations to help animals in need.

The pet rescue organisation offers a variety of services including vaccination, neutering, microchipping, flea and worm treatments, community education about responsible ownership, and re-homing services for parents who can no longer support their pets.

You can help Animal Krackers by making a donation, fostering a pet, shopping from the facilities’ Amazon wish list, and spreading the word about their work among family and friends. Get in touch with this pet rescue organisation to find out more about its services or adopt a pet.

6. SCDR

The Sunderland Cat and Dog Rescue was created in 2014 to provide loving care and shelter for dogs of all breeds and sizes. The family-run pet welfare firm works closely with charities and organisations including Animal Krackers and King’s Road Veterinary Practice to help rescued pets get shelter, food, and the love and care that they deserve.

SCDR offers rescued pets temporary shelter before they can be adopted into their forever homes. The dedicated pet rescue organisation is located in open fields and woodlands where pets have plenty of room to exercise and have fun.

Rescued pets enjoy a variety of services including vaccinations, microchipping, food, shelter, medical care, neutering, and more. SCDR also offers re-homing services to parents who are can no longer care for their pets.

You can support the Sunderland Cat and Dog Rescue through volunteering, fostering a pet, or making a donation. Get in touch with this organisation to find out more about their services and adopt a pet.

7. St. Francis Animal Rescue

This animal rescue in South Fields is an entirely volunteer-run organisation that helps lost and abandoned pets find foster care before they can be permanently re-homed. The registered pet charity is led by Ann Kirton with the help of fosters who rescue and rehabilitate pets before sending them to their forever homes.

St. Francis Animal Rescue also educates the community about responsible pet ownership and promotes animal welfare through practical help and advice to pet parents. This animal welfare charity organisation also offers re-homing services to pet parents who may be unable to care for their pets due to sickness, old age, or change in circumstances.

The pet rescue organisation also offers medical care through professional veterinary doctors, vaccination, neutering, specialist medical care, food and shelter. The friendly volunteers also help reunite lost and found pets with their parents.

You can support St. Francis Animal Rescue by volunteering, making a donation, gifting in your will, sponsoring a pet, or buying from its shop. You can also reach out to this pet rescue facility to adopt a pet.

8. Stray Aid

Stray Aid in Durham was started by John and Sue Bilby to help the local councils reduce, rescue, and rehabilitate stray and abandoned pets who are destroyed in local pounds. Each year, Stray Aid helps hundreds of dogs find loving forever homes.

The registered charity organisation was started in 2006 and accepted 1,000 dogs last year. Stray Aid also offers community engagement services to promote animal welfare and teach children safety around dogs.

This charity organisation provides medical care to rescued pets and has treated over 650 dogs in 2020. The facility keeps an on-site veterinary surgeon who checks all rescued pets and provides, neutering, vaccination, and microchipping services.

Get in touch with this facility to find out how you can support their services, volunteer, donate, gift in your will, adopt a pet or make a donation. You can also contact Stray Aid if you have lost a pet in Durham.

9. Deerness Boarding Kennels and Cattery

Deerness Boarding Kennels and Cattery carries out its rescue, rehabilitation and re-homing work through Stray Action for Dogs. Over the last three years, SAD has rescued over 2,200 animals and re-homed hundreds more with the help of Supporters of Stray and Abandoned Dogs, a registered charity that assists with veterinary fees.

SAD follows a strict no-destruct policy. The animal-loving team at this facility strives to ensure all pets go to loving forever homes. Each rescued pet is treated to a complete health check and is nursed back to health, in case of serious illness or injury, before they can be re-homed.

This pet rescue facility provides microchipping, flea and worm treatments, scheduled vaccinations, and other services. SAD also educates the Durham community on the benefits of neutering in the prevention of unwanted pets.

Deerness Kennels also reunites lost and found pets with their parents by taking in stray dogs through the Darlington Borough Council. Reach out to Deerness Boarding Kennels and Cattery to find out more about their rescue operations or adopt a pet. You can also support SAD by making a donation or offering your time as a volunteer.

10. NASSL

The National Animal Sanctuaries Support League pet rescue facility was founded in 1993 to help rescue and re-home abandoned, lost, and unwanted animals in Darlington. The organisation accommodates all types of pets and has facilities for dogs, kittens, cats, and other small rodents.

NASSL was started by Ray Mackinlay and Pauline Wilson, the founder trustees. Since Mr Mackinlay’s sad passing, Pauline has continued to run the charity with the support of an animal-loving team. NASSL is dedicated to helping all animals live happy lives and is committed to rehabilitating and re-homing unwanted pets.

This charity offers rescued pets lots of love and care as well as medical care, vaccinations, neutering, spaying, microchipping, flea and worm treatments, and reuniting lost pets with their parents among other services. If you are unable to take care of your pet for any reason, this charity organisation can help you re-home them with a loving family.

You can support The National Animal Sanctuaries Support League through donating, fundraising, or adopting a pet. Get in touch with the friendly team at this pet rescue facility to find out more about their services and learn how you can help.

11. Tendercare Rescue

Tendercare Rescue offers hope to abandoned and unwanted animals by giving them a second chance in loving forever homes. The animal welfare organisation in Durham works closely with volunteers in Romania to rescue needy pets and those in dire need and re-home them in North East England.

The facility offers all its rescues medical care, neutering, speciality care, flea and worm treatments, and microchipping services. The facility is also involved in educating the community in North East England about responsible pet ownership.

You can support Tendercare Rescue through volunteering, donating, and donating toys, blankets, and food to the rescued pets. Get in touch with the animal-loving team at this facility to find out more about their services or to adopt a pet.

12. Berwick Animal Rescue Kennels

B.A.R.K. is a registered charity organisation that offers its services to lost and unwanted pets in Northumberland and other areas in North East England and Wales. The facility does not turn away any dogs in need and strives to help all pets within a 60-mile radius of the facility.

All rescued pets are treated to behavioural assessments, medical care, neutering, vaccinations, deworming treatment, flea treatments, and other services. Berwick Animal Rescue Kennels also offers these pets shelter, food, and lots of love and care. The animal welfare organisation also helps lost and found pets reunite with their parents.

You can support this pet rescue organisation by volunteering, fundraising, buying from its Amazon wishlist, or making a donation. Get in touch with the animal-loving team to adopt a pet and find out more about their animal welfare services.

13. Save Our Strays

SOS is a pet rescue organisation serving the pets and families of North East England. The animal welfare charity organisation is run by the founders Margaret Young and Peter White who work alongside a team of dog-loving volunteers.

This animal welfare organisation takes in pets who are unclaimed at local dog pounds, dogs from private homes, and referrals from police and social services as well as other pets in need. The facility offers these pets medical care from qualified veterinarians, scheduled vaccinations, flea and worm treatments, and lots of love and care. The facility also offers advice to new pet parents on how to care for their pets.

You can help Save Our Strays continue to rescue hundreds of pets in North East England and neighbouring areas by volunteering, shopping and giving, fundraising, making a donation or adopting a pet. Reach out to Margaret, Peter, and their team at SOS to find out more about their services.

14. Westie Rescue UK

Westie Rescue is a registered charity in Cramlington. The animal welfare facility is a not-for-profit organisation that is all about rescuing Westies led by Christine Margaret. Christine and her team of animal lovers are focused on rescuing, rehabilitating, and re-homing abandoned, unwanted, and stray pets from all over North East England.

The rescue organisation offers a variety of services to rescued pets including neutering, microchipping, vaccinations, vet health checks, and other speciality health treatments such as teeth descaling. The facility also offers lifetime treatments for any dogs rescued with pre-existing conditions such as diabetes or skin diseases.

Westie Rescue welcomes donations and volunteers who wish to support their cause and is always looking for parents who would like to adopt a pet. WRUK also offers advice and support to new pet parents to promote responsible animals ownership. Get in touch with Christine and her team to find out more about their services and find out how you can help.