Adopting a cat or dog can be a wonderful way to bring a furry friend into your life and give them a loving home. If you live in Auckland, New Zealand, there are several places where you can adopt a cat or dog. Here’s where to adopt a cat or dog in Auckland.
Adopting a cat or dog is no easy feat. Before you adopt an animal, you’ll need to make sure you can properly care for it. Consider these things before you sign the adoption papers.
Unfortunately, New Zealand’s rental laws aren’t very pet friendly. If you’re a renter, you must check that your property allows pets before you bring one home. Failure to check with your landlord could breach your agreement and result in you losing your tenancy.
Additionally, if you live in an apartment building, there may be rules about what animals you can own. You might need to check with the board before getting a dog.
Cats and dogs live for many years, so it’s important that you can give them a secure home for the rest of their life. If you are renting and your current place is pet friendly, consider how long you’ll stay there.
Pet-friendly rentals are hard to come by, and moving with a pet is highly difficult.
If the state of your future accommodation is unsure, you might want to put off pet ownership until you have long-term secure accommodation.
Don’t underestimate the amount of time you’ll need to spend with your animal. Although cats require less attention than dogs, you’ll still need to give them your time, play with them, and train them to use a litter box or go outside and to not to scratch up your furniture. Dogs require more of a time investment as they need daily walks, command training, toilet training and plenty of play time.
A pet can be a great addition to your day if you work from home. Giving your cat or dog time alone sometimes is a good idea. Constant time together can give your pet separation anxiety when you go away.
You’ll need a plan for your cat or dog for holidays, long weekends or any nights away from home. A flatmate, friend or neighbour can check on your pet when you’re away for a night. For anything longer, you’ll need to pay for a pet sitter or book a cattery or boarding kennel.
While owning a pet is considerably cheaper than having a child, pet ownership will still increase your weekly bills. In the first year of ownership, you’ll have more expenses as you will need to pay for vaccinations and pet bills, the adoption itself and desexing, plus registering your pet, and keeping it fed and well groomed. Here are just some of the expenses and their costs:
Adoption or buying a pet: Around $250 if you adopt.
Microchipping, vaccinations and de-sexing: Free if you adopt.
Vet expenses: around $450 each year for a healthy animal.
Pet insurance:$20 to $60 per month.
Pet essentials: collars, beds, bowls, toys, kennels, cages, transportation needs: up to $500 in the first year, then about $100 each year
Flea, tick and worming medications: $300 to $450 a year
Council registration: From $30 to $190 a year
Pet food: $800 each year for premium dog food, plus treats
Boarding kennels and catteries: depends on location, time of year and length of stay. Can be between $25 to $50 a night
Grooming and training: $100-$300
The SPCA Auckland is a non-profit organisation dedicated to preventing animal cruelty. They have a shelter that is open to the public, where you can meet cats and dogs that are looking for their forever homes. The SPCA Auckland has a comprehensive adoption process, which includes filling out an adoption form, meeting the animal you are interested in adopting, and completing a home check.
SPCA Mangere — 50 Westney Road, Mangere, Auckland 2022
+64 9 256 7300
Open Mon-Sun: 10 am-4 pm
SPCA Hobsonville — 6 Rawiri Place, Hobsonville, Auckland 0618
+64 9 256 7300
Open Mon-Sun: 10 am-4 pm
The Auckland Council has several animal shelters that are open to the public. These shelters take in stray or abandoned animals and try to find them new homes. To adopt a cat or dog from an Auckland Council animal shelter, fill out an adoption form and pay a fee. The fee covers the cost of vaccinations, microchipping, and desexing.
Bledisloe Lane Service Centre — Bledisloe House, Ground floor, 24 Wellesley Street West
+64 9 301 0101
Open Mon-Fri: 8.30 am-4.30 pm
The New Zealand Cat Foundation is a non-profit organisation that rescues and rehomes cats. They have a cat sanctuary based in Huapai, Auckland, where cats are cared for until they can find permanent homes. It is run by Anne Batley Burton, an animal welfarist and advocate for stray cats. If you want to adopt a cat, visit their website to find out more.
The NZCF — Huapai, Auckland
The Lonely Miaow Association is a non-profit organisation that is dedicated to rescuing and rehoming stray cats and kittens. They have a network of foster homes, where cats and kittens are cared for until they can find permanent homes. All of their cats and kittens are vet checked, desexed, microchipped (and registered via the New Zealand Companion Animal Register). You can adopt or foster a cat or kitten by applying on their website.
Lonely Miaow Association — greater Auckland area
Purrs and Beans is a cat cafe and forever home to various rescue cats adopted from Franklin Cat Rescue, Paws 4 Life, Gutter Kitties and SPCA Auckland. The cafe specialises in older or special needs cats. While the cats are available to hang out with at the cafe, they also have cats available for adoption, not all of which are special needs. Make sure you book in to meet the cats before you adopt.
Purrs and Beans— 188 Hinemoa Street, Birkenhead, Auckland 0626, New Zealand
Open Wed: 10am-1pm, Thu: 10am-3pm, Sat: 9.15am-4.15pm, Sun: 9.15am-3.15pm
Saving Hope is a no-kill animal rescue organisation based in Auckland. Due to this nature, they are one of the country’s biggest dog shelters. They take in dogs and puppies and have helped rehome over a thousand animals to loving homes. Whether you want to foster a dog or adopt a puppy, they have over a hundred animals waiting for a forever home.
+64 210 294 8701
Auckland Puppy Rescue is a small team dedicated to rescuing puppies. They work to train, socialise, and care for puppies so that they can be rehomed more easily. You can adopt or foster a puppy through their website.
If you are interested in adopting a cat or dog in Auckland, there are plenty of options to suit your needs. Adopting a pet is a big responsibility, so be sure to research and find the best option for you and your lifestyle. Need help with pet transportation? Wise Move can help. Our teams ensure the full care and well-being of your pet and door-to-door service. Book your pet-friendly transport now.
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