If you’re in Queensland (QLD) and looking for the best place to adopt a dog, we’ve got you covered with a list of recommended rescues. Dogs are good for your health — they ease stress, keep you active, and help you live longer. In addition, they will love you unconditionally.
Dogs can also help kids learn empathy, trust, and compassion. When looking to bring a new dog home, you have two major options. One option is to buy from a breeder while the other is to adopt. While a breeder is not a bad idea, adopting a dog seems like a better idea. You’ll be saving a life and paying significantly less, which you can channel into caring for your dog.
There are many great places to find a new best friend or family companion. We’ll lift the heavy load off your shoulders by listing the best options in Queensland. Here are some of the best dog rescues in QLD.
Before you scroll down this list of dog rescues in QLD, check out: The 4 Best Golden Retriever Breeders in Queensland! (2023) and 6 Best Corgi Breeders in Queensland! (2023).
1. Karma’s Place Rescue
Karma’s Place Rescue is a small non-profit whose core mission is to rehabilitate and rehome dogs. Whether you’re looking for a small, medium, or large breed, Karma’s Place is one of the best rescues to contact.
It is a volunteer-based organization, meaning all operations are handled by dedicated dog lovers. They are fully committed to helping these dogs regain their health and find the best forever homes. They provide quality care for each dog, regardless of breed, disability, and age. Whether the dog is sick, injured, or abandoned, this team does not discriminate.
Karma’s Place Rescue prides itself on having a strong ethical and moral foundation and being compassionate in its dealings with animals and people. Regardless of how long it takes, KPR’s goal is to provide each pet with a loving home that meets their specific needs. Before being rehomed, every animal in their care will have a flea and worm treatment, vaccinations, desexing, and microchipping.
They rely only on donations and fundraising efforts because they do not receive government assistance. Through desexing, microchipping, and health care in its neighborhood, the team promotes responsible pet ownership.
A proper assessment ensures potential adopters are a good fit for the dogs and vice versa. The dogs are temperament-tested to ensure they are fit to live in a family environment.
The process starts with filling out an online form, then a phone interview and a home visit. Adopters are also required to spend time with the dog before finalizing the process.
Karma’s Place Rescue Details:
- Location: 36 Scott St, Wondai, QLD, 4606
- Phone Number: 497-303-493
- Email: info@karmasplacerescue.org.au
- Website: Karma’s Place Rescue
2. NQAR
NQAR is another great place to adopt a dog in Queensland because they genuinely care about their dogs and would go the extra mile to give them a better life. If you are looking for a place to adopt a healthy, happy, and well-behaved dog, we highly recommend this rescue.
Located in the Cairns area, NQAR is a volunteer-run organization that relies on foster parents to accommodate the dogs until they find their forever homes. Their goal is to rescue stray and abandoned animals from regional pounds and individual surrenders.
Before being adopted out to approved families, dogs are de-sexed, vaccinated, microchipped, wormed, and treated for fleas and ticks. Since they are a wholly non-profit, everything is motivated by their love for animals and concern for their wellbeing.
This rescue started as a Facebook page in April 2012 to raise awareness of the dogs in shelters and pounds that were in danger of being put down. They gradually put together a small group of like-minded animal lovers and placed dogs with foster parents who had offered to help.
The group gradually became larger and larger until they made the decision to establish an association in July 2012. NQAR places all rescued dogs and cats into temporary homes with approved foster carers.
Raising dogs in a family environment relieves them from the stress of shelter environments, giving them a safe place to live and be trained while waiting for their forever home. While in foster care, the foster parents learn about each dog’s unique needs and personalities to match the dog to the right adopter.
They require all NQAR foster caregivers and prospective adopters to submit an application, sign an agreement, and have a property inspection before taking an animal home.
NQAR Details:
- Location: Cairns, Queensland, Australia 4870
- Email: president@nqar.org.au
- Website: NQAR
3. Deathrow Unchained Animal Rescue
Deathrow Unchained Animal Rescue is a small pet rescue that saves, rehabilitates, and rehomes dogs of various breeds and sizes. The organization rescues all kinds of abused, neglected, and abandoned animals who have nowhere else to turn.
They run animal therapy programs in close partnership with their community. In addition, the rescue is open to the public for tours. DRU Animal Rescue is a 100 percent volunteer-run organization. The volunteers are committed to helping dogs, giving them all the love, care, and attention they need.
DRU currently has over 180 volunteers and is still open to accepting volunteers and foster parents around the city. As a non-profit, DRU relies only on community support and receives no government assistance.
Every penny earned is used to care for animals and save more lives. They currently have over 180 pets in the sanctuary. To date, the rescue has rehomed more than 4,500 pets.
From farm animals to dogs and cats on death lists at animal shelters, this rescue offers rehabilitation, vetting, and rehoming to all kinds of animals. They do not rescue based on popular breeds or sizes; rather, they take in the elderly, large dogs, and those with severe medical needs.
In addition to providing medical care, this rescue team ensures all their dogs are mentally and behaviorally stable before placing them for adoption. Proper socialization and behavioral training are provided to help prepare the dogs for their new families.
You can rely on them for various dog breeds, ages, and sizes. Their dogs go home vaccinated, dewormed, spayed/neutered, and microchipped. You can check their adoption page to find the breed you want to start the process.
Deathrow Unchained Animal Rescue Details:
- Location: 1374 Mount Cotton Road, Burbank 4156, Queensland, Australia
- Email: sanctuary@deathrowunchained.org
- Website: Deathrow Unchained Animal Rescue
4. Best Friend Rescue
Best Friend Rescue made it to our list of the best dog rescues in QLD due to its many years of experience. This non-profit saves unwanted, abandoned, and homeless dogs.
The organization rescues pets in Brisbane, the Gold Coast, and surrounding areas in Queensland. Best Friend Rescue has big dogs, small dogs, and everything in between. They have many breeds and are willing to help you find a dog that suits your lifestyle and needs.
Most of the dogs from this rescue were surrendered by their owners or saved from death row in Council Pounds. This no-kill shelter believes every pet deserves a second chance at life.
All their pets live with their amazing foster carers until they find their perfect forever homes. They do not have any central facility or shelter where the dogs are kept and cared for. All dogs are cared for by their foster parents and are given proper medication.
Their pets go home with all vet work completed, which is paid for by the rescue via donations and support from people. Your new dog will also come dewormed, microchipped, and spayed/neutered.
Best Friend Rescue Details:
- Location: The Gap, Queensland 4061, Australia
- Email: bfr@bestfriendsrescue.com
- Website: Best Friend Rescue
Frequently Asked Questions
Outside of the great work of pet rescues, WIRES is the largest wildlife rescue in Australia.
While there are some drawbacks to rescuing a dog, such as not always finding your ideal breed or having to work through past issues, the pros far outweigh the cons. Overall, patience is key.
Unlike shelter dogs, which stay in public buildings, rescue dogs reside in foster homes.
Conclusion for “Best Dog Rescues in QLD”
Dogs are a lot of responsibility, so you want to ensure you prepare yourself for one before approaching any rescue organization. Our list comprises rescues that save and rehome various dog breeds.
You should decide the dog breed you want before contacting any rescue. Ensure the rescue team has the breed you want before filling out their adoption form.
For more guides similar to this list of dog rescues in QLD, check out:
- The 7 Best Goldendoodle Breeders in Australia! (2023)
- Maltipoo Puppies For Sale in Australia: Top 7 Breeders! (2023)
- Cockapoo Puppies For Sale in Australia: Top 7 Breeders! (2023)
Before you look at dog rescues in QLD, learn more by watching the “100 FACTS About DOGS That Will Surprise You 🐶🐾 Discover them!” down below:
Garrett loves animals and is a huge advocate for all Doodle dog breeds. He owns his own Goldendoodle named Kona. In addition, he volunteers at the Humane Society of Silicon Valley, where he fosters dogs and helps animals. Garrett enjoys writing about Doodles and believes that dogs can teach humans more about how to live than humans can teach a dog.
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