There are many excellent dog rescues in the UK putting efforts into providing a safe space for abandoned and neglected pets. These rescues take in dogs from various sources, such as animal control centers, local shelters, owners who wish to surrender, and even from the streets.
Once they have rescued these abandoned pups, they focus on rehabilitating them for adoption. However, rehabilitating a rescued dog is a lot of responsibility; thus, it is essential to understand their unique needs and requirements according to their size and breed.
A good rescue center is aware of them and helps the client understand the dog as best as possible, so the transition into their new home is easier for both the dog and the owner.
Dogs are the most popular pet in the UK, and around 34 percent of households have a dog or two as a pet, according to the UK Kennel Club. Unfortunately, many dogs still need loving homes to live and grow old in. Here is a list of the most reputable dog rescues in the UK.
Before you scroll further down this list of dog rescues in the UK, check out: 4 Best Beagle Rescues in the UK! (2023) and 6 Best Irish Wolfhound Rescues in the UK! (2023).
1. Good Life Dog Rescue
Good Life Dog Rescue is a registered small charity organization working for the welfare of stray dogs in the UK. Self-funded and run by a team of devoted volunteers, this rescue center has been helping abandoned dogs for nearly a decade.
Good Life doesn’t have its own kennels, so all the dogs live in kennels in South Yorkshire. Good Life Dog Rescue pays all their living expenses and veterinary bills. The volunteers try their best to rehome adoptable dogs as soon as possible because kennels are only temporary living situations. They all deserve to live in a home where they receive undivided love and attention.
The rescue center emphasizes finding the perfect match for every family and home for each dog. Their rehoming process is simple: you can find the dogs on a list on their website and email them a few details about yourself and the dog you like.
The breeders or volunteers at Good Life will contact you for further details and invite you to meet the dog. You will be able to take the dog on a walk with a rescue team member, further visits will be planned, and you will be asked to submit a video of your property. Home checks and vet references are also required.
The rehoming fee is £350 for all dogs. This goes toward a complete vaccination of the dogs, including a detailed health checkup by a certified vet. The dogs come microchipped and treated for fleas and worming with a lead and a collar.
They are also spayed or neutered. The rescue center offers help and support for the rest of the dog’s life and is only a call away. You can contact them by phone or email for further information about adoption.
Good Life Dog Rescue Details:
- Location: Pinn Fold, Great North Road, Leeds, United Kingdom
- Phone Number: 078-4315-1819
- Email: info@goodlifedogrescue.co.uk
- Website: Good Life Dog Rescue
- Social Media: Facebook / Instagram / YouTube
2. Best Life Dog Rescue
Next on our list of puppy rescues in the UK is Best Life Dog Rescue, which is a UK-registered charity focusing on ensuring every abandoned and neglected dog finds the right home. They keep the dogs in their care at foster homes and provide them with a place to rehabilitate and get ready to be adopted.
Meanwhile, a devoted team of volunteers begins the rehoming process to find the perfect match for these dogs. Julie and Jo started the organization in the early 1990s and rescued and rehomed thousands of dogs. In 2020, this rescue center found homes for hundreds of dogs.
Each dog is treated with equal love and cares at this rescue center, regardless of age, condition, and needs. To adopt a dog, visit their adoption page and view all available dogs with their detailed profiles. You can click the adopt me button and fill out the application form. A team member will get back to you via phone to discuss the dog’s needs and your living arrangement.
Moreover, you will be asked to send a video of your property, vet references, and other necessary documents like your ID and driving license. Rest assured, this rescue adheres to General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) rules, and your information will be safe.
Lastly, you will be invited to a meet and greet with your entire family, which will lead to adoption if all goes well. The adoption fee is £395 and more for puppies; it includes complete vaccinations as per age, neutering or spaying, a harness and collar, microchipping and treatment costs, blood tests, and health screenings.
The dog will also get a starter pack with their favorite food and four weeks of free insurance with Petplan. The rescue will provide lifetime support to you after adoption.
Best Life Dog Rescue Details:
- Location: Doncaster, South Yorkshire, England, United Kingdom
- Phone Number: 077-8542-6127 / 078-7640-5906
- Email: bestlifedogrescue@gmail.com
- Website: Best Life Dog Rescue
- Social Media: Facebook
3. Birmingham Dogs Home
Another responsible group on the list of dog rescues in the UK is Birmingham Dogs Home. This registered charity was founded in 1892 and is one of the oldest animal welfare charities.
This rescue is run with the generous support of the public and benefactors of the local community. The volunteers and staff here are passionate about dogs and deeply care about finding homes for abandoned dogs. They work with local authorities across Midland and provide care to over 2,000 dogs annually.
The adoption process is straightforward. Start by visiting their website to view the individual profile of each dog. If you find a dog suitable for your lifestyle and family, read about their temperament, medical history, and unique needs.
If you’re interested, complete and submit the online inquiry form. You can also visit in person to fill out the form and see the kennels. The adoption fee varies from £190 to £220 according to the breed, age, and condition.
All the money collected goes to a charity that enables the company to run and provide for the dogs in their care. These dogs are microchipped with a Pet24 reunification registration that is free for a year.
In addition, this fee includes the cost of the first part of vaccination, neutering or spaying procedure, and flea and worming treatment. A certified vet assesses each dog’s health, and the staff monitors them closely for behavioral assessment. You will also get four weeks of free insurance, food and treats for the dog, a welcome pack, lifetime support, and advice from Birmingham Dogs Home.
Birmingham Dogs Home Details:
- Location: Catherine De Barnes Ln, Hampton in Arden, Solihull B92 0DJ, United Kingdom
- Phone Number: 012-1643-5211
- Email: info@birminghamdogshome.org.uk
- Website: Birmingham Dogs Home
- Social Media: Facebook / Instagram / Twitter / YouTube / LinkedIn
4. Second Chance Animal Rescue
Second Chance Animal Rescue is one of the most reputable pet rescues in the UK. It was founded in 1979 and is a registered charity working for the welfare of lost and abandoned dogs and cats. It has many kennels built to the highest standard across the UK.
The spacious dog kennels have open grass areas and heated indoor rooms with beds, toys, and water. The dogs are walked every day and treated equally with lots of love and compassion. The kennels allow dogs to walk, run and play. It is the perfect place for dogs to rehabilitate, especially if they come from a traumatic past. Each animal is given a second chance to be cared for and homed.
The rescue center helps find new homes for abandoned animals and hand-raise orphaned animals with the help of their staff. The rescued pets are microchipped, vaccinated, and spayed or neutered if they haven’t already been sterilized.
Moreover, all dogs are provided with medical treatment for any illness or injuries so that they can lead a happy and healthy life. Visit their website to view all available dogs and they will contact you with further details about the adoption process and cost.
Second Chance Animal Rescue Details:
- Location: 4 Mansbridge Cottages, Mansbridge Road, Southampton
- Phone Number: 023-8055-9552
- Email: contact@secondchanceanimalrescue.co.uk
- Website: Second Chance Animal Rescue
5. Welling Borough Dog Welfare (Wellidog)
Another one of the top puppy rescues in the UK is Welling Borough Dog Welfare, also known as Wellidog. It is a local charity with a no-kill shelter working for the welfare of stray and unwanted dogs in Grendon, Northamptonshire, and nearby areas.
The breeders at Welling Borough are committed to rehoming every dog in their care and finding a perfect match, as they believe these dogs make excellent companions for life. The charities, donations, and adoption fees go into caring for the dogs and paying for their living, medical and rehoming costs.
You can help grow the organization with donations or adopt a dog from them. Visit their website to see the list of available dogs. If you find one that you like, then give them a call and register your interest. You can also meet the dog after a scheduled appointment, and the adoption process can begin.
The rescue requires that to be eligible to adopt, all family members need to be comfortable with the decision so that the dog is safe and happy at the new home. To reserve the dog you like, you will be asked to pay a non-refundable deposit of £50.
It will keep you on the list while a home check is conducted and additional visits are planned. After this, you can take your dog home once you pay an adoption fee of £200 and sign the adoption agreement. This fee includes vaccinations as per their age, flea and worm treatment, spaying or neutering, and other veterinary treatments.
Welling Borough Dog Welfare Details:
- Location: Main Rd, Grendon, Northampton NN7 1JW, United Kingdom
- Phone Number: 075-6112-9207
- Email: wellidog@talktalk.net
- Website: Welling Borough Dog Welfare
- Social Media: Facebook / Twitter
6. Battersea
Last on our list of reputable dog rescues in the UK is Battersea. This registered charity organization focuses on rescuing, rehabilitating, and rehoming abandoned animals like dogs, cats, and kittens.
It is run with the help of donations from generous locals, efforts of devoted volunteers, and foster homes. They also provide training for the dogs in their care and advocate for their welfare by spreading awareness.
Battersea has a lot of material on its website which will be helpful for rescued dog owners and new dog parents. Moreover, the rescue also has a surrender program that allows owners to give up their dogs if they cannot care for them anymore for valid reasons.
Each dog rescued by the Battersea team is given proper medical attention by a certified vet and excellent care, along with behavioral assessment. Closely assessing each dog helps them understand the dog’s character, temperament, and needs, which is valuable when finding the perfect match for them.
To adopt, you can register via email with details about your living situation, preference of breed or size, and other info. The team will review your application and arrange a visit to meet the most suitable dog.
The adoption fee is £250 for puppies, £175 for dogs over six months, and £320 for a pair of dogs. This fee includes a complete veterinary checkup and health screening of the dog, behavioral and medical assessment, microchip, initial vaccination, and ID tag.
The dog will also be spayed or neutered, and bring a collar and lead. You will get a four-week free Pet Plan insurance for your dog, which covers accidents and illness. Along with excellent customer service, the rescue center offers lifetime support to its clients.
Battersea Details:
- Location: Battersea, London, United Kingdom
- Phone Number: 800-001-4444
- Email: info@battersea.org.uk
- Website: Battersea
- Social Media: Facebook / Instagram / YouTube / Twitter / TikTok
Frequently Asked Questions
The largest animal rescue in the United Kingdom is the RSPCA.
Expect to pay between £200 and £350 to adopt a rescue dog. The cost helps fund the organization’s continued operation and the dogs’ medical bills and care.
The Labrador Retriever is consistently the most popular dog in England.
Conclusion for “Best Dog Rescues in the UK”
To sum up everything, we discussed six of the best dog rescues in the UK, and there are many more!
We suggest you carry out detailed research before making the final decision. Be sure to read up about different dog breeds and choose the most suitable for your lifestyle.
Include all the family members in the decision, making the transition easy for the dog and you. Dogs are lovable but sensitive. We wish you the best of luck in finding the perfect lifetime companion soon!
For more guides similar to this list of dog rescues in the UK, check out:
- 4 Best Golden Retriever Rescues in the UK! (2023)
- 4 Best Beagle Rescues in the UK! (2023)
- 10 Best Pomeranian Rescues in the UK! (2023)
Before you bring home a dog in the United Kingdom, learn more by watching “Why Dogs Follow You Everywhere and 14 Other Dog Behaviors Explained” 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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