Services and costs

How much does it cost to adopt?

An adoption fee is charged dependent on the type of animal being adopted and the circumstances. This fee helps pay the costs of the animal's care during its stay with us. Please check with individual centres for more information, but here's a guide:

Dog: £70-£100
Cat: £35-£45
Rabbits, guinea pigs and other small domestic animals: £5-£25

Any money given as a donation over and above the standard adoption fee may qualify for Gift Aid.

What care do we provide?

All cats and dogs are vaccinated, microchipped*, wormed, examined by a vet and (if old enough) neutered prior to adoption. If not neutered, the new owners will receive a voucher to assist with the cost of doing so. All rabbits are vaccinated, microchipped and insured, and some may be neutered. Some guinea pigs may also be neutered.

Dogs, cats and rabbits also leave us with six-weeks' FREE , and we recommend adopters continue with insurance before the free cover expires – this helps ensure the pet gets the treatment it needs if it becomes sick or injured.

*Microchipping involves a small chip being injected under the skin, usually between the shoulder blades. The chip carries a code that can be read by scanners. Lost pets can be scanned and the number used to identify the animal's owner from a national database.

All Blue Cross dogs, cats and rabbits are microchipped and the adopters details are recorded on the database so, if an animal becomes lost, it has a very good chance of being returned. We also recommend that dogs have a visible means of identification – a collar and disc are a legal requirement for all pet dogs.