Devon: Exeter rehoming, advice and behaviour unit

Location Details

Our Exeter rehoming, advice and behaviour unit supports pets and people across the south west. We’re here to help people through any challenges they might have as owners, so that their pets get the best care. And if owners are no longer able to look after their pet, we find them loving new homes. 

We offer rehoming, advice and behaviour services for the community and are specially placed in areas that need our help. While we don't have facilities to care for pets on site, we work with partner charities and our network of volunteers so that we can continue to be there for the pets and people that need us.

Jump to how to get pet food from our pet food bank.

Jump to how to donate to our pet food bank.

Meet our team

Looking for a pet?

If you are looking for a pet please read about our rehoming process and view our pets looking for new homes.

Our Rehoming Team is dedicated to finding the right pet for you. If you are interested in a pet on our website please complete a rehoming form in the first instance, you can find this on the pet’s profile page. So we can understand the type of pet you are looking for please do call us first if you would like to arrange a visit.

Our Home Direct Scheme

Our Home Direct Scheme is for dogs, cats, rabbits and other small pets whose owners can sadly no longer keep them but don’t need to find them a new home straight away. Pets stay in their existing home until a new owner is found for them. All pets go through our careful assessment and matching process.

Short-term volunteer foster caring

Become a volunteer short term foster carer for pets at Blue Cross and help improve the welfare of the animals in our care. As a volunteer foster carer you will look after needy animals in your own home while they are recuperating from operations or illness, or young kittens or puppies until they are able to find a permanent new home. 

Find volunteering opportunities 

Amazon Wish List

Buy our pets a treat or purchase something to help our centre be the best it can be.

Pet food bank

No one should have to choose between feeding themselves and feeding their pet. We collect donations of pet food and other items for our pet food bank here.

If you're struggling to afford food for your dog, cat, or small pet, we’re here for you and will be happy to welcome you to our Blue Cross pet food bank.

How to get pet food

Hard times can happen to anyone, and with pets in the family there are more bowls to fill when money is tight. Anyone struggling to feed their pets can visit our pet food banks and collect the food they need. We won’t ask you for a voucher or proof of need and our team will welcome you without judgement.

Please call or email us to arrange a time to come and collect the pet food you need. Calling or emailing us in advance means we can get a package ready for when you arrive.

Our food bank supports dogs, cats, chinchillas, degus, ferrets, gerbils, guinea pigs, hamsters, mice, rabbits and rats, but we rely on donations so we can’t guarantee we’ll have stock for all pets at all times. Calling ahead means you can check our stock before coming down.

We can give you pet food and other items such as bedding and cat litter.

We may not have your pet’s usual food brand or type in stock when you need our help. We’ve put together some useful tips on feeding your pet in a crisis situation to help you manage this.

Please read our frequently asked questions for more information about using our pet food bank.

As well as running our own pet food bank on our site, we’ve also partnered with the food banks below so they can give out the pet food, bedding and other items we are donated.

For details of our partner food banks’ opening times, contact details and more information, please click the links below to be taken to their own website. Please note you may need a referral from a frontline professional, Citizens Advice, or a voucher to use our partners’ food banks. Blue Cross is unable to provide a referral.

How to donate pet food

We accept donations for our pet food bank here at any time between 11.00am and 4.00pm, except Wednesdays. Please visit reception when you arrive and your items will be gratefully received. Each and every donation will help keep pets with their loving families.

You can also support us by donating funds to our pet food bank appeal.

The pets helped by our pet food banks are:

  • cats
  • chinchillas
  • degus
  • dogs
  • ferrets
  • gerbils
  • guinea pigs
  • hamsters
  • mice
  • rabbits
  • rats

What we can accept:

  • Wet or dry pet food in unopened tins, pouches or packets, including special diets eg senior, puppy, kitten
  • Hay, straw and substrate for rabbits, guinea pigs and other small pets
  • Litter
  • Bedding

Sorry, but we’re unable to accept donations of the following:

  • Dry pet food that’s over three months past its best before date
  • Wet pet food that’s over three years past its best before date
  • Open packets of food or litter where the contents have been exposed to the air. Open boxes containing individual pouches or tins are accepted as long as the pouches or tins are unopened.
  • Food with damaged packaging, including dented tins, holes in sacks, grease spots on bags
  • Raw food
  • Food for humans
  • Food or items for horses. We hope to be able to collect these soon.

Closed for public walk-in

  • Saturday 3 February 2024
  • Saturday 24 February 2024
  • Sunday 25 February 2024 
  • Saturday 9 March 2024
  • Sunday 10 March 2024