About you
Please think carefully before you adopt:
   An animal is a living creature, which will be dependent on you for the rest of its life.
   Dogs and cats can live well into their teens.
   Veterinary care is expensive.
   Is your life style suitable for the animal?

Our Animals - General
Animals come into our care for a variety of reasons and some have had traumatic experiences. Many animals happily adapt to their new life with a different owner yet some need extra care and understanding. Occasionally it takes a while for an animal to ‘settle in’ so sometimes new owners need to be prepared to put in that bit of extra work.
The RSPCA Suffolk East Coast Branch re-homing guidelines will be explained in detail when you speak to our Rehoming Co-ordinator.  Before you can adopt an animal one of our Home Visitors will visit you in your home to discuss your responsibilities and the needs of your pet. For dogs this happens after you have seen and selected your companion and for cats it occurs before you view any cats.  Please note that we do not re-home dogs to people that work full time as we do not believe this is a suitable environment for the dogs that come into our care. We also will not rehome dogs to households with children under the age of 6, or kittens to households with children under 4 as we believe this is to the benefit of both the animal and the child.
Potential adopters must meet the animal they intend to offer a home to prior to adoption.  The branch will not rehome any animal unseen by the adopter.  This is to ensure a suitable match is made and both parties "get on well together".
All our cats and dogs are de-flead and wormed when they come to us and they will, so far as possible, be vaccinated, neutered and microchipped before adoption.  If any of these has not been completed a voucher will be given in order for the new owner to complete these very necessary precautions.
Rabbits, guinea pigs and other small animals are checked by a vet as required and receive appropriate treatment before they are rehomed.

Dogs
Most dogs live well into their mid teens and therefore although many people view dogs of 6/7 as being old, they are in fact only middle-aged and still have potentially half their life-span remaining. Such dogs usually have the benefits of being house-trained and settled in their ways, which can be a bonus. New owners can still enjoy 6/7 or more years with their newfound friend. Remember whatever the age of a dog there are no guarantees as to their life-expectancy.
We recommend that potential adopters spend time with their prospective new pet, so that each can get to know the other better and to start to build a bond.  This helps to confirm or otherwise your suitability to one another. Remember you will be taking your dog to your home, which is well known to you, but your dog will be being taken out of their usual surroundings to a place where everything is strange. They need some continuity to help them adapt quicker to their new surroundings.
In the majority of cases dogs learn quickly, provided that they are given consistent messages/training. It is we the owners who find it difficult to convey consistent signals to our dogs, which leads to confusion on their part and erratic behaviour. With patience and understanding it is possible to build a long and lasting friendship with your "best friend".
When you adopt a dog we ask for a minimum donation of £80, which goes some way towards its vet fees and boarding during the time its with us.

Cats
Most cats live well into their mid teens and therefore although many people view cats of 8/9 as being old, they are in fact only middle-aged and still have potentially half their life-span remaining. Such cats usually have the benefits of being litter trained and settled in their ways, which can be a bonus. New owners can still enjoy many more years with their newfound friend.  Remember whatever the age of a cat there are no guarantees as to their life-expectancy.
When your cat comes to your home it should be kept indoors for 3 weeks so that it will fully understand where “home” is when you let it out.  This period also allows you to get to know your new charge and understand its ways.
When you adopt a cat we ask for a minimum donation of £30, which goes some way towards its vet fees and boarding during the time its with us.

Rabbits
Rabbits are social animals which should not be kept alone so we only rehome them in pairs, or singly to live with another rabbit.  Our rabbits are neutered and vaccinated against myxamatosis.
When you adopt a rabbit we ask for a minimum donation of £10, which goes some way towards its vet fees and boarding during the time its with us.

Small animals
Guinea pigs, hamsters and gerbils etc.
When you adopt a small furry you will be asked to make a suitable donation.

Ready to Adopt?
Click on the links to the right to see some of our animals needing homes at this time.

Our Rehoming staff are present in the Office at
136 London Road North, Lowestoft, NR32 1HB 
Tel 01502 566623
On Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays between 12 and 4 

To view our animals currently seeking new homes please click on the pictures below:-

    Dogs             Cats


    Rabbits       Others