Adopt a local rescue
dog or cat in Australia & New Zealand.
LocalPetFinder is a local-first rescue platform. 2,159 rescue dogs and cats are available right now from 59 local shelters and foster networks.
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Adopting directly from owners.
These dogs and cats are being rehomed by local families. You get the full history from the person who knows them best, and there's no shelter waitlist.
Dogs
See all dogs β
Harley
Border Collie Β· 4.5 years Β· Sydney
Winnie (boxer x staffy)
Mixed Breed Β· 2 Β· Sydney
Dolly Pixton
Mixed Breed Β· 2 Β· Sydney
Sootie
Poodle Β· 2.5 Β· Coffs Harbour
Popular rescue dog breeds.
Popular rescue cat breeds.
Where we cover.
Rescue listings across 29 cities and growing.
New South Wales
Western Australia
Victoria
New Zealand
- Pets in Auckland β
- Pets in Christchurch β
- Pets in Wellington β
- Pets in Hamilton β
- Pets in Tauranga β
- Pets in Napier β
- Pets in Hastings β
- Pets in Dunedin β
- Pets in Palmerston North β
- Pets in Rotorua β
- Pets in New Plymouth β
- Pets in Nelson β
- Pets in WhangΔrei β
- Pets in Invercargill β
- Pets in Whanganui β
- Pets in Gisborne β
- Pets in TaupΕ β
- Pets in Kerikeri β
- Pets in Thames β
- Pets in WhakatΔne β
Need to rehome your pet?
Life changes. If you can't keep your dog or cat, list them for free. Your listing appears alongside rescue pets and reaches adopters who are actively searching. Your email stays private, and enquiries reach you through the platform.
List your pet
Common questions.
New adopters and rescue partners ask these most.
How does LocalPetFinder work?
We aggregate live adoption listings from real shelters and foster networks across Australia & New Zealand into one searchable place. Each dog and cat profile links through to the rescue, where you apply. We never run breeder ads and never charge adopters.
Is LocalPetFinder free?
Yes, completely free for adopters and for rescues. We aggregate listings from local rescues, and no rescue is charged for inclusion. There are no commissions, no premium tier, and no fee to appear.
How often are the listings updated?
Listings refresh on a regular cadence per rescue, and individual dogs and cats appear here soon after a rescue posts them. Animals that have been adopted drop out of the search results on the same refresh cycle.
Which areas do you cover?
LocalPetFinder covers rescues across New South Wales, Western Australia, Queensland, Victoria and New Zealand, from the major cities and their surrounding regions. We are expanding to more cities and states, and new areas appear here as their rescues come online.
Can I list my own dog or cat for adoption?
Yes. If you need to rehome a pet, the rehoming page lets you submit a free listing that appears alongside rescue listings. Your contact email stays private and enquiries reach you through the platform. A reviewer publishes the listing after checking it.
How is this different from a national pet directory?
Petfinder is a US-based platform that does not cover Australian rescues, and large national directories are built around the biggest organisations, often missing the smaller, foster-based rescues that place a lot of animals. LocalPetFinder is the local-first Australian pet finder: it pulls from those smaller rescues too, refreshed regularly, and owner rehoming sits alongside rescue listings rather than on a separate classifieds site.
Is LocalPetFinder an Australian alternative to Petfinder?
Yes. Petfinder.com is a US-based platform, owned by Purina, that lists American shelters and does not cover Australian rescues, so if you searched for "petfinder Australia" this is the local equivalent you were after. LocalPetFinder is an independent Australian pet finder that aggregates adoptable dogs and cats from Australian rescues and shelters, refreshed regularly, with every listing linking straight to the rescue. It is free to use.