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Find your purr-fect match at our animal shelter

We’re offering discounted adoption fees on dogs and cats for a limited time.

Holly is one of the dogs you might meet at the pet shelter. Image Credit: Sutherland Animal Shelter

If you’ve been looking to adopt a dog or cat, we’re cutting our adoption fees in half to help ease the pressure on our animal shelter.

Until April 26, adoption fees will be cut from $399 to $199.50 for dogs and from $263 to $131.50 for cats.

Lord Mayor of Sydney, Clover Moore AO said she hoped the reduced fees would help some four- legged residents find a new home.

“We know that shelters and rehoming organisations are currently in crisis across Sydney. The cost of living, housing affordability and rental restrictions means the number of animals being surrendered has increased dramatically,” the Lord Mayor said.

A playful cat called Toot Sweets at the pet shelter.  Image Credit: Sutherland Animal Shelter
A playful cat called Toot Sweets at the pet shelter. Image Credit: Sutherland Animal Shelter

Since 2009, lost and abandoned pets in the City of Sydney’s area have been looked after at the Sutherland Animal Shelter, in partnership with Sutherland Shire Council.

The facility provides a high level of care for the animals and we aim to rehome or rehabilitate each one.

It’s now at capacity. The number of City of Sydney cats and dogs being kept in our shelter has almost doubled in the last 2 years, up from 44 dogs and 37 cats in 2021 to 84 dogs and 63 cats in 2023.

“We know how important pets are to people’s lives and wellbeing. We’re hoping that by reducing these fees, we can both reduce the cost of pet ownership and help to ease pressure on our shelter,” the Lord Mayor said.

We also run programs to help support pet owners.

These include pet days where social housing residents can access free pet health checks, vaccinations, microchipping, flea and worming treatments, as well as subsidised desexing.

The discount adoption scheme is part of a broader program run by the Sutherland Animal Shelter.

To find out more, email animalshelter@ssc.nsw.gov.au.

Find out about registering your animal and our other companion animal programs.

Here's what to know if you're getting a new pet.

Published 18 April 2024, updated 19 April 2024