Adoption Policy

RSPCA Animal Care Centres around Tasmania have an extensive adoption program for pets including puppies, kittens, dogs, cats, rabbits, ferrets and guinea pigs. 

We are looking for permanent, responsible homes for all the animals we are looking after. Hundreds of animals arrive at our Animal Care Centres each year needing care. Animals are often surrendered to RSPCA because they can no longer be looked after, and they are perfectly healthy and sociable animals. From time to time we have special needs animals and their details can be found on this website. 

Please consider the time and money required in owning a pet - owning a pet is a wonderful experience, but it is a lifetime commitment. 

To ensure that the animals we are re-homing will have a safe and secure future we have specific adoption policies, please read carefully: 

• Animals are only adopted to people over the age of 18.
• All animals leaving the shelter will be de-sexed prior to going to their new home.
• All animals receive a free health examination on leaving the RSPCA. If you find a medical problem we did not detect or if one develops during the first two weeks that you have the animal, we will treat this medical problem at our clinic, free of charge. If we determine that treatment is not a viable solution, you will be offered another animal or a full refund.
• While we hope your pet selection process is successful and permanent, we do offer a fourteen-day period to ascertain acknowledged behavioural abnormalities during which time depending on the problem a refund may be available. During this period you may surrender the pet for any reason and no charge will apply to the surrender.
• If you change your mind, we will gladly take the animal back, however no refund of any adoption fee will be offered. We may also refuse to adopt another animal to you in the coming 12 months.
• If, at any time, you can no longer care for your pet you should return the pet to the RSPCA Animal Care Centre nearest you. A surrender fee would be applicable in this instance to assist with meeting the costs of care.
• The RSPCA reserves the right to refuse any application for adoption.
• If you are renting your current premises (Government Housing excluded) you may be required to provide written approval from your landlord/body corporate stating that you have permission to keep pets on the premises.