Important Notice: Due to severe weather forecast for the Hunter and Mid North Coast, our Hunter Shelter will be closed to the public until further notice.
Our Hunter Veterinary Hospital will remain open for existing appointments. If you are unable to attend your scheduled appointment, please contact us as soon as possible.
Thank you for your understanding and cooperation. Please stay safe.
Located in Rutherford, the Hunter Shelter offers countless opportunities to learn and volunteer, supporting a network of foster carers and facilitating adoptions. The shelter offers TAFE tours and registered training courses, nurturing compassionate animal advocates with every training and holiday program.
Serving as a haven for animals in need, the Hunter Shelter is also affixed to our Hunter Veterinary Hospital, which offers its services to both the public and the animals in our care. With an on-site pet retail shop, our shelter team also provides the community with essential pet care products, ensuring animals receive the supplies and necessary care they need to thrive.
If you’re looking to start your journey with an adorable animal companion, consider adopting or joining our network of foster carers today. Our dedicated Hunter Shelter staff can introduce you to the animal of your dreams and help you open your heart and home to your future forever friend!
In November 2025, we opened the Equine Adoption Centre to more effectively meet our horses’ needs. With new expanded paddocks, purpose-built stables, and more advanced staff training, our teams are able to more effectively admit, treat, and rehome horses who turn to us for help.
Located at the historic Hunter Shelter, the new additions mark a significant milestone in our ongoing commitment to the horses in our care. The Equine Adoption Centre features two custom-designed stable blocks outfitted with:
Fax: (02) 8331 1935
Monday: Closed
Tuesday: 9:30am – 3:30pm
Wednesday: 9:30am – 3:30pm
Thursday: 9:30am – 3:30pm
Friday: 9:30am – 3:30pm
Saturday: 9:30am – 3:30pm
Sunday: 9:30am – 3:30pm
Our Hunter Shelter facilitates adoptions for a range of animals, including dogs, cats, birds, pocket pets, horses, and more! If you’re planning to meet the animals currently available for adoption, consider reaching out to our staff at (02) 4939 1555.
Please note that although we update our online lists of available animals every day, there is a chance that an animal you are interested in will have found a home prior to your arrival at our shelters.
If you’re planning on visiting the shelter to adopt, don’t forget to bring a photographic identity document complete with your name and current address. If you already have a dog at home, you may need bring them in for a meet and greet to ensure they’ll get along with your newest furry friend.
Every animal in need of desexing, microchipping, parasite treatment, or vaccinations undergoes all necessary procedures prior to adoption. Additionally, RSPCA NSW animals go through a series of comprehensive veterinary checks along with any necessary training, quarantine, and rehabilitation.
As a charity, we use our adoption fees to help cover a portion of these costs, so we can allocate more of our resources to supporting people and pets in need.
RSPCA NSW rehomes a range of different animals, from dogs, cats, and birds to horses, rabbits, and sheep! We believe that all creatures, great and small, can bring joy to our families and homes. Begin your adoption journey today and make an adorable lifelong friend!
By providing temporary homes for our animals, we can ensure they get the care they need until they are ready to be adopted. Join our network of foster carers for an incredibly rewarding experience; with your help, we can change the lives of some of the state’s most vulnerable animals.
We rely on our generous supporters to continue assisting the thousands of animals turning to RSPCA NSW for help. No matter how small your contribution, every gift makes a lifesaving difference for animals in need.
By raising funds and lending a hand to communities and their pets, our volunteers play a pivotal role in our work throughout NSW. If you have a genuine concern for animals and enjoy meeting like-minded people, consider becoming an RSPCA NSW volunteer today!
