Our rescued pet adoption process
Our experienced and compassionate animal welfare officers care for the shelter animals as if they are their own. Supporting them are our incredible onsite volunteers who provide enrichment, exercise, plenty of love and affection and ensure enclosures are kept clean.
Adopting a rescued pet is an exciting and meaningful decision, and we’re here to guide you through every step. Our goal is to make the process clear, supportive and focused on finding the right match for both you and your future companion.
Lort Smith adoption process
When you adopt from Lort Smith, you’re giving an animal a second chance at a safe and loving home. Our adoption process is designed to help you understand each animal’s unique needs and ensure they are suited to your lifestyle, environment and preferences. Whether you’re adopting a rescue dog, cat or small animal, our team is here to assist with advice, behaviour guidance and personalised support.
What to expect at each step
1. Browse available animals
Visit our adoption pages to learn more about dogs, cats and small animals currently seeking homes. Each profile includes age, personality traits, medical notes and any special requirements.
2. Submit an adoption enquiry
Once you’ve found an animal you’re interested in, you can complete an online enquiry form on our website. This helps us understand your home environment, experience with pets and what you’re looking for in a companion. We also accept walk-ins to our Adoption Centre, where you can view and learn about our available animals.
3. Meet-and-greet appointment
If you would like to come and meet one of our animals to get to know them a bit more, you can book a meet and greet. This appointment allows you to interact with the animal, ask questions and learn about any behaviour or medical needs the pet may have from our team.
4. Finalising the adoption
When the match is confirmed, we’ll guide you through the paperwork, adoption fee and any final instructions regarding your pet’s care, diet and settling-in period.
5. Bringing your new pet home
You’ll receive take-home information and advice to help your new companion transition smoothly into their environment. Our team remains available for post-adoption support.
Required documents and information
To help us match you with the right animal, please bring or prepare:
- A valid photo ID
- Information about your household, family members and other pets
- Details about your daily routine, work schedule and lifestyle
Providing this information ensures we can support you in choosing an animal whose needs align with your home and circumstances.
Tips for a smooth transition
- Prepare a safe, quiet space where your new pet can rest and feel secure as they adjust.
- Keep the first few days calm and consistent – avoid overwhelming them with visitors or loud activities.
- Stick to their current diet for at least the first week to prevent stomach upsets.
- Set up routines early, including feeding times, toilet breaks, play sessions and rest periods.
- Be patient – rescued pets may take time to build confidence, learn new habits or settle into family life.
- Use enrichment and training to support mental stimulation and positive behaviour.
Post-adoption advice and support
Your relationship with Lort Smith continues long after adoption. We’re here to help with:
- Behaviour advice and guidance
- Resources on training, socialisation and settling-in
- Information about veterinary care, vaccinations and parasite prevention
- Support for unexpected challenges during your pet’s adjustment period
- Recommendations for further learning through our online behaviour and care articles
If questions arise after adoption, whether in the first few days or months later, our team is always happy to assist.
Adopting an animal is a rewarding experience that will last a lifetime. But before you adopt a pet please take some time to consider the commitment you are about to make. Sometimes the excitement of getting a new pet can overshadow factors that should be considered before adoption.
The Rent with Pets website provides information, advice and resources to support tenants and landlords to be responsible pet owner tenants and welcoming landlords, and encourage pet friendly rental laws.
Why should you consider adopting a pet instead of buying one? Here are the top five reasons we think you should adopt.
Over the last 80 years we have rehomed over 200,000 pets into loving new homes. All animals available for adoption have been desexed, vaccinated, microchipped and health checked.
As an animal welfare organisation, we take the adoption process very seriously and for our staff it is like adopting out a member of the family. We will take time to ensure the animal suits your needs, but that you also suit the needs of the animal.
To ensure the perfect match we need to know your past history of pet ownership, whether you have other pets and how you see a new pet being part of your life. This will give you and your adopted pet the best chance of a long and happy life together.
The entire adoption process can take up to 90 minutes. This will include spending time with the animal, introducing them to an existing pet if applicable, and completing an informal interview with an animal welfare officer. Please make sure that you allow enough time for this process.
We charge adoption fees because we are a not-for-profit organisation. Adoption fees go towards caring for the animals whilst in the Adoption Centre as well as desexing, microchipping and parasite protection. In some cases, animals require major surgery and foster care before they can be adopted.
Adopting an animal from us costs a lot less than buying an animal from a breeder or pet store and, in fact, many other animal shelters.
