Animal rescue centres in France

THERE are many animal sanctuaries across France set up by volunteers who can both help with questions, as well as offer advice on adopting a pet.

But even if you can't take a cat or dog in they will always be on the look out for volunteers to help in the facilities or raise much needed funds.

Below is a selection of centres to give you an idea of the work they do but also some of the cats, dogs and other animals they care for.

Phoenix Animal Rescue, Dordogne
Offers re-homing of abused and abandoned animals, but also works alongside local veterinary practices and has a helpline service.

Poor Paws, Lot
Offers assistance for people looking to adopt an animal, not a refuge but works with the rescue centre in the area to help find willing helpers and owners.

Animal Aid Saint Aubin, Poitou-Charentes
Looks after stray cats and dogs, before trying to help find a new home for them, also offers advice on what you can do if you find an animal.

Asso. for the Protection of Abandoned Animals, Trégrom
Based in Brittany and came into existence after the local shelter closed down. The website offers a wealth of information on the work the centre does and the adoption process.

As always if you know of other centres please feel free to add contact details and a short description in the comments below.

Update (4/5/09) from comments:
The SPA (Sauver Protéger Aimer) does a lot of work in saving animals including adoptions. Also see another animal refuge site is http://refuges.animaux.ws/

Comments

[eric collard]

I now live in France at sourderval 50150 ,I was born in uk and went to Australia in 1964 and used to bread German Shepards,and my last one died two years before I came to France and I miss them very much . So now I am looking for a dog I still love German Shepards ,but also love Border Collies and Spanels . but which ever I get must love Children as I have many friends with children. I have a big house and about two and half acers garden,with farms all around . and older dog would be nice . can you help . I will be going over to uk for three weeks on 10th of August . eric collard

[Craig McGinty]

Hi Eric, many thanks for your message. I would contact a couple of the sites mentioned in the article to see if they can help. They might not be close to where you live in France but I'm sure they will be able to point you in the right direction.
All the best, Craig

[Simon]

Hi Eric
I find myself in the difficult postion of having to leave France for a year for a posting abroad. Until about two hours ago my dog was to go to Scotland to stay with my brother but this has fallen through due to a change in his circumstances.

He is not a thouroughbred but a very handsome Epagneuil cross weighing in at 21kg. 4 Years Old, incredibly good natured and gentle, great with kids, cats and any other livestock you have around.

I am desparate to find him a good home, my ideal would be someone willing to foster him for a year but would consider letting him go to the right people. I don't know if you would be interested in this at all. If you might please e-mail me and I would be happy to discuss further he has a full pet passport so can travel if required. i am due to leave at the beginning of December.

Hope to hear from you

[Craig McGinty]

Hi Simon, just a note to say you can contact Eric directly by clicking on his name at the foot of his message, as this is a link to his email address.
All the best, Craig

[laura McLaren]

I am trying to work or give my time at a local animalcenter but who do i cointact, where do i go... please help me to help some animals

[Craig McGinty]

Hi Laura
I would contact a few of the sites mentioned in the article, even if they are not based close to your home I am sure they will be able to point you in the right direction.
All the best, Craig

[Yingyi Fang]

I'm looking to adopt a kitten however I'm having difficult finding information about how to and where to adopt. I live in St. Genis near the boarder of France and Switzerland. Any help would be appreciated.
pls contact me at yfang3@gmail.com

[Yihui]

Hi,
I am living in Paris, France at the moment and am searching to adopt a puppy although I am encounterering many difficulties. I am looking for a dog that will not shed because I have dander allergies and I also live in an appartment without a yard. So far, I am directing my searches toward the American Hairless Terrier. Please email me if anyone has any information on adoption agencies and such at: yihuizu@yahoo.com

[Drew and Alan Guest]

Hello, my partner and I are looking to 'adopt' a dog, but are having difficulty finding one that needs re-homing. We would like a small, young female dog. We have been lucky enough to have dogs in the past, but sadly our last one died of cancer aged 14 a few months ago, and we now feel we are ready to adopt a new one. We have a nice home and garden, plenty of time, and consider ourselves to be good owners. If anyone can offer us any advice on how to adopt or where to adopt, we would be very greatful! Are there rescue centres here? Can you just turn up at them like in the UK? We are willing to travel.

We live in Deux Sevres (79) but know no one here to ask, its just us!

Thanks in advance

Drew and Alan Guest

[Craig McGinty]

Hi Drew and Alan, I would click on through to the websites mentioned in the piece as a couple aren't too far away from you. Centres are likely to make a few checks as well as ask for a donation.
All the best, Craig

[Drew and Alan Guest]

Thanks Craig! Have emailed the St Aubin Animal Aid, so fingers crossed there! Checks and donation not a problem either. Finding it difficult to locate a female dog, all seem to be males around here..

Thanks for the reply

Drew and Alan

[Craig McGinty]

Hi Drew and Alan, hope the centres are able to help. I should have added you might want to check out another site I help with for rescued greyhounds:
http://www.galgonews.com/
All the best
Craig

[Drew and Alan Guest]

Hi, thought i'd say we are now the proud 'parents' of a two month old Maltese Bichon puppy called Mimzy! Was just about to give up hope on finding a suitable dog, when we got an email from a lady saying she had puppies! so yipee! lol!

Thanks for your website and advice,

Drew, Alan and little Mimzy.

[Craig McGinty]

Hi Drew, Alan and little Mimzy. Hope you are having a great time and plenty of fun.
All the best, Craig

[Doreen]

When I was in Paris last year, I noticed many feral cats living in the cemeteries. Is there an organization that takes care of these cats? (spay/neuter, shots, etc.) I'd like to do a "volunteer vacation" next summer, for a month or so.

[vivienne chandler]

can anyone help me? I have a 12-13 year old black labrador who came to France from England with me. He lives outside and is a good guard dog but would never hurt anyone. My life has radically changed and I will have to put him down if I can't rehome him. He has a few years in him left still. I would be grateful for any suggestions as I am pretty desperate. I live in the Aude.

[Rachel]

I have just relocated to Biarritz in the Aquitaine region of France. I am keen to improve my french and I am also a huge dog lover...(with a lovely Husky cross already). Please can you inform me of any dog homes/shelters around this area as i would like to voluteer.
Thank you
Rachel

[Anjali Bhide]

Hi,
I will be studying in Nantes from Feb 2009- July 2009, and was hoping to volunteer at animal shelters/homes in my free time as I am currently doing the same in Madrid. Any information would

[Craig McGinty]

Hi there, I would click on through to the sites mentioned as they will have contact details of centres both close to them and further away.
All the best, Craig

[karen spragg]

Hi,
I am looking into moving to France with the intention of setting up an animal rescue centre. Does anybody know of any existing existing centres for sale, or land for sale which would fulfill the function?

Karen

[Sandy]

living near Béziers, Hérault. an abandoned cat stalks our residence & is becoming a pest. any rescue/shelter/rehoming centres near here?

[rob willis]

hi i live at moment in england and am coming ti travel europe from september on and am looking for a conpanyon like a jackrussel or such like to share my trip with and to then surply a home for and to look after for rest of life thank you mr willis

[bader al qatami]

hi
i am a student in french cuisine in paris i am kuwaiti 28 years old recently i have had my dog stolen and i was so attached to him that i stopped my studies to look for him and there was no use anyhow i am back on track studying now and i am looking to adopt a dog any breed but has to be not tooo big as i live in an appartment i had a chowchow of 1 year and a half old stolen many thanks contact me on ttrestreschic@gmail.com thanks merci

[Craig McGinty]

It is worth clicking on through to the sites mentioned as they will have contact details of centres both close to them and further away.
All the best, Craig

[Amy]

Are there any sancturies in France that have farmed animals for adoption? I am vegan and have a small amount of land available in France.

[jen.]

Hi - moving to Strasbourg in a couple of months and won't be bringing my cat at first. Would love to foster cat or dog, but will most likely live in small apartment. Love all breeds.

[Coral Luke]

http://www.spa.asso.fr/

The SPA (Sauver Protéger Aimer) does a lot of work in saving animals including adoptions.

If you click on adoptions you can see a map of France and where SPA centres are. We adopted our latest kitten from one of the centres and when we got her we were given vouchers for food at a nearby garden centre which sells pet food. They also take cats and dogs for boarding but they have to be over a year old and be fully vaccinated. We received a vaccination record for Fleur and the first check up and top up vaccination was free.

[Coral Luke]

Another animal refuge site is http://refuges.animaux.ws/

[Craig McGinty]

Hi Coral, many thanks for those additional sites, I've updated the piece with links to them.
All the best, Craig

[Paula]

My husband and I live in Boulogne. We have recently suffered the loss of our beloved poodle, Dharma.
We are seeking a miniature poodle pup, with a preference for female and black. Others considered, of course.
Please refer us to breeders in France or other methods of obtaining a healthy,sweet poodle puppy.
Many thanks ahead,
Paula

[KC]

I need to find a caring home for my dog!!
If you are interested in adopting him please email me ASAP.
He is 1 1/2 years old, weighs 5 kilos, wonderful and sweet dog (pekingese) named Roofus. He is very friendly and loving...total stud muffin!

he has a passport and microchip.

[Kate H]

Hey :)
Just wondering if there are any rescue centres in or around Paris, preferably reasonably close to Versailles.
Thanks if you can help.

[Kate H]

ok, forget that :) I just found the spa site! :)

[Karen Laffar]

I have two dear little spaniels who need a kind loving home. They are very effectionate, good natured and fantastic with children. The male is 5 and female just 1. It is through no fault of their own that they need a new home. They are in the Languedoc Rousillion but could travel within reason. They are vaccinated, chipped, passported and neuteured. If you are able to give them a home together please contact me. Thank you.

[Jennifer]

I am looking for any opportunity to work abroad with animals. Especially, in France. I love animals, and worked with both domestic and exotic. I used to work with Ringling Bros. in the USA. Anyone with suggestions? Help!

[Frankie]

hi. i used to live in germany and had 2 dogs there. one day on a holiday to france our dogs went missing. either wandered off or stolen. this was around may time 2009. do you have any ideas where i can attempt to find them. i have worn out all the resources i have. i just hope they are well. i read that animals found wandering are often destroyed in dog pounds.

[Suzanne Cuthbert]

I wonder if you can help. I am retiring from teaching in June next year and am looking for a place to live near limoges. Do you know of a dog rescue centre near there? I've had daschie X s and daschies before but am thinking that cavalier king charles (X?) would be a good choice for us. Are there any breed rescue centres at all near where we will be? I wish we were in a position to help Karen Laffar (posted above). Her dogs sound perfect. Thanks Suzanne

[Craig McGinty]

Hi Suzanne, I'd click on a few of the links in the piece to check out the locations of centres. The SPA site fr example provides details across France.
All the best, Craig

[cynthia]

your Xmas french bulldog for adoption

[faith]

Hi All,

I am based in Pas de Calais (62) about half an hour from Calais. We have a two / three year old Jack russel terrier that needs to be rehomed. She is a spayed, microchipped, with pet passport and up to date rabies vaccination, her yearly vacinations for parvo, hep etc are unfortunately out of date we missed the last vacc when we moved to france.

She is a black and white Parsons Jack Russell (the long legged type) she is smooth coat and does not have a thick rough coat, she is [B]not[/B] a dog to live outdoors we are looking for a loving family / couple home not an outdoor working home please. no very young children as she has snapped at my two year old son whilst eating.

I have loads more info and photos if you want them, just contact me.

[Kate Divito]

Hi Faith
We also live in 62. Do you have any photos of your Jack Russell. We are a retired couple living in a fermette with some land. Does she like being out of doors and good walks etc?

[sharon brotherton]

hi all, i lost my little yorkie in november 2009 and miss him terribly, im looking for either a puppy or upto a 3 year old yorkie or chihuahua or maltese, papillon, something along these lines, if anyone near to area 61 near alencon, gace, vimoutiers way can help me I would be very grateful, thankyou to all reading this and good luck to yourselves, if looking like me.

[Rhiannon]

Hi,
If anyone is looking to re-home a dog or cat in the Carcassonne area please contact us at the SPA. We have lots of lovely dogs and cats that are desperate for good homes!
We are having an open day next weekend,(8 and 9th May from 1400-1800) when we are hoping to find homes for some of our residents. The refuge is over full, and if we are unable to rehome some dogs, we will have to lose some of them by other means, which is totally heartbreaking. Once a dog has been there for a certain length of time without having been adopted, the view seems to be that he is a hopeless case and that he should make room for dogs who have a greater chance of finding a new family. That is hard to accept, as on many occasions it is merely bad luck. Some dogs are just not as forthcoming as others and do not get noticed, others get ignored because people assume that they are un-homeable. However the other volunteers and I make great efforts to keep the animals socialised, and even after several years at the SPA, our experience is that the dogs adapt quickly to family life. You have to remember that by far the majority of them were family pets to begin with, who were abandoned to due changes in circumstances. They quickly get back into a routine with their new owners and reward the love they are given a thousand-fold. It is heartbreaking to see them being put down.

We have one little chap, Snoop, who was taken away from his owner, a young girl, who was mistreating him. He has been with us ever since, and no one has chosen him. He will not be allowed to stay much and he has so much love to give. He is now 3 years old, and is in the prime of life, yet he spends all his days in a small kennel, dreaming of the walks he could go on and of a family who will love him.
He gets on with other dogs of both sexes and is fine with children. Can anyone offer him or one of his doggy friends a home? Not all of them are on the website, but it will give you an idea of who is there.....http://spacarcassonne.e-monsite.com

Thanks

[Jodie mancer]

Hi
We are working hard to control the wild cats in our area by trapping and spaying and rehoming kittens when they do come along. I currently have 2 gorgeous little kitties. They have been hand reared since 4 weeks old and are already turning out to be the most fabulous affectionate pets. Please if you could offer these little guys a home (together would be best) then please contact me. We live in Burgundy but I would be happy to bring them a considerable distance for a permantant, loving, kind home.
Thanks
Jodie

[Laura McDonald]

Hi there wonderful dog friends in France,
I have a desperate plea to see if a BORDER COLLIE has been handed in to a dog home in Calais or near by around the 5th May 2010 as my sister lost her puppy and is desperate to know if she is OK.
The dog apparently didn't have a collar but her name was Bevvy. She would be about 3/4 years old.
Help me if you know anything about her.
Thanks,
Laura

[Tomas]

hello good people,we were traveling from Lithuania to Ireland with a dog name Deira,everything was great till we arived in france.We couldnt take our dog to ireland coz of lithuanian veterinar foult.We had to leave our dog in france caring by a truck driver,bcz we asked to take her back to Lithuania.The truck driver left the dog as we received a call, that he taked the monney and he left our dog in the streets on france.Now we cant take her back from france,coz of ppl who are working in pet stations they dont understand us that we cant go in that city to take our dog back we are to poor ppl,we have woken whole europe to help us now good ppl are helping us to take our dog back coz its only happyness it left for us :(((we are praying.

[linda kernott]

Hi, can anyone help me, I am looking for someone to foster my very lovable black lab cross and her best friend (cat)for 6 months while they get their pet passports. I am returning from Bodrum in Turkey to the UK, and as Turkey is not in the EU they would have to go through the distress of quarantine as Turkey is not in the Pet Passport scheme.
Many Thanks

[Katherine Ainsworth]

Hi,

I live in Paris, but am vacationing with my parents in the Loir-et-Cher area (about 20 mn from Vendome). Since being here, we've met a wonderful, sweet kitten (about 8 months old, I would guess) and our next door neighbor said she's the "chat du village." But the fact that she's constantly at our rented house, looking for food but also for a good rubbing, makes me think she'd be better off adopted by someone.

Unfortunately, I cannot adopt her, as I already have my two cats from the US waiting to rejoin me here in a few months. And in a tiny studio with my boyfriend, that wouldn't work.

So, I'm looking for some advice. Is there somewhere I can take her? We leave in 4 days, so any quick thoughts would be great.

Many thanks,
Katherine