Shepparton Animal Shelter

The Shepparton Animal Shelter is Council owned and operated and cares for over 2,000 lost and surrendered animals per year, including cats, dogs, guinea pigs, rabbits, ferrets, and various livestock including sheep, pigs, horses, poultry and cattle.

Animals are cared for at the Shepparton Animal Shelter while Council staff attempt to find their owners. If no owner can be found, animals are assessed for their health and temperament, and then made available for adoption.

Location

125 Wanganui Road, Shepparton

Phone

(03) 5832 9700

Open Hours

The Shepparton Animal Shelter is currently at capacity with a large number of cats and kittens, and will be unable to accept stray or trapped cats from 10 December 2024 until 05 January 2025.

Please do not trap stray cats during this time. If you have a sick or inured stray cat at your property, please contact Council via telephone 5832 9700.

The shelter will continue to accept surrendered animals, so if you wish to surrender your animal to Council, please contact the shelter to make an appointment.

Please note: The Shepparton Animal Shelter closes at midday on Tuesday 24 December 2024 and will reopen at 10am on Thursday 2 January 2025.

For any animal emergency, please contact Council's After Hours Animal Management service on 03 5832 9700.

During this period, staff will be working to care for the animals and where possible, reunite lost animals with their owners via appointments. If you wish to report your lost animal or believe your animal may be at the shelter, please contact Council via the phone number above and follow the prompts to Council's After Hours Animal Management service.

If you wish to apply to adopt an animal, please submit your Adoption Application online and staff will review applications after 2 January 2025.

  • Drop in a lost animal from 8.15am to 4.30pm, Monday to Friday
  • Animal Adoptions - By appointment only
  • Animal Reclaims - By appointment only
  • Animal Surrender - Appointment preferred
  • CLOSED - Saturday / Sunday and Public Holidays

Animal Shelter staff are busy caring for the animals at the shelter, so if you wish to visit to search for your lost pet or meet an animal available for adoption, please contact the Animal Shelter to make an appointment.

Lost or Missing Animals

If your pet is lost, please call the Shepparton Animal Shelter to report your animal missing. You are also welcome to attend the Shepparton Animal Shelter during opening hours.

Click here to see if your pet is currently in our Shelter.

Pets for Adoption

Learn about the adoption process

See pets currently available for adoption

Shelter Fees

Fees are current for 1 July 2024 - 30 June 2025.

Animal Adoption Fees

  • Dogs
    • Dog under 6 months (small breed, 1-10kg): $600
    • Dog under 6 months (large breed, 10kg+): $500
    • Dog 6 months - 7 years: $380
    • Dog 7+ years: $100
  • Cats
    • Kittens under 6 months: $175
    • Kittens 6-12 months: $150
    • Cats 1-7 years: $100
    • Cats 7+ years: $50
  • Livestock
  • Small animals
    • E.g. rabbits, guinea pigs, ferrets: $20

Impound Release Fees

  • Cats and Dogs
    • If registered when impounded
      • Release fee (first visit): FREE - *Conditions apply
      • Release fee (second visit): $90
      • Release fee (second visit, pensioner): $45
      • Release fee (third or subsequent visit): $120
      • Release fee (third or subsequent visit, pensioner): $60
      • Daily sustenance fee (after first full day): $32
    • If unregistered when impounded
      • Release fee: $120
      • Release fee (pensioner): $60
      • Daily sustenance fee (after first full day): $32
  • Cattle
    • Release fee per animal: $105
    • Daily sustenance fee per animal: $49
    • Transport: To be advised
  • Horses
    • Release fee per animal: $260
    • Daily sustenance fee per animal: $49
    • Transport: To be advised
  • Medium animals (sheep, goats, pigs etc)
    • Release fee: Free
    • Daily sustenance fee per animal: $22
    • Transport: To be advised

* Conditions for free release fee (cats and dogs)

Free release may be granted as a reward to responsible pet owners. To be eligible:

  • the owner must have registered the animal each year since adopting or purchasing the animal;
  • it is the first time the animal has been found wandering at large or not securely confined;
  • the circumstances of the animals impounding was unavoidable or unforeseeable; and
  • the animal and/or the owner has no history with Council's Animal Management department for any animal management issues.

Euthanasia

The Shepparton Animal Shelter accepts an animal surrendered for euthanasia where the owner is unable to arrange for a veterinarian to euthanase the animal. The animal may have attacked a person or may have an injury or illness where the animal is in pain. To assist with the costs of euthanasia by a veterinarian, the Shepparton Animal Shelter requests a donation of $50 per animal when possible. If you wish to surrender your animal to the Shepparton Animal Shelter, please contact us via telephone on (03) 5832 9700 to discuss your situation.

Surrendering Animals

The Shepparton Animal Shelter cares for those animals in the municipality where the owner is unable or unwilling to care for their pet. To assist with the costs of caring for a surrendered animal, the Shepparton Animal Shelter requests a donation when possible.

However, even if you are unable to make a donation, we will accept a surrendered animal for any reason from within our municipality. If you wish to surrender your animal to the Shepparton Animal Shelter, please contact us via telephone on (03) 5832 9700.

Domestic Animals Act 1994 and Impounding of Livestock Act 1994

Under state law, the Domestic Animals Act 1994 and the Impounding of Livestock Act 1994, there are a number of offences that an owner may commit regarding their dog, cat or livestock. Offences may relate to Council registration, animals wandering or animals' behaviour. If an offence has been committed, infringement notices and/or court action may be commenced.

Registration – Cats and Dogs

See our Animal Registrations page for fees and charges.

Cat Trap Hire

See our Nuisance Cats page for fees and charges.

Impounded Vehicle Release Fees

See our Impounded Vehicles page for fees and charges.

Become an Animal Foster Carer

Some of the animals that enter the Shepparton Animal Shelter require a little bit of extra love and help before they can be adopted into their forever homes.

Click here to learn about becoming an animal foster carer.

Work Experience

If you're currently completing a TAFE or University qualification with animals and require placement in an animal shelter environment, you can apply for a work experience placement at Shepparton Animal Shelter.

Click here to learn more about work experience at Shepparton Animal Shelter.

Statistics

Click here to see statistics about the Shepparton Animal Shelter's rehousing and euthanasia rates.