Fees
The adoption fee helps the Bendigo Animal Relief Centre to cover a small part of the cost to make sure each animal is desexed, microchipped, vaccinated, health and behaviour checked to ensure it's ready to start a new and happy life.
Dogs | |
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Senior Dog (7 years +) | $100 |
Dog (6 months - 7 years) | $380 |
Pup (up to 6months) | $420 |
Cats | |
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Senior Cats (7 years +) | $50 |
Adult Cat (6 months - 7 years) | $120 |
Kittens (up to 6 months) | $170 |
The fees for having your pet microchipped are listed below.
All | |
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Impound Animal | $40 |
Private Animal | $40 |
The fees for reclaiming your pet are listed below.
All pets registered with the City of Greater Bendigo can be reclaimed on the same day as impound for no cost if they have a current council registration.
Depending on the length of stay, pets may also incur an additional $50-$75 vaccination fee.
Dogs | |
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1st day | $40 |
Days 2-4 | $100 |
Days 5-8 | $150 |
Cats | |
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1st day | $30 |
Days 2-4 | $80 |
Days 5-8 | $120 |
Pets
From 1 July 2019, everyone who advertises a puppy, kitten, dog or cat for sale or give away in Victoria will need a source number from the Pet Exchange Register.
The BARC Pet Exchange Register source number is BR101544
Please visit our page to find out more about surrendering your pet.
If you find a lost pet and are unable to reunite them with their owner immediately, you must take the pet to BARC or contact the Council's Ranger service (1300 002 642) who will collect the pet from you. This is so the pet can be scanned for a microchip and the owners contacted.
Some vets may also provide this service, it is recommended you call ahead to the vet clinic first before taking them a lost pet.
If you find a pet that you wish to adopt if not reclaimed, BARC will contact you should the animal go up for adoption and will arrange a time for you to complete the regular “Meet & Greet” adoption process prior to the animal being made publicly available. This is to encourage people to bring lost pets to BARC rather than keeping them, which can cause a great deal of stress for the animal and the family who is missing them.
BARC is always seeking applications from Bendigo residents who are willing to foster animals. Fostering involves taking an animal into your home and caring for it just as you would your own, while they undergo required health or behavioural care to prepare them for adoption. You can download the Foster Carer Application form here. If successful, you will be required to sign the Foster Care Agreement which details the conditions of Foster Care. You can read the Foster Care Agreement here.
BARC also offers some animals on a “Foster to Adopt” program for Bendigo residents. Foster to Adopt involves fostering a pet prior to adopting the animal. Animals available through the Foster to Adopt program are usually dogs who need some extra TLC and may not be showing confidence in the shelter. Foster To Adopt allows the dog to express themselves in the home environment so the foster carer can see if they will be a fit with their family.
Please note not all animals are available to foster. Animals which are made available for foster are done so in accordance with the Code of Practice for the Management of Dogs and Cats in Shelters and Pounds.
Cats should be desexed from 2-3 months of age as they can become pregnant from just 4 months of age. Desexing also reduces unwanted behaviours in cats such as excessive vocalisation, fighting, wandering, and spraying urine to mark their territory. BARC has several options available to assist residents of Bendigo who may be eligible for discount cat desexing. Spaces are limited and we encourage you to reach out to us as soon as possible to see if you qualify. There are currently 2 discounted cat desexing programs available.
Bendigo Community Cat Progam
If you would like to take ownership of a community cat, or have recently acquired a cat, you may be able to have them desexed through the Bendigo Community Cat Program. This program offers desexing, vaccination, microchipping, flea and worm treatment, as well as council pet registration from $20. Cats going through the program may be required to spend a short period of time (up to 8 days) housed at BARC while we arrange the required treatment. To see if you are eligible for the discount, please complete the online application here.
National Desexing Network
BARC and the City of Greater Bendigo are working with the National Desexing Network to provide discount cat desexing at several vet clinics around Bendigo, these surgeries are not provided by BARC and the bookings are made direct with the clinic. To see if you are eligible for the discount, please contact the National Desexing Network on 1300 368 992. Prices range from $55 to $65.
We currently do not have programs available to provide discount dog desexing.
BARC
The Bendigo Animal Relief Centre is always on the lookout for caring and loving people to be a part of our family through volunteering or practical student placement. Learn more.