The Wingecarribee Animal Shelter is located at 1 Bowman Rd, Moss Vale.
Opening Hours
Monday to Friday: By Appointment Only (between 10.00 am – 4.00 pm)
Saturday: By Appointment Only (between 10.00 am – 12.00 pm)
Sunday: Closed
Public Holidays: Closed
Entry to the shelter is by appointment only and only for genuine enquiries about adopting cats or dogs.
All visitors, including volunteers, must report to the shelter office on arrival.
Please contact the Shelter Team on 1300 680 888 if you'd like to discuss the animal surrender process or arrange an appointment.
Important: Animal surrenders are by appointment only.
Adopt a pet from the Animal Shelter
The Wingecarribee Animal Shelter has cats and dogs available for adoption. You can adopt other animals on the Pet Rescue website.
Animals available for adoption
Announcement: Thank you for your interest in volunteering with the Wingecarribee Animal Shelter. Due to an influx of volunteer applications, we are currently at capacity and are unable to accept new volunteer applications at this time. We encourage you to check back on this page for updates on when applications reopen.
The animal shelter team receives support from a large number of committed volunteers, including dog walkers and cat cuddlers.
We are currently unable to accept new volunteers.
Some people volunteer their time at the shelter weekly to walk the dogs or help socialise the cats and kittens, while others offer their time simply when they can.
Volunteer dog walking is available on most public holidays but must be pre-arranged with shelter staff. Unfortunately, cat cuddling is not available on public holidays.
To volunteer, you must be at least 16 years old. If under the age of 18, you must be accompanied by an adult.
You will be asked to show your ID on the first day of your induction as a volunteer. Before you can volunteer, you will need to be inducted and complete an online application form. Please call the Animal Shelter on 02 4868 1520 to book an appointment if you'd like to become a volunteer.
Volunteer dog walkers
Once you've been inducted as a volunteer dog walker, you can attend the shelter 7 days a week, except on days the shelter is closed to the public.
Dog walks take place from Monday to Sunday from 8:30 am and finish at 9:30 am - 10.00 am, depending on the number of dogs that need to be walked and the number of volunteers available on the day.
The shelter staff provides all volunteer dog walkers with vests, dog treats, harnesses, dog toys, and leads.
Volunteer cat cuddlers
Cat cuddling takes place in the cattery from 10:30 am to 3 pm Monday to Friday and 10 am to 12 pm on Saturday and Sunday, except on public holidays or days the shelter is closed to the public.
Cat cuddling helps to socialise kittens and cats, which is important to help the cats learn to be comfortable with new people and to become more adoptable as a result.
Cat treats and toys are available for cat cuddling volunteers to use while in the cattery.
Animal surrenders are by appointment only. If you choose to surrender your pet to the Wingecarribee Animal Shelter, you will be required to pay a fee and sign a form relinquishing ownership. Once this is completed, your pet is no longer considered yours and is not considered a lost animal. Surrendered pets do not have a legally required holding time and can be rescued, adopted or euthanised at any time.
You can complete our online Animal Surrender Form to apply to surrender a cat or a dog to the Wingecarribee Animal Shelter. Please note submitting the Animal Surrender Form does not guarantee the Shelter will accept the animal.
Before you start
Before you start
This form is an application to surrender a dog or cat to the Wingecarribee Animal Shelter.
Before you begin, please make sure you:
- Are the legal owner of the animal to surrender the animal.
- Have all relevant ownership and animal records available.
- Have your animal's microchip number, if applicable.
- Have vaccination and desexing records available, where applicable.
- Have information about your animal's health, behaviour, temperament and history available.
- Are prepared to provide honest and complete information about your animal, including any behavioural or health concerns.
- Have electronic copies or photographs of relevant documents ready to upload.
Important information
A separate application is required for each animal you wish to surrender.
If you are not the registered owner, you will need to provide either a completed Statutory Declaration or C3A Change of Ownership form before your application can be processed.
If your application is approved, a surrender fee will apply. The fee is payable by card when your animal arrives at the Shelter and is non-refundable and non-negotiable.
Please ensure you have attached all required supporting documents before submitting your application.
Find out more and submit an Animal Surrender Form
What happens next
What happens next
Our Animal Shelter team will review your application and contact you within 7 - 10 business days. If further information is required, a member of the Animal Shelter team may contact you using the details provided in your application.
Important note: Submitting this application does not mean your animal has been accepted for surrender.
If your application progresses, the Animal Shelter team will contact you to arrange a date and time for the behavioural assessment and discuss the next steps.
Animal surrender frequently asked questions
Can I surrender my dog or cat to the Wingecarribee Animal Shelter?
You can submit an application to surrender your dog or cat. All surrender requests are assessed by the Animal Shelter, and submitting an application does not guarantee that the Animal Shelter can accept your animal.
Do I need to complete a form?
Yes. You need to complete an Animal Surrender Application and provide as much information as possible about your animal, including their health, behaviour and history.
Do I need to be the owner of the animal to surrender it?
Yes. You must be the legal owner to surrender the animal. If you are not the registered owner, additional
documentation may be required.
You will need to provide either;
Can I surrender more that one animal?
Yes. You can surrender more than one animal.A separate application MUST be completed for each animal you wish to surrender.
What information do I need before I start the animal surrender form?
It is helpful to have your animal's microchip number, vaccination and veterinary records, ownership information and details about their health, behaviour and history available before starting the form.
Do I need to provide veterinary records?
Yes, where available. Providing relevant veterinary and vaccination records helps the Shelter understand your animal's health and care needs.
What if I don't have all my animal's records?
Provide as much information as you have. If records are unavailable, explain this in the relevant section of the form.
What happens after I submit the Animal Surrender form?
Once you have submitted this form, our Animal Shelter team will review your application and contact you within 7 - 10 business days. If further information is required, a member of the Animal Shelter team may contact you using the details provided in your application.
Important note: Submitting this application does not mean your animal has been accepted for surrender.
If your application progresses, the Animal Shelter team will contact you to arrange a behavioural assessment and discuss the next steps.
Please do not bring your animal to the Shelter unless you have received confirmation and an appointment has been arranged. Animal surrenders are by appointment only.
If your application is approved and an appointment is arranged, the applicable surrender fee must be paid by card when the animal arrives at the Animal Shelter.
Please keep a copy of your application and any supporting documents for your records.
Does submitting the form mean my animal has been accepted for surrender?
No. The form is an application to surrender your animal. The Animal Shelter team will assess your application before deciding whether the animal can be accepted.
Will my animal need a behavioural assessment?
Yes. If your application progresses, the Animal Shelter team will contact you to arrange a date and time for the behavioural assessment.
Can I bring my animal to the Shelter after submitting the form?
No. Please do not bring your animal to the Animal Shelter unless your surrender has been approved and an appointment has been arranged.
What if my situation is urgent?
If you are unable to safely care for your animal or there is an immediate risk to a person or animal, contact the Animal Shelter directly to discuss your circumstances rather than relying solely on the online application. You can contact them by phone on 1300 680 888 (Option 4 for Facilities, then option 2 for Animal Shelter), Monday to Friday 8.30 am to 4.00 pm.
Is there a animal surrender fee?
Yes. If your surrender is approved, a surrender fee applies. The fee is payable by card when your animal arrives at the Animal Shelter. This fee is non-refundable and non-negotiable.
Below are the current animal surrender fees and charges applicable from 1 July 2026 - 30 June 2027.
| Name |
Unit |
Year |
Fee |
| Surrender of dog (standard) fee |
per dog |
from 1 July 2026 - 30 June 2027 |
$216.50 |
| Surrender a puppy (Under 6 months) |
per puppy |
from 1 July 2026 - 30 June 2027
|
$76.00 |
| Surrender a cat (standard) fee |
per cat |
from 1 July 2026 - 30 June 2027 |
$342.00 |
| Surrender a kitten (first kitten) |
per kitten |
from 1 July 2026 - 30 June 2027 |
$54.20 |
| Surrender a kitten (additional kittens) |
Per kitten |
from 1 July 2026 - 30 June 2027 |
$32.40 |
What should I bring when I surrender my animal?
Bring your animal and any relevant veterinary, vaccination, ownership or other supporting documentation that you have. You will need to attend at the agreed appointment time.Please also bring photo ID with you.
What happens to my animal after surrender?
Once an animal is accepted, the Animal Shelter team will assess their health, behaviour and individual needs and determines the most appropriate care and rehoming pathway.
Will my information be kept confidential?
Yes.In lodging this form, you are providing personal information such as your name and contact details. The personal information that Council has collected or is collecting from you is personal information for the purposes of the Privacy and Personal Information Protection Act 1998 (PPIPA). Your personal information will be handled in accordance with the PPIPA and Council’s Privacy Management Plan. For further information regarding Council’s privacy obligations, see Privacy Guidelines.
More information about rehoming organisations
Please view the link below to the Office of Local Governments Approved Rehoming Organisations -
Provided by Section 88B of the Companion Animals Act 1998, for a comprehensive list of organisations that can assist with rehoming your pet.
Other useful information about rehoming pets
Wingecarribee Animal Shelter operates on a philosophy of minimal euthanasia.
This means giving every companion animal that arrives at the shelter good care and the opportunity to be re-homed without the threat of being subject to arbitrary euthanasia after the minimum holding period.
Our policy is to:
- Minimise the euthanasia of companion animals impounded at the Wingecarribee Animal Shelter by considering all possible alternatives to euthanasia and where practicable, to adopt these alternatives on every occasion.
- Recognise that euthanasia of feral and infant companion animals within the minimum holding period may be necessary when advised by a veterinarian.
- Comply with Section 64 and Section 64A of the Companion Animals Act 1998.
Impound periods
All impounded animals are held for the statutory periods:
- 14 days for micro-chipped dogs and cats.
- 7 days for unregistered and unidentified dogs and cats.
From time to time we may request donations for specific items (in good or excellent condition) that we require. Please keep an eye on our Facebook page - Wingecarribee Animal Shelter - for when and what donations are needed. If you have items outside these times, please call ahead to confirm with a member of the Shelter Team 1300 680 888, who can confirm if any donations can be currently accepted.
We appreciate our community’s continued support and generosity and thank you.