Pocket pets
Rabbits, guinea pigs and other small pets
Tell us which small animals you are interested in and about the home you can offer.
Ask about pocket petsA home for life starts here.
Let’s talk about the animal, your household and a match that works for everyone.
Make room for a life together.
Opening your heart to one of these animals is magic. Adoption offers a rescued animal a place in your everyday life and can create room for another animal who needs care.
That new beginning comes with a lasting commitment: time together, suitable space, a care budget and a plan for the changes life brings. Choose with the animal’s needs in mind, as well as the companionship you hope to share.
Alongside cats and dogs, GAW also helps pocket pets, horses and farm animals. Contact us about the kind of animal you hope to welcome and who is currently available.
Begin with your everyday life
Tell GAW about your household, other animals, usual routine and experience. Explain what you can offer and where you would need advice. Include work hours, planned travel and any housing restrictions so the conversation starts with a realistic picture.
Before arranging a meeting, find out what is known about the animal’s health, behaviour and previous experiences. Ask how a meeting would work, who should attend and how existing pets would be considered. A photograph is a starting point, not a complete picture of a match.
Understand the fee and the care
Preparing animals for new homes involves food, accommodation, veterinary attention and people’s time. Adoption fees can contribute to that work; they are not a measure of an animal’s worth.
GAW’s adoption fee is $200 for an adult cat and $480 for an adult dog. For kittens, puppies, pocket pets, horses and farm animals, contact GAW about the fee for the animal you are considering.
Cat and dog adoption fees include microchipping, desexing, vaccinations, and flea and worm treatment. Go through the animal’s health records and individual care instructions with GAW so you know what has been completed and when ongoing care is due.
A free vet visit is included within the first three weeks after adoption. Contact GAW to arrange the visit and clarify any further treatment or costs. Keep these arrangements with your animal’s health records.
Budget for life after the adoption as well: food, housing and equipment, routine care, unexpected veterinary expenses and arrangements when you are away. Our guide to the ongoing costs of a pet can help you prepare questions.
Get ready before they arrive
- Agree on collection, suitable transport and the paperwork or care records you will receive.
- Prepare the animal’s resting space and everyday equipment, with a plan for children and other pets.
- Write down the current food, routine and any individual care instructions.
- Confirm the contact for settling-in questions and the veterinary arrangements for health concerns.
For more preparation, read about bringing a rescue cat home or a rescue dog’s first week. Follow the individual advice for the animal rather than expecting every arrival to look the same.
A home is more than an address. It is the everyday place you make for an animal: time to rest, room to be themselves and a relationship that grows through care.
Questions before and after adoption
How do I find out which animals are available?
Visit GAW’s Facebook page for updates, or start an adoption enquiry and describe the home you can offer. Contact GAW to confirm current availability and learn about the animals.
What are the application steps and timing?
Request the current application and agreement. Clarify any checks, meetings, documents and decisions needed before collection. Ask about timing for the particular animal and keep GAW informed if your circumstances change.
What if settling in is harder than expected?
Contact GAW early with specific observations: what happens, when it happens and what the animal’s day looks like. Refer to the support arrangements agreed at adoption and discuss the next steps. For a health concern, speak to a veterinarian; urgent problems should not wait for a rescue email response.
Is veterinary care included after adoption?
GAW includes a free vet visit within the first three weeks after adoption. Contact GAW to arrange it and confirm the details of any additional treatment or costs. Keep the animal’s health records and ongoing care plan handy. If an animal needs urgent veterinary attention, seek it promptly rather than waiting for an email response.
What if I can no longer keep the animal?
Speak with GAW as soon as the difficulty becomes clear. Explain what has changed and discuss a safe plan under the adoption agreement. Check the agreed return or rehoming arrangements before making another placement; an immediate alternative home cannot be assumed.
Care comes in every size
Every kind of companion.
Cats and dogs make up most of GAW’s work. We also help pocket pets, horses and farm animals. Contact us to ask who is currently in our care.
Horses
A different kind of lifelong companion
Talk to us about your experience, available space and facilities.
Ask about horsesFarm animals
A place to belong beyond the backyard
Tell us which animals you can offer a home and about your property.
Ask about farm animalsContact GAW for current availability, each animal’s needs and the next steps.