Adopt a Rescue Dog in Cumbria

Animal Rescue Cumbria is a long-established animal rescue charity founded in 1972 to address the growing number of pets being euthanised due to a lack of suitable homes. Originally run by volunteers fostering animals in their own homes, the charity became formally registered in 1974 under the guidance of Alfred Wainwright, whose support and book royalties helped secure a permanent rescue site. In 1984, the charity opened its Kapellan centre, which continues to provide shelter and care for dogs and cats in need. Today, Animal Rescue Cumbria remains a community-supported organisation, relying on donations, legacies, and fundraising to continue its mission of rescuing, caring for, and rehoming vulnerable animals.

Dogs Trust is one of the UK’s leading dog welfare charities, supporting dogs and their owners since it was founded in 1891 by Lady Gertrude Stock. Guided by the belief that a dog is for life, the charity provides care for dogs in distress, helps find loving new homes when needed, and supports owners during difficult circumstances. Dogs Trust works across the UK to protect the lifelong bond between dogs and people, offering practical help, education, and advocacy at every stage of a dog’s life. In the last year alone, the charity provided care for over 11,700 dogs without homes, continuing its long-standing mission to create a better future for dogs and the people who love them.

Greyhound Trust is a UK charity dedicated to finding loving homes for retired racing greyhounds. Founded in 1975, the charity has rehomed more than 100,000 greyhounds and now helps around 3,500 dogs each year through its network of volunteer-led branches.

Morgan’s Dog Rescue is a UK-based rescue centre located in Alston, Cumbria, dedicated to rescuing, rehabilitating, and rehoming dogs in need. The charity focuses on finding the most suitable homes for working breeds, taking great care to match each dog with the right family and lifestyle. Every adoption includes a thorough meet-and-greet process and mandatory home checks to ensure long-term success, with visits by appointment only. All adult dogs are neutered before rehoming, helping give them the best possible start in their forever homes. Supported entirely by donations, Morgan’s Dog Rescue works tirelessly to change lives, one happy tail at a time.

Oak Tree Animals’ Charity is a long-established animal welfare charity providing care, rehabilitation, and rehoming for dogs, cats, and equines in need. Founded in 1909, the charity has grown from its early work protecting working horses into a centre of excellence supporting a wide range of animals, including equines, goats, and companion pets. Oak Tree focuses on finding the right long-term homes for animals while offering ongoing advice and support to adopters to help build lasting, healthy relationships. Alongside rescue and rehoming, the charity works proactively within the community through education, advocacy, and welfare programmes such as Trap Neuter Return for feral cats, helping to improve animal welfare for future generations.

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA), founded in 1824, is the oldest and largest animal welfare organisation in the world, operating across England and Wales. Funded primarily by voluntary donations, the charity rescues animals from cruelty, investigates neglect and organised animal crime, and provides advice to improve animal welfare. Its network includes rescue teams, animal hospitals, rehabilitation centres and over 150 locally run branches that support rehoming, neutering and community welfare services. Through national and international outreach, the RSPCA works to prevent cruelty and ensure animals receive the care and protection they deserve.

This foster-based dog rescue works to rescue and rehabilitate dogs in a home environment, allowing each dog to be fully assessed in everyday family life alongside other dogs, cats, and typical household routines. The charity supports dogs that can no longer remain with their owners due to circumstances beyond their control, such as illness, bereavement, housing, or financial difficulties, as well as dogs coming from neglect or abuse cases. All dogs receive essential veterinary care, including neutering, vaccination, and microchipping, before being considered for adoption. Rehoming is carefully managed through home checks, with a strong focus on finding the most suitable, long-term match for each individual dog rather than placing dogs quickly.