Through operating the Maitland Animal Management Facility (a.k.a. Maitland Pound), we:

Receive stray animals

All companion animals impounded by rangers for Maitland, Dungog, and Cessnock Councils are brought to our facility. We shelter and care for the animals while trying to reunite them with their owners.

Poor Frankie was brought to our shelter scared and covered in what was probably concrete. After hours of careful grooming, our staff and volunteers began the long journey with Frankie of overcoming his trauma and eventually finding him a new and loving family.

Receive surrendered pets

Residents in the Maitland, Dungog, and Cessnock Local Government Areas who are no longer able to care for their pet may surrender them at the facility. If you are considering surrendering your pet, please click here for more information.

Rehoming / adoptions

All animals who are surrendered or who are not claimed by their owners are rehomed, either through the support of other animal rescue organisations or by being adopted directly from our facility.

Happy Adoption Day!!!

Care and nurture

While an animal waits to be either reclaimed or adopted by a new family, we keep it safe and as happy as possible. This includes healthy food, accommodation that is secure, clean and sheltered, and opportunities for exercise and socialising (such as with our wonderful volunteers). And importantly, toys to play with plus snug coats and jumpers in winter 😊

We monitor each animal’s health and behaviour, providing basic medical care ourselves and sending them for specialised treatment when necessary. Care is tailored to each animal’s needs, for example behavioural rehabilitation to improve their adoptability, or prioritising matching with a foster carer if they are not coping with the shelter environment.

Community outreach

We host periodic community events such as Free Microchipping days and run a number of community programs, such as:

  • assisted rehoming, where an animal will be surrendered stays in its existing home environment and we work as an intermediary to connect the current family with potential adopters, and
  • our award-winning Freedom Busters program, which engages community support to reunite pets with owners who are unable to pay the statutory impound fees but who can otherwise provide a safe and supportive home.

Please contact us if you would like more information on any of our programs or events.

We also assist animal rescue groups facing capacity issues, such as after mass rescues from hoarding situations.