I am a proud owner of one very sweet, very pampered greyhound - he's currently called Dave but…read moreprior to that he used to race at Perry Barr Greyhound Stadium, under the moniker 'Magical Climate'. He was actually quite good - although this is a bit of a surprise to me and my Mom, as he now spends his retirement loafing about on the sofa, begging for tripe sticks and being tickled under the chin. We got Dave from Daybreaks Kennels which is home to the Perry Barr Retired Greyhound Trust and which is run by an amazing woman called Ruth Boswell. Dave was a bit of a state when we first laid eyes on him - without wanting to lay on the schmaltz too much years of racing had rendered him threadbare of tail, gammy of tooth and with what one could only describe as a 'lean and hungry look'. However, with Ruth's care - and lashings of tripe sticks, Dave made really good progress and although I'm obviously biased I think its fair to say he is a really handsome, jolly dog now. As for Daybreaks itself - the kennels are open daily and you can arrange a viewing by phoning ahead. If you're feeling particularly soppy you can also check out their website where you will be greeted by photos of dogs who need a home. This is a brilliant place run by a dedicated, extremely lovely team - they are always happy to offer advice on homing procedure, guidance on the right sort of dog for you and will happily talk to you after you've taken your dog home. As well as the kennels there's a shop that sells collars, leads, beds, food, toys and well...all sorts really.

Lovely people, great facilities, doing a wonderful jobread more

The RSPCA on Barnes Hill shelter homes for many different types of pets for such a small rescue…read moreshelter. You can adopt and care for pets from dogs, cats to ferrets. It's really sad to see animals locked away in cages but the cages seem spacious enough for the animals as they each have their own cubicle with large spaces to move about if they ever need a stretch. The RSPCA supply a very informative booklet on what animals they are holding within their shelter and display at least a paragraph about these animals personally in order for you to have knowledge about their background, what breed they are and their age all for your reassurance. They have selected viewing times if ever you wish or think of adopting any of these animals so that you can bond with them.

I have rarely felt worse in my life than when I once popped in here. My cat needed to go to the…read morevet's and I went over to pick up a suitable carrier to take him in, which they sorted no problems. However, as I was leaving, I spotted a leaflet on offer about coping with bereavement. Now, I'm not a cold-hearted person and as you know by now, I own a cat so am not immune to the charms of our furry friends. Despite this, I still found myself scoffing internally at the thought that some poor souls would actually need this type of guidance. Literally as I was considering this, God decided to deliver a massive kick up the arse as the door literally next to the leaflet stand flew open and a woman emerged crying her eyes out. Remaining behind the door as it was shut was a gorgeous golden retriever being held by a lead by the vet. I walked out immediately feeling: a) like I might break down in tears; b) amazingly guilty; and c) full of admiration for the work done here by the staff. (I'd just like to clarify, though, that I definitely didn't start crying in the end.)

Bristol Dogs & Cats Home do an amazing job. I came here looking to rescue a cat. I was especially…read moreheartbroken passing all the dogs, I'm a softie when it comes to animals, so it brought tears to my eyes seeing all the poor dogs desperate to be loved or owned, they sounded so sad :-( We attempted to rescue a cat from here, unfortunately she was not happy when she came to us and was doing us and herself harm, so we brought her back, she instantly behaved herself for the staff! Clearly they have a better touch with animals than me. My sister got a kitten from a rescue centre in Ireland and the poor mite arrived to her full of worms. Cats at Bristol Dogs and Cats home are given a thorough check-up, spayed and micro-chipped. There is also a mandatory home visit to ensure you can provide a good home.

Hope Rescue is a bit different to most rescue charities because it's primarily a 'co-ordinating'…read morerescue rather than housing the dogs themselves. Its main role is in getting dogs out of emergency situations, such as if they are going to be put to sleep unnecessarily, and Hope then works to find a suitable rescue space for them with other reputable rescue centres such as Dogs Trust and the RSPCA, as well as smaller local rescues and breed-specific rescues. Hope Rescue then also covers transportation to the dog's new rescue centre. Most of the dogs they deal with are strays from Local Authority pounds which would otherwise be put to sleep after the 7 statutory days they must be kept for. On average they move around 10 dogs a week, but at some times this can peak to as high as 25. They use boarding kennels in Llantrisant and Caerphilly to hold dogs if there is any delay in their rescue space becoming available. And although they're mainly a co-ordinating rescue, they do sometimes end up taking in dogs for rehoming themselves, if they can't secure rescue spaces - for example if the dog has a medical problem, or is very old. Obviously they have kennelling expenses as well as transportation costs to cover, so you can donate to help fund their rescue missions.

A great charity which treats pets whose owners can't afford veterinary care and treatment. They…read morealso find homes for unwanted animals around the country, from small pets including cats and dogs, even to horses on occasion. There are speakers available to visit schools and other groups to talk about looking after pets properly. They run many fund raising events too and it's good to get involved and help in various ways. I have supported their work for years and have one of their stickers in the back of my car!

Holly Hedge is a lovely little animal sanctuary just outside Bristol in the village of Barrow…read moreGurney. As you'd expect, it's full of gorgeous dogs and cats of all ages and breeds, desperate to find their forever homes after being abandoned, neglected or given up for one reason or another. I visited when I was considered rehoming a sighthound, and although I didn't end up rehoming one from this centre, I did think the place had a great atmosphere with really dedicated staff. I find it incredibly tough visiting any rescue centres - seeing all those pleading eyes stare out at me from behind bars, then walking away - but at Holly Hedge at least you really get the feeling the animals are given plenty of one-on-one attention from the staff and team of volunteers. Seems like a pretty decent place for them to spend their time until new owners come along! There are outdoor runs for the dogs, and plenty of space around the centre for on-lead walks, so the dogs get plenty of exercise. If you can't rehome one of the dogs or cats, you can help in other ways: by sponsoring an animal, dropping off a donation, or handing over some much-needed tinned dog or cat food. If you have any spare time, they often need help with fundraising or home checking, too, so it's worth getting in touch to see how you can help.

Very professional, very helpful, very friendly. Recently got our new dog Dorillo from them. A…read morepleasant experience indeed. Highly recommend. Peter and Jeannette Sutton

We got our dog Guinness from them, couldn't say enough, the dog world would be a happier place if…read morepeople got dogs from here, instead of buying poor inbred dogs that have so many inherited issues they bark all the time because their so unhappy.The best place for a family pet.

This place is so amazing. They rescue dogs and cats from all over the region and house them here,…read moretrying to find new owners that will take care of the poor little blighters. I went up here a few times to check out the likelihood of being able to find a border collie, and was surprised to find out that I could go for a walk with any of the dogs to see if it was for me. Of course, the staff are overrun, so the dogs only get to go out quite occasionally. However, with the small army of folk that pop up here on a Sunday for dog walking, the critters are given a good run around at least once a week. What's more, the surrounding countryside is perfect for these activities.