RSPCA Great Ayton Animal Centre

RSPCA Great Ayton Animal Centre is an RSPCA-run animal welfare centre (not a general veterinary clinic) that takes in animals identified by RSPCA Inspectors; the centre says it can be caring for 150+ animals at any one time, including dogs, cats, rabbits, other small furries and farm animals. Reviews focus heavily on adoption experiences: multiple adopters describe a clean facility and staff/volunteers who guide people through the process, including follow-up contact after adoption. However, there are also reviews describing being turned away when trying to get help with a lost dog, and one detailed complaint about strict adoption rules around travel time and suitability matching.

Services

•Care and housing for animals in need identified by RSPCA Inspectors (centre states it may care for 150+ animals at a time).
•Species mentioned as being cared for: dogs, cats, rabbits, other small furries, and farm animals.
•Adoption support is repeatedly referenced in reviews, including
•Help “through the entire process” and advice on “all aspects of adoption”.
•Post-adoption follow-ups reported (calls checking how kittens were settling in, and responding to questions).
•In at least one case, home drop-off of adopted kittens was described by a volunteer.
•Adoption screening/vetting is referenced in reviews; one reviewer describes a rule limiting how long a dog can travel by car (30 minutes) and says they were refused on that basis.

People

•Bev (named in a review; role not stated): credited by an adopter with being part of a team that communicated quickly, arranged adoption logistics, and followed up multiple times after two kittens were adopted.
•Staff/volunteers are repeatedly described as knowledgeable and helpful during adoption, with concrete examples including explaining the process and responding to queries promptly.

Reviews

4.1 stars from 117 reviews. The latest written reviews available are mostly about adoption experiences, with a couple of strong complaints about access to help and adoption rules. “”

•Cleanliness and facilities: adopters mention the centre being “lovely and clean” and having “fantastic/first rate facilities.”
•Adoption support: several reviews describe staff being helpful and knowledgeable “through the entire process,” including follow-up calls/messages after adoption and quick responses to questions.
•Policy friction: one reviewer describes being refused a dog due to a maximum car-travel-time rule and felt the alternative dog suggested was unsuitable; they also wanted this requirement stated upfront in the dog’s profile.
•Help with a found/lost dog: one recent reviewer says they contacted multiple rescue centres and felt this centre would not help with a lost, disoriented dog.

Reviews for RSPCA Great Ayton Animal Centre

Note: Showing the 5 most recent Google reviews out of 117 we track in total. Recent reviews may not be representative of overall sentiment.

Rachid Ell

2 weeks ago

An absolute disgrace. I found a lost, disoriented dog and contacted several “dog rescue centres,” but none would help. The RSPCA’s is an absolute disgrace.

Wynyard explorer

3 months ago

Adopted from here a few weeks ago. You can tell how much the staff love and care for the animals that come in. Lovely and clean and they are very helpful when it comes to all aspects of adoption

Lori Lox

4 weeks ago

louisa bailey

4 months ago

Lovely place staff lovely and very knowledgeable

West Country

The RSPCA and this centre in particular seem to have implemented a very stupid and nonsense system to dog adoption.Filled in an online application to adopt a dog,only to be told I can't as the dog can only travel in a car for a 30min journey and i live 45 mins awa! So this dog was refused a loving home all for the sake of 15 minutes !!! Also,In future,please could you include this sort of information in the dog's online profile to stop people wasting their time.To add insult to injury,I was offered an alternative dog,one totally unfit for mine or that dog's needs.

graham phillips

8 months ago

Nice helpful people

Malcolm Cannings

11 months ago

Very helpful staff

Susan Corder

3 years ago

Fantastic facilities and staff, so happy with Comet our beautiful staffie mix

B B

4 years ago

My partner and I had a really great experience adopting two kittens from this centre. The staff were very friendly and knowledgeable, and they helped us through the entire process. They are facing huge challenges with Covid restrictions, but they were excellent at communicating via email / phone and sorted everything out for us. The friendliest volunteer dropped off our kittens and didn't mind waiting while we got the girls settled in their new home. A really knowledgeable volunteer from the centre called and followed up with how they were getting on multiple times and responded to all our queries really quickly. The kittens were in superb health when they arrived, and even the vet commented that they had been thoroughly treated for everything. They are settling in so well and we couldn't be happier to have them in our family. Thank you Bev and the Great Ayton RSPCA!

Dave Sillence

5 years ago

An excellent and worthwhile facility situated on the outskirts of Great Ayton, between Middlesbrough and Stokesley. First rate facilities for animals great and small. Rescue animals available, subject to owner, vetting etc.