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Monday 8:30am - 4pm Tuesday 8:30am - 4pm Wednesday 8:30am - 4pm Thursday 8:30am - 4pm Friday 8:30am - 4pm Saturday 10am - 4pm Sunday 10am - 4pm

Cheltenham Animal Shelter

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Cheltenham Animal Shelter

We care for and rehome Gloucestershire's unwanted and abandoned cats, dogs and small animals. Please visit our website for more details.
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Cheltenham Animal Shelter is a charity that has been helping animals since 1926. Based in the heart of Gloucestershire, we rescue and rehome stray, unwanted and abandoned cats, dogs and small animals. Each year we care for hundreds of animals without the help of government funding so we rely greatly on the generosity of animal lovers like you to ensure that our doors remain firmly open. Cheltenham

Animal Shelter is an executive member of the ‘Association of Dogs and Cats Homes’, whereby we adhere to and exceed their code of practice. At our Cheltenham site, in addition to our rehoming facilities, we have dog and cat boarding facilities, dog daycare, dog grooming parlour, charity shop, and low-cost vet practice. Proceeds from these businesses help the rescue animals in our care.

12/07/2025

Four-year-old Magnus is a showstopper – a big, bouncy ball of fluff with movie-star looks, a golden heart, and a cheeky streak.

This gentle giant adores people and greets everyone like an old friend, tail wagging and ready for fuss. His perfect day? Simply being by your side, supervising your every move - whether you're gardening or heading to the kitchen, he’ll be right there with you.

He knows a few tricks and loves to perform – if there were prizes for “best paw” or “most enthusiastic sit,” he’d win hands down. He’s also a big fan of water, and no puddle is safe!

Magnus is strong and doesn’t quite realise how much space he takes up when playing. His future human will need a good sense of humour, strong arms, and ideally a secure garden for him to bounce around in.

He could live with kind, respectful children aged 14+, and is happy meeting calm dogs on walks – but he'd prefer to be the only pet in his new home.

He travels well in the car and can be left for a few hours, though he’d much rather be with you. He’s mostly fine with handling, though a bit wary around his back end, and vet visits aren’t his favourite after a bad past experience.

Magnus is gorgeous inside and out – the kind of dog who leaves pawprints on your heart and mud on your trousers. For the right person, he’ll be a loyal, loving, slightly clumsy best friend – a real “heart dog” ready for his next chapter.

If you be the perfect match for Magnus please email 👉 [email protected] 👈 to apply or find out more.

To see all our pets waiting to be adopted, please visit 🐾 www.gawa.org.uk 🐾

11/07/2025

We are sure you will agree that Adorable Puppy winner, Truffle, was a deserving choice for Best in Show at our Summer Open Day on Saturday. She will have her name engraved on our Best in Show 'Tammy Cup' trophy which you can see on display in the Shelter reception.

We have added a gallery of all the dog show winners, along with some other photos taken on the day, to our newsfeed at 👉 www.gawa.org.uk/news

Thank you again to everyone who came along and helped us raise £7,000 for our pets in need 🐾

10/07/2025

It was an absolute pleasure to welcome Will Young to the Shelter yesterday! He came to present us with a £500 donation and a stack of his premium dog food for our residents to enjoy.

Being the proud owner of his own rescue dog, Domino, and a huge advocate for rescue dogs everywhere, Will started Miraculous Meals to provide quality food for dogs that also benefits dogs in shelters because he donates 50% of his profits to rescue centres.

We are very grateful to have been nominated by one of our supporters to receive this wonderful gift, and it was an honour to spend the afternoon with Will and his lovely team.

Head over to 🐾 www.miraculousmeals.co.uk 🐾 to find out more!

09/07/2025

Eight-year-old Maisey is on the lookout for a calm, adult-only home where she can settle at her own pace. A shy girl at first, she needs time to build trust - but once she does, her gentle personality begins to shine through.

She’s a real fan of the great outdoors and will need safe access to a garden. Whether she’s basking in a sunny patch or perched on a windowsill watching the world go by, Maisey is happiest when she has space to enjoy life.

While she’s not overly demanding, Maisey will occasionally hop onto your lap or curl up beside you for a bit of affection - always on her own terms, of course.

Maisey would prefer a peaceful home without children or other pets, where she can be the queen of her castle.

If you would like to adopt Maisey, please email 👉 [email protected] 👈 for an application form. or visit 👉 www.gawa.org.uk 👈 to see all our pets waiting for homes.

08/07/2025

A HUGE THANK YOU to everyone who joined us on Saturday for our Summer Open Day – we’re so grateful for your support and truly hope you enjoyed the day as much as we did!

We welcomed an incredible 853 visitors through the gates and raised nearly £7,000 for the animals in our care – an amazing result that wouldn’t have been possible without you.

It was a pleasure to chat with some very special guests on the day, including our local Gloucestershire Constabulary PCSOs and MP Max Wilkinson.

A heartfelt thank you goes to:
💛 Our brilliant staff and volunteers for making everything run so smoothly
🛠️ The fantastic teams from Spirax Sarco for setting up, packing down, and leaving the site spotless
🚗 Cheltenham Rotary UK for their expert help managing the car parks

And of course, thank you to everyone who donated raffle prizes, booze for the tombola, and delicious homemade bakes – once again, these stalls proved to be our biggest fundraisers of the day!

Your generosity and community spirit mean the world to us – thank you! 🐾

07/07/2025

Three-year-old Pudding is exactly what her name suggests: sweet, comforting, and impossible not to love. She’s on the lookout for an experienced, adult-only home where she can feel safe and truly relax. Once she knows you, Pudding transforms into the ultimate companion – affectionate, loyal, and always ready for a cuddle (ideally on your lap, despite her generous helping of size!).

She can feel a little unsure around new people and needs calm, gentle introductions to help her feel at ease. With the right approach – and maybe a few tasty snacks – she quickly warms up and becomes a loving, playful friend. She’s a big fan of peaceful routines and would much prefer a calm home without too much hustle and bustle.

Pudding would like to be your one and only pet. She finds other dogs a bit much, so quiet walking routes where she can enjoy some space are just her flavour and a secure garden would be the cherry on top.

She’s not a fan of being left on her own, so she’ll need someone who’s home most of the time to keep her company. In return, you’ll get a velcro dog full of love, loyalty, and the occasional zoomie to keep you smiling.

If you’re ready to add a generous scoop of love and a sprinkle of silliness to your life, email 👉 [email protected] 👈 to apply or find out more.

06/07/2025

It’s time for a Sunday success story and this week we are pleased to tell you how Rolo the Pomeranian is getting on in his new home.

Two-year-old Rolo came to the Shelter in March after a decline in his owner’s health. He was incredibly reactive to strangers, particularly men, so we felt he would be best suited to a calm, female-only home.

Although we knew he could be a loving and affectionate companion, we were worried that he might scare off even the bravest of potential adopters with his big personality and even bigger opinions!

Happily, he caught the eye of Janet – a very patient and understanding suiter. Janet had to travel a long way to meet him and spent her first couple of visits sitting outside his kennel wearing a Shelter sweatshirt (so she looked like one of his familiar carers), but soon Janet was able to enter his kennel and put a harness on him, and the rest is history!

Rolo definitely approved of Janet (and her daughter) so after a couple more visits he went to his forever home. Two weeks later we received this lovely update from Janet’s daughter:

“Rolo has settled remarkably well. He is loved to bits and is a wonderful companion.

The railings to keep him enclosed in part of the garden were removed after a week as he just followed Mum everywhere, and he’s loving running around the full length of the garden.

He goes for an hour of walkies every morning and half hour in the evenings. He’s ok with cars, buses, trucks and us getting to grips with passing tractors.

People are still a “work in progress”. He’s met Mum’s sister, and she had a bit of barking but when Mum told Rolo “no” he surprisingly stopped. However, after just three meetings he now follows my husband around the garden so we know it is possible for him to have men friends and will continue to introduce him to family.

Doggies don’t to appear to be a problem. He met my two whilst out on walkies and was happy for us all to walk back to Mum’s where they continued to get to know each other in the garden. We plan another visit on Sunday so fingers crossed!”

It sounds like Rolo has met his perfect match! Share your success story with us at 👉 www.gawa.org.uk/success-stories 👈

05/07/2025

Three-year-old Skye is a bright, affectionate girl with a big personality and a love for life’s simple pleasures – tennis balls, cuddles, and a tasty hotdog or two. She’s ready to find a home where she can be herself, feel secure, and enjoy the company of people who really get her.

She’s sweet, playful, and loves nothing more than a game in the garden followed by a snuggle on the sofa. Once Skye knows you, she’s incredibly loving – the kind of dog who makes you feel like the centre of her world. Her favourite things include chasing her toys and enjoying the occasional tasty treat.

This lovely lady thrives in a calm, predictable environment where she can enjoy gentle attention and a steady routine. She loves leisurely walks in quiet areas where she can relax without the stress of passing other dogs, as she can be reactive and needs her space.

Skye isn’t suitable to live with other pets and has never lived with cats, so a pet-free home is ideal. Affectionate and loyal, she’s ready to settle into a home where patience, understanding and love are part of daily life. She’s also been content being left for a few hours, especially if there’s a comfy spot to snooze in.

Skye is full of charm, cheekiness, and character. She’s no shrinking violet and is always up for adventure with the right person by her side.

If you’re looking for a dog who’ll make you laugh, keep you company, and be your biggest fan, Skye could be your perfect match - email 👉 [email protected] 👈 to apply or find out more!

04/07/2025

SEE YOU TOMORROW! 🎉🐾🌞

We are really looking forward to seeing you at our Summer Open Day and Fun Dog Show tomorrow!

The forecast is a comfortable 22° so we look forward to meeting the dogs of Cheltenham (and their families!) at our biggest event of the year!

All the proceeds will help our pets in need so please come and join us for a really fun afternoon:
🆓 FREE ENTRY
🛍️ Marketplace
🍔 BBQ
🍹 Bar serving Pimm's, cider, beers and soft drinks
🍰☕ Cakes, teas and coffees
🎈 Bouncy castle
🚒 Fire engine
🎯 Games
🛍️ Charity shop bargains
🐾 Dog activities
🐶🏅 Dog show (£2 per class)
🎉 And more...

The event is free to enter and limited parking is available. Please walk to us if you can. We accept cash or card payments.

P.S. We still need more baked treats for our cake stall and alcohol for our boozy tombola so, if you are able, please bring your donations along!

03/07/2025

Is your cat toileting in the house? 🐱

If you are finding little puddles or strong-smelling spray indoors then you're not alone – and it doesn’t mean your cat is being ‘naughty’!

Whether it’s toileting or marking, understanding why your cat is doing it is the first step to putting things right. Stress, territory, health… there’s often more going on than meets the eye.

✅ We’ve put together a practical guide to help you figure out what’s happening – and more importantly, what you can do to help your feline friend feel more secure and confident at home.

🐾 Because a happy cat = a happy home!

Read the full guide here 👉 www.gawa.org.uk/pet-advice 👈

Address

Cheltenham

Opening Hours

Monday	8:30am - 4pm
Tuesday	8:30am - 4pm
Wednesday	8:30am - 4pm
Thursday	8:30am - 4pm
Friday	8:30am - 4pm
Saturday	10am - 4pm
Sunday	10am - 4pm

Website

http://www.gawa.org.uk/

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Our Story

Cheltenham Animal Shelter is a charity that has been helping animals since 1926. Based in the heart of Gloucestershire, we rescue and re-home unwanted and abandoned stray cats, dogs and small animals. Each year we care for around 800 animals at a cost of £650,000 without the help of any Government funding. We rely greatly on the generosity of animal lovers like you to ensure that our doors remain firmly open. Providing we have space available, members of the public needing to re-home their dog, cat or small animal can sign them over in to our care. We are extremely careful that all of our animals find their right home by asking potential owners to complete a life-style questionnaire and conducting a home visit. Cheltenham Animal Shelter are executive members of the ‘Association of Dogs and Cats Homes’, where we adhere to and exceed their code of practice. We also have dog boarding and cat boarding facilities available while you are away on holiday.