Copyright © Labrador Rescue South Africa - All rights reserved
NPO: 2013/170321/08
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We are a non-profit organisation that facilitates the Rescue and Re-homing of Labradors across South Africa.

Labrador Rescue South Africa

Who are we?

Labrador Rescue South Africa (LRSA) is a registered NPC and PBO that operates on a nationwide basis dealing with the rescue and re-homing of Labrador Retrievers.

We have our Public Benefits Organisation (PBO) number, are tax exempt and are able to issue Section 18A tax receipts for donations received.

Although LRSA is a breed specific rescue, we re-home many Labrador cross breeds as well as their other breed family companions. LRSA acts as the facilitator between people looking to re-home their Labradors and people wanting to offer a home to a Labrador.

On average LRSA re-homes 10 to 15 dogs each week, or over 800 per year. This number is increasing as more dogs are looking for homes due to changes in family circumstances such as divorce, job loss, illness, retirement, emigration or economic restraints forcing people to down scale.

Often people do not research the breed before getting a puppy and then find they cannot cope with an untrained, boisterous, landscaping, chewing demolition machine. LRSA covers the sterilization, vaccinations (including Rabies) and in some cases the micro-chipping of each animal we re-home and rely on donations from both the old and new owners to cover these costs.

A number of vets countrywide support us with special rescue rates, but we are battling financially and often donations are not enough to cover these costs. LRSA does not have its own kennels and must rely on a few special kennels that give us reduced rates when they can, but even so kenneling is expensive but necessary when we have to find a safe space for dogs that cannot stay in their homes until re-homed.

We have a number of qualified behaviorists who who offer special rates to help dogs be re-homed more easily or with problems settling into their new families.

Why Donate?

We are completely reliant on donations and none of our volunteers receive any compensation for their time or expenses. All money donated is used to care for our rescue dogs.

Labrador Rescue South Africa (LRSA) desperately needs more special people to offer foster homes or help with home checks, admin or transport.

If you are not able to help with your time, please consider making a donation, on a monthly debit order if possible to help us have a predictable fund base to cover costs and allow us to plan ahead rather than operating on a 'wing and prayer' system. (Please see our Donate page for payment options)

We are also beneficiaries of the MySchool Card system and would urge you to please either add us as a beneficiary on your card or to apply for a new card. This is really an easy way for you to help us raise much needed funds.

Our future is uncertain as our monthly expenses often exceed our income so we appeal to all our supporters to help us keep this work going and help us save as many dogs as we can.

Adoption Information

How does it work?

What is the Adoption process?


If you like the look of one of our rescues and the information provided suits your family situation, please get in touch with us. We often have more information on the dog that we have not shared.


If the dog in question is still available for adoption, you’ll be asked to complete an Adoption Form.


As we have the best interests of the dog at heart, please note that after discussions and consultations, we may decide that a certain dog is not suitable for your family and filling in an adoption form does not mean that you automatically will be able to adopt that dog.


However, it will enable us to keep you on our database, if you wish, for us to identify to right dog for your family


While there is unfortunately no “one-size-fits-all” approach to adoption, every effort is made to ensure that adopted dogs and existing pets and family members all adapt successfully to living together.


We want all of our rescues and families to be happy, healthy and feel secure – and certainly don’t want a new rescue dog to negatively impact on the existing dynamics in your home!


Once we have your form and have been over it, we will put you in touch with the person responsible for that dog, be it owner or foster home for you to go and meet the dog.


We do not have our own kennels and try as far as possible to rehome dogs directly from their old homes to the new one. We also place dogs in foster care if their situation warrants it.


One of our Volunteers will be in touch to arrange a suitable time to perform a House Check to make extra-sure that the dog can be handed over to you in good conscience.


If the Volunteer’s House Check comes back as ‘Approved’ – you are nearly there.


We suggest a “Meet and Greet” with other pets if possible or if you want to make sure that the dogs will all get on.


Having become acquainted with your dog-to-be, he or she will be handed over to your care after you’ve signed the relevant documents.


Something of a tricky process, we know, but we thank you for your understanding and co-operation.


What are the Adoption Fees?


Labrador Rescue does not charge a set adoption fee and we rely totally on donations.


However, in some adoptions, a specified contribution is asked for to cover sterilizations and any other direct costs. This will be discussed with you during the adoption process.


Every dog is spayed/neutered before homing. This is not negotiable.


Donations above and beyond this contribution are much appreciated.


Who should adopt?


Anyone who is willing to open their home and hearts and who understands that there may be settling in problems but is willing to commit to working through any problems with guidance and help. The adjustment time for new dogs varies so much between dogs depending on a myriad of circumstances, but you should be prepared for a settling in time of between 2 and 8 weeks.


If you have the space, time and resources. If you love dogs, have a stable income, safe, acceptable accommodation and want to make a difference – we are definitely interested in hearing from you.


How do I avoid choosing ′the wrong′ dog?


Listen to us. We strive to provide as much information about each rescue as possible upfront.


That way, you’ll have a fairly good idea before making contact whether or not the dog could be ‘right’ for you.


Unfortunately, as with life, there are no guarantees. It might all look perfect on paper, but the chemistry is just not there. If you have honestly tried all avenues and it is still not working for you after a reasonable amount of time, we will take the dog back.


One of the most important bits of advice we can give is not to take it too personally if the dog does not warm to you immediately. Your home is a new environment for your dog and it will take time for the dog to adapt to you house and your rules and ways of doing things.


All we can say is, persevere – ultimately it is worth it.


Vet Q&A: Are rescue Labradors all healthy?


In a perfect world, all of our rescues would be in perfect health. However, there are medical problems specifically relating to Labradors, especially as they get older.


We will communicate with you any known conditions or problems.


We do endeavour to have all of the rescues looked at by the vets and clinics who work with us, but sometimes this is not possible for logistical reasons.


All of our dog are sterilized before rehoming if this is not already done and we also make sure that their vaccinations are up to date. If the vet suspects any underlying conditions, he will let us know and we will pass on this information.






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