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How do you adopt a dog or a cat in Norway?

Animal shelters in Norway, how adoption works and what it costs.

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Short answer

You can adopt a dog or cat in Norway through the 25 local branches of Dyrebeskyttelsen Norge, which take in homeless animals and find them new homes. All its animals are health-checked by a vet, microchipped and vaccinated, and cats are neutered. You contact the nearest branch to see the animals and pay an adoption fee.

a dog with a leash sitting next to a small moose silhouette and a vet cross

Why

  1. Dyrebeskyttelsen Norge is a nationwide, non-profit animal welfare organisation with local branches and help centres across the country.
  2. The organisation says there is no public assistance for homeless animals in Norway, which is why it steps in.
  3. Dyrebeskyttelsen Norge rehomed 2,974 animals in 2025, according to its own statistics.

Details

The adoption fee covers part of the costs the organisation has had for the animal, such as vet bills and medicine. Nearly 90 percent of the homeless animals that the local branches help are cats. If you cannot adopt, you can become a foster home, which lets the organisation help more animals.

Tip

Ask the local branch about the adoption fee and the animal's needs before you decide, as the national website does not list the fee amount.

What may differ

If you want to bring a dog or cat from a country outside the EU and EEA, it can only arrive through Oslo Airport Gardermoen or Storskog near Kirkenes, and it must meet Norway's import rules.

People also ask

  • Are there animal shelters in Norway?

Sources

Information checked on 20 October 2026.

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    Emotional support animals do not count as service dogs in Norway, as NAV does not provide service dogs for psychological challenges and SAS carries them as pets.

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  • How do you find a dog sitter, dog daycare or kennel in Oslo?

    One way to find a dog sitter in Oslo is Pawshake, an online service that connects dog owners with local sitters for dog walks, day care and overnight stays.

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  • Why are there no stray dogs in Norway?

    Nearly 90 percent of the homeless animals helped by Dyrebeskyttelsen Norge are cats, while dogs are often ID-marked and easy to trace to a responsible owner.

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  • Where are the dog parks in Oslo?

    Oslo kommune runs ten dog parks where dogs may run off the lead, including Hundejordet in Frognerparken, Styggedalen at Bogstad and Ola Narr at Tøyen.

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