Animal Shelters and Refuges in the French Alps

Details relevant to a pet dog or cat owner in the French Alps: refuges and shelters and more...

Pet animals can be bought from a refuge/shelter, many of these are SPAs (Société Protectrice des Animaux), a Society for the Protection of Animals.

To adopt an animal from a shelter (refuge) take proof of identity (passport or Titre de Séjour) and proof of address (a recent utility bill such as electricity or telephone bill). All shelters charge an adoption fee and most allow a one-month trial period during which the animal may be returned for a refund if the rehoming has not worked out.

  • Refuge SPA de Cluses
    At    : 12 ave de la Libération, Cluses (74)
    Open: 14:30-18:30
    Tel: 04 50 96 00 83
    Fax: 04 50 89 67 59
  • SPA Annecy Marlioz
    At:     Le Penez, Marlioz (74)
    Open: Monday to Saturday 14:00-18:00
    Tel: 04 50 77 82 40
    Fax: 04 50 77 86 99
    Refuge de l'Espoir
    At    : 284 route de la Basse Arve, Arthaz Pont Notre Dame (74) 
    Tel: 04 50 36 02 80
  • Les Amis des Bêtes
    At: Chemin des Massonnat, Aix-les-Bains (73)
    Tel: 04 79 61 24 63
  • SPA du Dauphiné
    Cats at    : 16 cours de la Libération, Grenoble (38) 
    Open: Monday to Saturday 14:00-17:00
    Tel: 04 76 49 18  23
    Dogs at: Le refuge Jeanne Borgey, Le Maupas, Uriage (38) 
    Open: Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday 14:00-18:00
    Tel: 04 76 89 12 66
  • L'Arche de Noë
    At: Arlod industrial park, 21 rue Léonard de Vinci, Bellegarde-sur-Valserinne (01)
    Open: 09:00-12:00 and 14:00-17:00
    Tel: 04 50 56 66 50
  • S.P.A. Refuge La Chazal
    At    : Route des Maisons Blanches, Briancon (05)
    Open: Daily except Tuesday and Sunday. Summer 15:30-18:00, winter 14:30-15:00
    Tel: 04 92 21 15 29
  • S.P.A. Sud Alpine (dog refuge and pound)
    At: Route du Plan d'Eau, Veynes (05)
    Tel: 04 92 57 28 41

For contact details of some refuges throughout France see website Protection des Animaux (select link "Refuges").