The Best Austin, TX Dog Rescues & Shelters in 2026

Austin Pets Alive!

Austin Pets Alive! is a unique 501(c)(3) nonprofit animal shelter pioneering comprehensive, innovative programs designed to save the animals most at risk for euthanasia. We provide public adoption services for companion animals which includes lifetime behavior support, as well as community support in re-homing or obtaining resources for companion animals through our Human and Animal Support Services program.

Austin Animal Center

Austin Animal Center is the municipal shelter for the City of Austin and unincorporated Travis County, providing shelter to thousands of animals annually as well as providing animal protection and pet resource services. We accept stray and owned animals regardless of age, health, species or breed. Our goal is to place all adoptable animals in forever homes through adoption, foster care, or rescue partner groups. Animal Services has numerous programs and partnerships designed to help pets in the shelter, in the community, and in your home.

Austin Bulldog Rescue

ABR is dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation, and re-homing of unwanted English Bulldogs, education of owners on responsible dog ownership, and education of the public on the English Bulldog breed. ABR takes in adoptable English Bulldogs from animal shelters, other rescue groups, and owners who can no longer properly care for their English Bulldogs. We provide for their medical and behavioral needs. Considering the Bulldog's background and your family's needs, we intend to make the best match. Every Rescue Bulldog is different: personality, temperament, energy, comfort with kids and other animals, medical needs, and more. We take all of these factors into consideration when making a furever-home match. We take our responsibility of finding forever homes for Rescue Bulldogs very seriously. All our rescued dogs live with families in foster homes in Austin, Texas. We often operate statewide and occasionally take in dogs from other areas of Texas, but we primarily service the Austin/NW San Antonio area. We do not run a shelter that you can visit.

Giddings Animal Shelter

The City of Giddings provides a temporary haven for lost, homeless, endangered, or orphaned cats/kittens and dogs/puppies. The shelter is a designated as a 501(c)(3) tax deductible non-profit organization according the US Internal Revenue Service and all donations are tax deductible.

Lizzy’s Animal Hospice

Highland Lakes Canine Rescue

Highland Lakes Canine Rescue is a non-profit organization designated as a 501-c(3) with the IRS. We are managed by a volunteer board of directors and operate entirely on private donations and eligible grants. Highland Lakes Canine Rescue was founded in 1999 as Highland Lakes SPCA, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, by community members who wanted to rescue homeless dogs in the Central Texas region. HLCR initially started as a “foster only” organization. However, through generous community support, a location was found near Marble Falls, Texas and HLCR became a no-kill dog shelter. Since then HLCR has built a kennel facility, outdoor pens and walking trails, has a staff and resident caretaker, and is blessed with an active and passionate group of volunteers who work tirelessly supporting HLCR and its mission. In 2019, we changed our name from Highland Lakes SPCA to Highland Lakes Canine Rescue to more appropriately reflect our focus and mission.

Paws of Austin Great Dane Rescue

PAWS of Austin (Protection for Animal Welfare Services) is a non-profit animal rescue organization established in Austin, Texas for the purpose of providing refuge to stray and unwanted companion animals. PAWS breed expertise is Great Danes.

Service Dogs Inc.

ABOUT US For 35 years, Service Dogs, Inc. has transformed unwanted dogs into lifelines for Texans living with significant challenges. PROGRAMS Hearing Dogs: Alert their deaf partners to essential sounds Courthouse Facility dogs: Help abused children and other victims of trauma find their voice in court Service Dogs: Perform a variety of assistive behaviors for their mobility challenged partners first responder Facility dogs: Support First Responder resiliency HISTORY A New Life for Shelter Dogs 1988 | Attorney Sheri Soltes creates Texas Hearing Dogs with the double mission of helping people live better lives and using shelter dogs instead of breeding. Training utilized positive reinforcement in contrast to traditional industry methods using force. Expanding Services 1991 | After a request from an individual with a spinal cord injury, we expand to train Service Dogs. New name: Texas Hearing & Service Dogs, Inc. We continue to provide all dogs and lifetime follow up free of charge. Helping Child Victims 2015 | SDI introduces our Courthouse Facility Dog program to serve help our littlest victims find their voice in court. We train them to work with Victims' Services staff within District and County Attorneys' offices. Dogs like Sumi, support children during forensic interviews and on the witness stand. Heroes for Heroes 2018 | In response to a District Fire Chief's plea for help with first responder suicides, we created our First Responder Facility Dog program. These dogs work full time helping build resiliency among firefighters, paramedics, hospital staff and law enforcement agencies. First responders suffer from a suicide rate 30% higher than the general public. Emergency Services Facility Dogs help destigmatize mental health. Training Vets to Train Service Dogs 2024 | We are building a Veterans Training Program. Newly adopted shelter dogs will live with specially selected Veterans who will train them foundation behaviors using our positive training techniques. This win-win program provides veterans with job skills, the therapeutic benefits of the unconditional love of a dog and the pride of making an impact on the life of the disabled clients who eventually receive the dog they trained.

Save An Angel

Save An Angel is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit animal welfare organization in Bastrop, Texas on a mission to end pet overpopulation, increase pet retention, and create a compassionate and safe community for pets and people. We are committed to proactively improving the quality of life for pets by empowering pet parents with the resources and education needed to care and provide for their companions. We operate each day with the motto: Pets. People. Purpose.

New Hope Animal Rescue

New Hope Animal Rescue, NFP is an accredited 501c3, focused on Animal Rescue Through Fostering and Adoption We are a fully accredited 501c3 nonprofit organization, created to help save the lives of dogs and cats who are at risk of euthanasia. We save the discarded, the lost and the unwanted and we can't do it without your help! We are not a shelter. All of our rescues are cared for by fosters and volunteers. We provide them with the medical care they need so they can find their forever homes.

Central Texas SPCA

Central Texas SPCA is a small non-profit adoption center. We are not a public drop off and do not accept stray animals or owner surrenders. We rescue dogs and cats at risk of euthanasia by pulling them into our shelter from high kill shelters. We provide them with a unique home-like shelter with spacious indoor condos for the cats, size-appropriate crates for the dogs, as well as outdoor kennels and off-leash play areas for the dogs. For over 35 years, we’ve been dedicated to personalized, force-free, 1:1 care and attention of each and every one of our rescued animals to ensure they are healthy, and well-adjusted before their adoption. Our adoption process is informative and pleasant with a friendly staff. The Central Texas SPCA was the first no-kill shelter in Williamson County when it opened in 1988. We are a private, independent organization relying solely on private donations, grants, adoption fees and fundraisers to save hundreds of homeless pets annually. Throughout our 33 years, we’ve never wavered from our commitment to provide quality, compassionate care to homeless dogs and cats for however long they need us. Our primary sources of animal intake are small, rural shelters in the Central Texas area where animals are at risk of euthanasia due to high intake numbers and low adoptions. We led the way in our area many years ago in the movement to provide home-like spaces for the animals. The cats have large condos with cat towers, climbing shelves, room to run and a space for human visitors to sit down. Most condos have natural light from windows to the shelter grounds. The dogs we rescue enjoy large outdoor play runs on our two-acre property. Runs have shade and splash pools during hot weather. All are large enough for volunteers to enter for a game of tug or fetch. Dogs are off-leash most of the day and often are paired with other dogs for exercise and companionship. During the night and on inclement weather days, they are in their size appropriate crates inside and are walked on our tree-shaded grounds multiple times a day. Every animal is spayed or neutered, vaccinated and microchipped before adoption. We also provide age-appropriate vaccines, species-specific testing, heartworm prevention and any special veterinary care needed through our local vet partners. Because of our 1:1 care, we know each animal’s personality and needs, which allows us to make matches that align with our Forever Family goal. All adopters are carefully screened to ensure the greatest likelihood of success with each adoption. Since 1988, we’ve rescued and found loving homes for more than 7000 dogs and cats.

Caldwell County Animal Coalition

Caldwell County Animal Coalition, CCAC, is a 501C3. Our purpose is to advocate and educate for animal welfare in Caldwell County. CCAC’s goals include hosting and promoting educational workshops and low-cost/no-cost clinics to help citizens be better stewards towards their animals.

Italian Greyhound Rescue Foundation Texas and Oklahoma

The Italian Greyhound Rescue Foundation (IGRF) is dedicated to helping Italian Greyhounds in need of our care. We have a national network of VOLUNTEERS that make our mission possible. This website caters to Oklahoma and Texas specifically. We are a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, and we rely on donations to keep the rescue machine running. As a foster-based Rescue, our volunteers and foster families are the foundation and most important aspect of our ability to do what we do-without foster families we can't take in orphans that need our help. All of our IGs live as members of a family until their forever home comes along. They are all fully vetted and any medical issues are addressed and disclosed to potential adopters. Education about this wonderful and quirky breed is a very important part of what we do as well. This breed IS NOT for everyone. Please ask lots of questions and browse all of our IG-related materials to help decide if an Italian Greyhound is the right dog for you!

South Texas Boston Terrier Rescue

STBTR was born in July of 2016 with a vision and as an additional resource for Boston Terriers, and other brachycephalic breeds, that need rehabilitation, rehoming, medical treatment, and any other TLC including hospice care, in the Houston and greater Gulf Coast areas of Texas. We have expanded outreach to dogs in Austin, San Antonio, Laredo, Del Rio and other areas with the help of a volunteer base that now stretches state wide and into south Louisiana. We are strictly a foster based rescue – we have no facility. All of our dogs are housed in foster homes for vet treatment and evaluation.

Georgetown Animal Shelter

The Georgetown Animal Shelter is a municipal shelter, meaning it is supported by taxes like any other City department. It is an open-door shelter that accepts all dogs and cats found within the city limits or surrendered by owners that live within the city limits. It has been in the same location for about 25 years: on College St. near San Gabriel Park.

Georgetown Animal Outreach

Wimberley Adoption Group & Rescue

We are located in the beautiful Texas Hill Country, an hour southwest of Austin. WAG Rescue is a volunteer-supported, non-profit 501 (c) (3) public charity for dog rescue and adoption with a Refuge and Adoption Center in Driftwood and a network of foster families. We have rescued and adopted out over 2,000 dogs and puppies since our inception in June 2009 and returned countless animals to their owners. Currently, we have a single-family structure on our 6-acre refuge property with covered, outdoor kennels to house our dogs that are not in foster care. Additionally, we have two separate small structures consisting of a Nursery and Healing House. WAG Rescue sincerely thanks all of our donors, volunteers, and adopters for their continued support and tireless efforts as our community grows

AY CHIHUAHUA RESCUE

Ay Chihuahua Rescue is an all volunteer-operated, 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, whose mission is to rescue, rehabilitate, and re-home Chihuahuas in Central Texas. We are solely funded by adoption fees, merchandise sales, and principally through generous donations from Chihuahua and animal lovers just like you! In-Home Foster Families We do not have a brick and mortar facility, so all our Chihuahuas live with volunteer foster families dedicated to improving their health and mental well-being. As the backbone of our organization, our cherished foster families know that their participation truly means the difference between life and death for an at-risk Chihuahua. Donations Go Straight to the Dogs This also means that without overhead, every dollar donated to Ay Chihuahua Rescue (ACR) is used in direct support of the Chihuahuas in our adoption program!

Austin Humane Society

The longest-standing no-kill, non-profit pet and adoption center in Austin We’re dedicated to saving Austin’s homeless cats and dogs, educating our community about responsible pet ownership, and reducing pet overpopulation. Serving our community since 1952, the Austin Humane Society (AHS) is the longest standing no-kill shelter in Austin. AHS transforms the lives of animals and the people who love them through life-saving programs that find animals homes, serve animals and people in times of crisis, prevent future homelessness through spay and neuter, and engage the community to be a part of the solution. Over the past year, AHS has unleashed hope for over 11,000 animals thanks to the generosity of our donors.

Williamson County regional animal shelter

The Williamson County Regional Animal Shelter is the only shelter solely devoted to the lost and abandoned animals of Round Rock, Cedar Park, Hutto, Leander, and Williamson County.

Love-a-Bull

LOVE-A-BULL, Inc. is an outgrowth of the former Austin American Pit Bull Terrier Meetup Group, which was formed in 2003. This social meetup group for owners and dogs to connect and form a community evolved into a group of people who wanted to see change. Since that time, organizers recognized that the political climate warranted the need for change. As a result, LOVE-A-BULL org achieved 501(c)(3) status in 2008 so that the group could more fully attain its mission and goals. LOVE-A-BULL was organized to educate and advocate on behalf of the American Pit Bull Terrier, the American Staffordshire Terrier, and the Staffordshire Bull Terrier (all breeds commonly referred to as pit bulls) and pit bull mixes. The message we try to spread is that they are dogs, just like any other dog, they just happened to be called pit bulls. Our mission is to promote responsible guardianship and improve the image and lives of pit bull-type dogs through community support, education, advocacy, and rescue. In 2020, we saved a record 200 pit bull-type dog lives more than quadruple the amount as in the previous year. In our history as an organization, we have supported the community through spay/neuter and vaccination clinics, providing resources on Austin, TX pit bull-friendly housing, financial assistance, and low-cost training. We have also provided active advocacy against breed discriminatory legislation and started one of the country's first all pit bull-type dog therapy programs. We currently maintain a foster-based rescue program and work daily to promote a more positive and accurate public image of all pit bull-type dogs through various local outreach and social media efforts. LOVE-A-BULL regularly hosts fun activities, but its main goal is to promote advocacy and education. Our group is comprised of members who live in Austin and the surrounding areas, as well as national members who wish to support our mission. We welcome the support of proud pit bull parents and others interested in supporting the above ideals and those who will work to further our goals.

Lifelong Friends Pet Adoptions

Lifelong Friends Pet Adoption Center is a non-profit 501c(3) organization that meets its operating expenses through donations and adoption fees. We would be delighted if you could make a (tax deductible) donation to our organization so that we can continue to find loving homes for animals that desperately need them.

Legacy Doberman Rescue

Legacy Doberman Rescue is an all-volunteer non-profit organization for the rescue of purebred Dobermans in Texas. Who is Legacy Doberman Rescue? LDR is four women spread out across three states and a small but mighty band of foster homes. We are not powerball millionaires. In our first six months we took in 24 dogs, including two litters of abandoned puppies. We have rehabilitated and placed 20 Dobermans so far! (We also had a board member finish her Dobermans Championsip, another put 23 titles on her two Dobermans and we had two human grand babies). We all work full time. Our rescue work is unpaid and expenses consistently exceed our adoption fee. We rely on foster homes and your donations to make this rescue succeed and save homeless Dobermans. We are asked almost every day to take on a new Doberman. We encourage you to foster a dog, make a monthly donation to LDR and participate in our ebay auctions. Every little bit makes a huge difference to the Dobermans who get to live fulfilling and rewarding lives with their new families.

Luling Animal Welfare Society (LAWS)

The Luling Animal Welfare Society (LAWS) is a 501(C)3, Non-Profit Corporation formed to work with the City of Luling Animal Control to benefit lost, seized and abandoned animals within the City of Luling. We conduct active adoption programs and have successfully placed hundreds of Dogs and Cats that would otherwise have been euthanized. LAWS also raised significant funding to build the current Animal Shelter located behind the Police Department.

Rescue PAC

Central Texas Little Dog Rescue

Central Texas Little Dog Rescue was started to help fill a void in the North Austin/Round Rock community. Our founder started the rescue after volunteering with a local shelter and a few different rescues for the past 9 years. She decided to start her own rescue to better serve the smallest pets out there. Little dogs need someone who understands their specific issues and health needs. Our focus will be on pets that are less that 25 pounds. We will make exceptions on a case-by-case basis.

San Marcos Regional Animal Shelter

The Adoption Center is open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from noon to 7 p.m, and Saturday from noon to 5 p.m. It is closed Wednesday and Sunday for deep cleaning and animal enrichment. The Intake/Reclaim office is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m to 6 p.m. Those dropping off stray animals, owner surrenders, and owner reclaims are encouraged to call or email to make an appointment. If you found a stray dog or cat, please call 512-805-2655 for resources to help get the pet back home, or check our Lost/Found list.

Happy Hooves Healing Hearts

365 Pet Connection

365 Pet Connection - a unique concept in animal welfare. The rewards of animal rescue drive us to find new ways to save as many deserving lives as we possibly can 365 days a year. After years of active hands-on animal rescue, we have accumulated a vast network of animal resources which we have molded together to form 365 Pet Connection. 365 Pet Connection is a Tax Exempt All-Volunteer Non-Profit Group and our EIN# 46-4747911. As such, all monetary donations and adoption fees are tax-deductible.

Cuz i Matter Animal Rescue