The Best Michigan Dog Rescues & Shelters in 2025

Dalis To The Rescue

At our rescue, we are not only dedicated to matching our dogs with the perfect home, we are also dedicated to educating our community about the benefits of spaying and neutering as Dalis herself raised the funds to build a surgical room at our rescue where we host low cost spay and neuter clinics for the public. We are not exclusive to one area or county, in fact many people use our services from all over the state of Michigan and even some out of state including Wisconsin, Ohio, and Indiana. Dalis heart belongs to the misunderstood, the old, and the disabled. She always says that her goal is to rescue, but that her dream is that one day she won't have to.

A Rejoyceful Animal Rescue

Here at ARAR, we see our shelter as a safe transition point for many animals in need. Our goal is to keep animals in our shelter for the least amount of time possible. It is just a place for them to crash before their next step into a foster or adoptive home. Currently, we have about 30 cats and 10 dogs in our shelter. We do our best to make the animal's time here the best it can be. When they are in their kennels we play calming doggie music and they get enrichment actives. As we do not have a fenced in yard area outside, on nice days we schedule SniffSpots for our shelter residents! It is a great way that they can explore a new space and get some energy out.

Heart of Michigan Bernese Mountain Dog Rescue

Rescues are frequent. Re-homings are more frequent. Re-homings differ from rescues in the fact that we will have a history of the dog and its need. Puppies don't normally need to be placed until they get bigger than the owner had intended and therefore are not as common in rescue. Please keep in mind that most ‚rescue/rehome dogs, are placed because of behavioral problems, most, but not all. Many of the dog's issues were due to lack of training and socialization. Most problems can be addressed and corrected in a stable and loving home. If you really want a Berner, do tons of research. Our advice is to attend shows, join a BMD club and research breeders. If you would like to be considered for a rescue or re-homing, please read our policy's on the Adopting page. The mission of the HMBMD Rescue program is to take in dogs of Bernese Mountain Dog parentage that are in shelters, surrendered by their owners, or that have become lost and abandoned, and to place them in permanent pet homes in order to help provide a safe harbor that they might otherwise be destroyed or abandoned.

Little Traverse Bay Humane Society

Little Traverse Bay Humane Society rescues 900-plus animals each year. Little Traverse Bay Humane Society is located between Harbor Springs and Petoskey, Michigan, and impacts the lives of thousands of pets within the community through their invaluable programs in addition to veterinary services, boarding, grooming, doggy daycare, and training.

Mackenzie's Animal Sanctuary

Mackenzie's Animal Sanctuary, the Mid West's largest sheltered no-kill sanctuary, was founded by the Azzar family in August of 1999 after the passing of their beloved dog Mackenzie

I Heart Dogs Rescue and Animal Haven

Dianne Reeves and Andrea Sesi met in 2012 while volunteering at a local rescue. They bonded over their love for the underdog and dog training, and they decided to use their energy, passion, and resources to create their own brick and mortar shelter focused on continuing the needed and important life saving work. I Heart Dogs Rescue became an IRS approved 501(c)(3) nonprofit charity in February 2013, and officially opened its shelter doors on November 13, 2015.

Make a Difference Rescue

Our rescue was formed in 2010 for the purpose of preventing abuse to animals. MADR was primarily a foster based rescue until 2015, when we opened a shelter in Detroit to accept more intakes and expand our reach. We help the dogs no one else will touch, regardless of their breed, behavior, or medical condition. This includes saving dogs from euthanization from high kill shelters, medically-fragile owner surrenders, rescues from abusive situations, and disease-ridden strays. We provide the behavioral training, medical assistance, and support to rehabilitate these dogs, no matter the cost, until they're ready for a new forever home.

District 5 Animal Alliance Detroit

We are solely operated by Volunteers and empowered by Community. We are Foster based, meaning we are everywhere our Fosters are and are not rooted in one location. Last year in 2023, we rescued over 200 Dogs, our biggest year yet. We have big dreams and big hearts, believing individual people CAN make a difference.

Happy Feet Pet Rescue

Welcome! We are so grateful you found us and are ready to make a difference. We are a nonprofit dedicated to helping dogs and cats in need. We are completely foster based which means each animal is placed in a very loving home environment where they can gain basic needs & care without the stress of the shelter life. Please explore every area of our website and feel free to email us with questions.

Detroit Dog Rescue

Our nonprofit organization focuses on raising awareness of the mounting homeless and stray dog epidemic in Detroit, along with advocating for humane rescue alternatives such as no-kill sheltering, foster care and adoptions, pet identification and healthy pet population control through spay and neutering. Detroit Dog Rescue also specializes in community outreach, and we work closely with local, city and statewide organizations in order to educate and involve people in this cause. We also respond to calls to assist the Detroit Police Department, Highland Park Police Department, Hamtramck Police Department, Fire Departments, the City Administration, as well as hundreds of residents who have asked for our help.

Mitten Mutts Dog Rescue

Mitten Mutts Dog Rescue is dedicated to helping dogs that are most at risk of not being adopted in high-kill and overcrowded shelters. When a dog is able to get out of the shelter into a home, we are better able to see the dog's wonderful personality, work on its specific needs, and find the perfect forever home. In an effort to cut down on the homeless pet population, we educate and assist the public on spaying and neutering. We are run 100% by volunteers and dogs are fostered within volunteer homes.

Detroit Pit Crew

We are a 501C3 non-profit organization that operates as an emergency street crew picking up stray dogs, of any breed, off the streets of Detroit that are severely injured or sick. We are also an assisting agency to several police departments in the Metro Detroit area and we hold dogs on behalf of law enforcement that are part of animal cruelty or neglect cases. We do not do the adopting out part of rescue as we have 21 partner organizations that adopt out the dogs that we rescue. We receive no state or government assistance we operate solely on donations.

Bottle Babies Rescue

Bottle Babies Rescue is a 501(c)3 non-profit foster based animal rescue that covers most of Southeast Michigan. We have fosters, adopters and supporters across Wayne, Washtenaw, Monroe, Livingston, Oakland, Lenawee counties and many more. We have a continued special interest in neonate care, bottle feeding and providing critical care for the smallest of paws.

New Hope Pet Rescue

New Hope Pet Rescue-Michigan (NHPR) is committed to helping people and animals in need. We hold ourselves to a high standard one which looks out for the physical AND mental well-being of our animals. Our mission is to provide a means to place unwanted, adoptable animals into appropriate, loving homes. All animals brought into rescue are fixed, vaccinated, tested and micro-chipped prior to adoption, and all potential adopters are screened to ensure an appropriate match is made.

Friends of Detroit Animal Control

Friends of Detroit Animal Care & Control (FoDACC) is a volunteer-run, non-profit organization that supports the daily operations of Detroit Animal Care & Control (DACC), which is Detroit's municipal shelter for stray pets. FoDACC is active in the areas of volunteer management, fundraising, donations, community outreach, foster programs, adoptions, in-shelter enrichment, and medical care for the animals.

P.O.E.T. Animal Rescue

We are primarily a foster based rescue with a small kennel to house animals awaiting foster, medical treatment and/or temperament testing. We have around 100 foster homes all over the Metro-Detroit/Tri-County area for dogs and puppies. Our foster homes allow the animals to learn being with a family, in a home and for us to find out what type of forever home environment is best for each animal. Our animals receive medical care, love and training while until they can find their forever homes. Our address for mail is: POET Animal Rescue, P.O. Box 606, Garden City, MI 48136

Bellwether Harbor

Bellwether Harbor Animal Shelter and Training Center is a non profit 501c3 organization. We are dedicated to the health and well-being of the abandoned, abused and neglected dogs and cats coming into our shelter, preparing them for their adoption with people looking for forever companionship. We do this through medical care, socialization, training, and sometimes rehabilitation. We work with people looking to adopt our animals by helping them to find the dog or cat that is the best fit with their lifestyle. We do this through an interview process, multiple visits, education and training. Our ultimate goal is to encourage and support the human animal bond.

Great Lakes Dog Rescue

Great Lakes Dog Rescue was founded in 2022 by those dedicated to helping dogs find their forever homes. There are so many dogs in need, and we work closely with adopters to help find them the best fit for their family. It's an honor to help unite dogs with families while also allowing us to save another dog in its place.

Humane Society of West Michigan

Humane Society of West Michigan manages animal admissions coming into our shelter. This means that we mindfully balance the number of animals we intake in order to continue providing the best care and shelter for our current animals. This admission policy requires the public to schedule an appointment in order to surrender their owned animals to make sure that we have proper space available. This policy is based solely on space capacity and our goal to provide quality care without overcrowding. Our staff is dedicated to finding homes for all of our adoptable animals and this is only possible by limiting the number of animals admitted to the shelter.

Pound Buddies

Pound Buddies is Muskegon County's only open admission shelter. This means we accept all dogs who are lost, abandoned, neglected or abused regardless of age, breed, disposition or health status. We operate with a small staff and a wealth of volunteers, providing compassionate care, medical treatment, and basic training, with a goal of reuniting lost pets with their owners and rehoming healthy adoptable animals who are surrendered or unclaimed. Pound Buddies is dedicated to reducing the number of unwanted pets through spay and neuter programs, and works diligently to help shelter animals overcome adoption barriers. We remain committed to keeping families and pets in Muskegon County safe by working closely with law-enforcement and providing public educational opportunities.

Hairy Houdini Siberian Husky Rescue

We are a foster home based rescue organization serving Michigan. Once the dogs are in our care, we update their veterinary care including spay/neuter, they are microchipped, temperament tested, and monitored and cared for by a volunteer in our wonderful foster program. Once we have matched the personality of the dog with the perfect home, they get adopted!

Malinois and Dutch Shepherd Rescue, Inc. (MAD)

Malinois and Dutch Shepherd Rescue, Inc. (MAD) is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization which is dedicated to rescuing Belgian Malinois and Dutch Shepherds who have found themselves without a home (surrendered, discarded, abused, neglected or impounded). MAD Rescue does not have a physical location and is operated by compassionate, like-minded professionals who volunteer their time and resources to help save and care for the Malinois and Dutch Shepherds. All animals that are accepted by MAD Rescue are spayed or neutered, given medical attention and rehabilitation, as needed, and placed with foster homes until their health and evaluations are completed and they are ready to be placed in their loving permanent homes.

Happy Paws Haven Co

RESCUING PETS Our animals often come from dire situations of neglect and abuse. We also save last-call and code red animals off euthanasia lists, as well as re-home owner surrenders. COMMUNITY OUTREACH & EDUCATION Through education, we strive to inform the community about rescuing, adopting, population control and the myths of breed discrimination. Education is a powerful tool. FOSTER HOMES We are a foster based animal rescue. Fosters are the heart of the rescue and allow our animals to decompress in a warm and loving home before adoption. DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION We strive to create an inclusive and equitable community of rescuers who seek to improve the lives of homeless animals. We do not tolerate harassment of any kind for any reason.

Humane Society of Huron Valley

For more than 125 years, the Humane Society of Huron Valley has been serving the community, saving animals and helping people. HSHV is still the only animal shelter in Washtenaw County, taking in all types of unwanted, injured, lost, stray, abandoned, and abused animals. Today, we help over 24,000 animals and their people through our array of services every year. HSHV is governed by a board of directors and is supported by generous individual and corporate donors.

Hearts of Hope Dog Rescue

Hearts of Hope Dog Rescue is a non-profit organization made up of dedicated foster families devoted to helping homeless and unwanted dogs find loving, forever homes where they can happily live out the rest of their lives. Since our beginning in 2011, more than 2,000 animals have been adopted to loving forever homes. With your help, we will save many, many more.

Harbor Humane Society

Harbor Humane Society is a 501(c)(3) non-profit animal shelter located in West Olive, MI. Founded in 1956 as Ottawa Shores Humane Society, we have been serving our west Michigan community and beyond for over 50 years and we hold the municipal contract for Ottawa County. On average, over 3,500 animals enter our facility each year as strays, animals transferred in, and owner surrenders. Harbor Humane Society does not and shall not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion (creed), gender, gender expression or identification, age, national origin (ancestry), disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or military status, in any of its activities or operations. These activities include, but are not limited to, hiring and firing of staff, selection of volunteers and vendors, and provision of services. We are committed to providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for all members of our staff, customers, volunteers, subcontractors, vendors, and clients.

Copper Country Humane Society

The Copper Country Humane Society (CCHS) is a non-profit (501c3) organization that is dedicated to the welfare and humane treatment of animals. CCHS provides the following services for Keweenaw, Baraga and Houghton Counties plus the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community (KBIC). 100% of the money needed for vet care, spay/neuter and medical needs for the 900 animals CCHS cares for annually is raised through monthly fundraising events and private donations. We thank you for all the support. * CCHS is a local non–profit organization and not part of any state or national organization.* A little History CCHS was founded in 1974 to help animals in our community through providing foster homes for lost and abused animals. In 1992 the Keweenaw Animal Alliance (KAA) was opened as the first animal shelter in the area. In 1994 the CCHS and the KAA combined resources thus forming one organization to better serve the community and the animals. The organization and shelter is now known as the Copper Country Humane Society. In the beginning less than 100 animals were cared for at the shelter annually, but CCHS has quickly grown and now cares for approximately 900 cats and dogs annually. In 2005, CCHS opened the doors to a new state of the art animal shelter after 3 years of fundraising and planning the construction was completed. The new facility with bright colored walls, spacious kennels, play areas and lots of care allows CCHS to help more animals. It also encourages more people to adopt homeless animals and to volunteer at CCHS. Both the community and the animals are winners with this new animal shelter. About Cody, formerly the CCHS mascot: CCHS tribute to Cody (pdf) Adoption Services – Our successful adoption program matches homeless animals with responsible people seeking pets. The nominal adoption fee helps defray some of the costs of the initial vaccination, de-worming and spaying/neutering of adopted dogs and cats. CCHS helps over 900 animals annually and ninety percent of our dogs and cats are adopted or claimed every year. There is NO time limit on our animals looking for homes, CCHS cares for them for as long as they need us. CCHS cares for about 80 animals each day at our shelter. Education– CCHS provides outreach and education to schools, civic organizations and other interested groups. Speakers discuss various animal-related issues with emphasis on caring for pets. When appropriate, a shelter animal accompanies the speaker, giving audiences a chance to see an example of the animals available for adoption. In addition, CCHS uses all forms of media such as TV, radio, newspaper, newsletters and handouts to inform and educate the community about all aspects of animal care. Spay/Neuter Program – CCHS is dedicated to controlling the dog and cat population. No animal leaves the shelter without being sterilized (unless advised not to due to health reasons by a veterinarian). In addition, CCHS raises money through volunteer fundraising to assist low-income families cover the costs of sterilization procedures. *CCHS also provides low cost vaccination clinics to also assist people in keeping their pets healthy and happy*

Northwoods Animal Shelter

The Northwoods Animal Shelter, a non-profit corporation supported by and committed to the community of Iron County, Michigan, shall operate and maintain an Animal Shelter Complex which offers a safe refuge where basic needs are met and limited medical care is provided for surrendered, stray and neglected animals. As part of our ongoing commitment to humane animal treatment, we shall promote community awareness regarding responsible pet ownership in a courteous, professional, and compassionate manner. Northwoods Animal Shelter 501(C)(3) It all began in August of 2001, when a small group of concerned citizens became informed of the lack of proper care and compassion for the local animal shelter residents. For many years the Iron County Sheriffs Department ran the old animal shelter, located in the former Homer School. Although the sheriffs department owns the building and its officers are still responsible for handling complaints regarding stray animals, the animal shelter volunteers are now allowed to assist in the caring of the animals at the Northwoods Animal Shelter at 930 Selden Road. To improve the animals' living quarters, volunteers did much cleaning, painting, added kennels for both dogs and cats and created a large outdoor dog run. Besides daily cleaning, the volunteers exercise and groom the animals, and provide medical care and affection as well. They monitor adoption of the animals so that they are put into responsible homes. Volunteers actively participate in fundraisers with the goal of raising enough money to build a new animal shelter. There is now a very enthusiastic and hard working group of volunteers at the Northwoods Animal Shelter who are united in their love and concern for the animals and welcome your support. We are currently accepting application for more volunteers, as we have big goals for this year! Shelter volunteers have also taken some obedience training with a local trainer. It has helped us in the handling for our many lost and homeless animals. On behalf of all the dogs and cats at the Northwoods Animal Shelter, the Volunteers would like to thank all the people who have rescued stray animals, spayed or neutered their pets, adopted shelter animals, participated in fundraising events, or donated time, money, and other useful items to help us care for homeless and neglected animals in our area. Every bit of assistance is appreciated!

Ontonagon County Animal Protection

OCAP is an all-volunteer organization with no paid staff. We operate a shelter at 19504 M-38 in Ontonagon MI, built with funds from donations and a three-year county-wide millage of $168,000 that expired in 2011. The majority of shelter operating revenues used for utilities, maintenance, food, and veterinary services come from memberships, donations, and fundraisers and have not kept pace with expenses. To establish a source of stable funding, OCAP requested millage of 0.15 mils for four years starting in 2013. This is equal to 15 cents per thousand dollars of taxable property value ($4.50 per year on $30,000.00). We are grateful that the voters of Ontonagon County approved this millage to support the shelter. At this time, OCAP does not have the resources to keep the shelter open for walk-in visits except most Saturdays from 1-4pm EST, but anyone interested in meeting our adoptable pets can call Jan at (906-884-2429) for an appointment to see the cats and Anne Lundberg (906-390-0167 / 906-884-4522) to see the dogs. We are always happy to show our residents to potential families at a time convenient for them with no expectation of adoption. This shelter is a No-Time-Limit Shelter. Because we must limit the number of animals we can accommodate and still maintain a healthy environment, and because we do not euthanize healthy animals to make room for new ones, we may not be able to accept all animals we are asked to take. All animals accepted into the shelter are loved and cared for until the right home is found. ​ If OCAP cannot accept an animal, we will work with the surrendering party to help find options other than euthanasia. In the case of unwanted pets, owners will be asked to do whatever they can on their own to find suitable homes for their pets before asking the shelter to take on that responsibility. OCAP volunteers work with the animals in our care to ensure a smooth transition into a new family. We adopt only to homes that consider pets to be part of the family, which means they will be treated with lifelong love, care, and respect. Our adoption fees are considerably less than the cost to adopt a so-called free pet and then assume the expense of spaying/neutering, worming, flea and tick control, and basic vaccinations. Our goal is to find good homes for our residents, not to make money on them.

Pet Tales Rescue

We are a network of foster homes committed to finding loving, permanent families to provide the love, companionship and quality care that every pet deserves.