The Best Ohio Dog Rescues & Shelters in 2025

One of A Kind Pet Rescue

One of A Kind Pet Rescue is a non-profit organization founded in November 2005 and is funded by private donations. The organization is dedicated to saving animal lives, rescuing pets in imminent danger of euthanasia, spaying/neutering and adoption of homeless animals into appropriate, loving homes. We are a no-time-limit shelter, and no adoptable animal is euthanized. Many of our animals come from Animal Control Facilities (the pound) just prior to their scheduled euthanasia. Sick or injured animals brought to us by Good Samaritans are often given priority. Owner surrenders and strays are accepted when space is available.

Cabin Critters Rescue

Cabin Critters Rescue is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit in Scioto County, Ohio, that is focused on animal rescue and education. Started in February of 2019, we have rescued over 1000 dogs and cats (plus many other types of animals). Our primary focus is to find loving homes for our animal friends where they will thrive and be loved for the rest of their lives. We also care much about the humans behind the animals, therefore we are also really big in educating and providing awareness, as well as help to those who seek it.

CHA Animal Shelter

CHA Animal Shelter is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit animal shelter in northeast Columbus, Ohio. CHA is funded solely from adoption fees, donations from the public, and our own fundraising efforts.

Northeast Ohio Collie Rescue

NorthEast Ohio Collie Rescue was founded in 1995 by a group of individuals dedicated to the welfare and rescue of Collies in northeast Ohio. Many of our members also belong to local Collie clubs, obedience groups or are affiliated with other rescue organizations and local animal shelters.

Rico Pet Recovery

Rico Pet Recovery is a nonprofit group dedicated to lost pet recovery in the Central Ohio area. Through donations and our volunteer network, we have successfully trapped and returned hundreds of family pets to their homes, all at no cost to the pet owner. Some are lost from owners, but many are abandoned and scared, strayed, injured and forgotten.

Buckeye Basset Hound Rescue

We are a 501(c)3 breed specific rescue that specializes in rehabilitating and rehoming basset hounds .

Berea Animal Rescue Fund

Berea Animal Rescue Friends (ARF) is a no-time-limit animal shelter that rescues stray and homeless companion animals, provides medical care, spay/neuter, vaccinations and housing, and prepares animals for adoption into loving homes. We began as a grassroots organization in a family's garage and through hard work and the dedication of volunteers answering a real need in the community; the operation grew when the city of Berea provided us with a small building and utility costs; in return the shelter agreed to always have an open cage for the city's strays. The shelter was incorporated in 1987, and has now become one of the largest shelters in the region. In 2012 ARF purchased 16 acres of land in Columbia Township as the site to build a much-needed, larger shelter facility. We launched a Capital Campaign to raise funds for building, and in June of 2020 we moved into our beautiful new 5,300 square foot shelter . offering greater capacity to house animals and an enhanced environment for volunteers and adopters.

Paws and Prayers Pet Rescue

At Paws and Prayers, a dedicated force of volunteers drive our goal of saving as many animal lives as we possibly can. Founded in 2001, Paws and Prayers blossomed from the notion that all cast-off animals deserve only the best lives as loved, indoor pets. With a higher power's guiding hand and unending prayers, the rescuers that formed Paws and Prayers sought to rescue, rehabilitate and re-home forgotten, neglected, or otherwise left-behind pets. One of the first of its kind, Paws and Prayers rescuers formed a foster-based rescue system in which every saved pet was cared for in the loving homes of the organization's volunteers until the perfect adoptive home is found. In its inaugural year, Paws and Prayers saved the lives of 200 dogs and cats. Paws and Prayers ever-growing base of volunteers and foster homes proudly saves hundreds of pets each

Sicsa Pet adoption and wellness center

In 1974, a group of dedicated individuals committed to offering the Miami Valley an alternative to the traditional animal welfare system, came together and created the Society for the Improvement of Conditions for Stray Animals (SICSA). For 50 years, people in the Miami Valley have supported the SICSA Pet Adoption and Wellness Center in a partnership of caring to build a strong humane community. In 2020, SICSA built a new, state-of-the-art facility located at 8172 Washington Church Road, Dayton, OH 45458. This facility features a spacious Veterinary Clinic, a Temporary Care Wing, numerous Play Yards, and more!

Tri-State Collie Rescue

We're Tri-State Collie Rescue (TSCR), a 100% volunteer- and foster-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that has been dedicated to Collies, Shelties, and mixes thereof for over 40 years now. Our mission is simple: Rescue Restore Rehome

RESCUEDohio

RESCUEDohio is a 501(c)3 organization that is run entirely by volunteers with no paid staff Founded in August of 2015 by animal rescuers who wanted to do dog rescue differently Our volunteers & board of 7 are dog first focused & work tirelessly to place dogs into loving, compatible homes As a foster-based rescue, all dogs are in foster homes prior to adoption Because we are all volunteers with day-jobs, families & other responsibilities, we do not have a physical location, phone number, or hours of operation.

Stop the Suffering Animal Rescue of Ohio

STS (Stop the Suffering) is volunteer run animal rescue based in Columbus, Ohio. We rescue dogs from all over Ohio, northern Kentucky and West Virginia. We house dogs through foster homes and strive to connect each one with their perfect forever family. STS is a 501(c) 3.

D.A.S.H Animal Rescue

Our Mission is to rescue and rehome companion animals. We spay and neuter to reduce overpopulation and to assist in reducing the euthanasia rate for companion animals. We do this by providing the best possible care and treatment while waiting to place them in safe and loving permanent homes.

Cincinnati Animal CARE

Cincinnati Animal CARE operates Hamilton County's one and only animal shelter and is responsible for the county's dog warden and animal control services. As the sole taxpayer-funded provider of these services, we are committed to ensuring that all animals in our community are valued, protected and have a safe place to call home. We meet the immediate needs of animals that come to us through highly individualized care, life-saving solutions and temporary housing either in the shelter itself, or in foster homes throughout the community as we work to find safe and compatible homes for all. Known also as Cincy CARE, we assumed responsibility for Hamilton County animal services in August 2020, becoming the state's first open-admission municipal shelter committed to the humane no-kill philosophy, which means only euthanizing an animal when there is no other option for a live outcome.

Almost Home Dog Rescue of Ohio

Almost Home Dog Rescue of Ohio is an all-volunteer, 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that has rescued hundreds of dogs since its inception in 2003. Donations and fees go directly to supporting the care and placement of our rescued dogs. AHDRO is a 100% volunteer organization. AHDRO's mission is to provide homeless collies, shelties, and mixes of both breeds a safe haven where they will receive medical care, nutrition, and love until their forever homes are found

Gigi's

Welcome to Gigi's! We're a nonprofit regional care organization that provides homeless dogs with access to quality shelter, veterinary, behavior, and adoption services at our state-of-the-art campus in Columbus, Ohio. We give homeless dogs in rural shelters the love and support they need to be ready for a home -- just like yours! Whether you're looking to adopt a pet, make a difference as a foster or volunteer, or give to save shelter dogs, we're excited you're here!

Columbus Humane

Our approach to advancing animal welfare is based on the belief that innovation should be constant. And that moving forward with thought-leading programs that enrich, fulfill and, yes, save lives is more than a goal. It's a given.

Golden Retrievers In Need Rescue Service, Inc.

Golden Retrievers in Need Rescue Service, Inc., also known as GRIN is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, incorporated in 1992 by a group of Golden Retriever enthusiasts who recognized the need to find good homes for the countless Golden Retrievers euthanized each year for lack of a loving home. Thirty years later we are proud to continue the work they began.

Pawsitive hope

Pawsitive Hope Inc. is an animal rescue that has many parts; we take in animals with medical issues from shelters, take in owner surrendered medical animals, and provide medical / surgical care to animals that are part of other rescues. Pawsitive Hope Inc. also assists in educating the public on the benefits of spaying / neutering, we financially assist low income families to have their pets altered and we have created a program called Fix A Family that is available to families with pregnant dogs/cats, or dog/cats with litters. We provide medical care for the moms and puppies until the puppies are weaned. We then vaccinate, deworm, apply flea prevention, microchip and spay/neuter puppies, subsequently placing the animals up for adoption. We will also spay/neuter the parent dogs free of charge and return them to their owners. In addition we alter cats that are part of Trap, Neuter, Release programs. We volunteer our services as veterinarians, veterinary technicians and assistants to spay/ neuter clinics for low income families.

Northeast Ohio Shetland Sheepdog Rescue

Northeast Ohio Shetland Sheepdog Rescue, Inc. is a 501c3 non-profit network of individuals concerned with the welfare of Shelties. It is not a shelter. We are dedicated to providing an alternative to dogs in Northeast Ohio who have been abandoned, abused, or given up by their owners.

Golden Retriever Rescue Resource

Golden Retriever Rescue Resource, GRRR, Inc. is dedicated to re-homing abandoned strays & unwanted Golden Retrievers and Golden Retriever mixed dogs. We serve all of the Toledo Ohio - Northwest Ohio areas, and select areas of Dayton & Columbus. We also adopt golden retrievers to the southeast area of Michigan and the northeast area of Indiana.

Rose's Rescue

Rose's Rescue is 501(c)(3) non-profit all-breed rescue run by a small group of volunteers and no paid employees. We do not have a central shelter location that is open to the public as all of our rescued friends are in foster homes. Who we are and how it all began: It all started when founder Rose Sachs answered an ad in the local classifieds that said they could help a person find homes for unwanted pets. Rose had recently moved to a rural setting with some acreage, and had subsequently acquired 4 or 5 dogs that had been dropped off or that she'd found abandoned and was trying to find new homes for them. It was 2002, and she ended up partnering with the person who placed the ad, calling themselves "New Leash on Life." After about a year, they went their separate ways, but Rose continued her work re-homing pets in need. She found a few other like-minded people to help her - just one or two at the start, and Rose's Rescue was born. It took several years to grow into something more than just basically a few foster homes, but by 2004 had become a relatively cohesive group with a more defined process and mission. On October 10th of 2006, Rose's Rescue was officially granted it's 501c3 status. Since, then, we have continued to grow with more volunteers, a more structured operation, and more animals under our care, We utilize modern technology with the implementation of a large database system (through rescuegroups.org), our own website, active Facebook page and busy event calendar. We strive to not only help the animals we have rescued, but also work to support our local pounds where there is a need we can address, (provide vet transport, help to defray vet costs, etc), and work with other rescues and shelters in our area for the benefit of animals in our greater community.

League for Animal Welfare

Founded in 1949, League for Animal Welfare is a privately funded, non-profit organization providing much-needed care for unwanted, lost and neglected cats and dogs in our community. As the oldest and one of the largest no-kill shelters in the area, the League serves the Greater Cincinnati area through initiatives to reduce the number of homeless animals and to help people better care for their pets. With the support of our dedicated staff, volunteers, foster families and friends, the League provides medical and behavioral care for more than 1,500 cats and dogs we find loving homes for each year. In addition to our sheltering services, the League also addresses the root causes of companion animal homelessness through assistance to local pet owners, including our pet food pantry; spay/neuter voucher program; vaccine clinics; and veterinary assistance program.

Heaven to Earth Rescue

From Heaven to Earth is a 501c3 rescue that wants to save as many adoptable puppies as possible, proactively. Most of our puppies come from Amish, Farmers, and other families that have not gotten their pets spay/neutered. Many people still hold to the idea that spay/neuter takes the work out of the dog, others avoid it for religious reasons. This will sometimes attract people that use the puppies for negative things such as dog fights, etc.

City Dogs Cleveland

The mission of the Cleveland Division of Animal Care and Control is to reduce the number of stray and unwanted animals by enforcing City animal ordinances and connecting residents to low-cost spay & neuter services. In addition to helping animals in need, the Cleveland Division of Animal Care & Control (CACC) responds to complaints, enforces ordinances, picks up stray animals, and reunites lost pets with their owners. The Division also provides resources and assistance to animal owners while making every effort to facilitate positive outcomes for animals in their care.

Must Love Corsos Rescue

Must Love Corsos Rescue is a section 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, incorporated in 2018, with over 97 years of breed and rescue experience among our volunteers. Governed by an active Board of Directors, Must Love Corsos Rescue is facilitated in its entirety by compassionate professionals who volunteer their time and resources to save the lives and to care for Cane Corsos who are in need across the nation.

Purebred Rescue Of Ohio

Purebred Rescue Organization of Ohio has been rescuing, rehabilitating, and rehoming companion animals for over twenty years. What started as a small foster-based rescue in Dayton, focused on purebred puppy mill releases and owner surrenders, has grown into a multi-city effort, and now includes the PUPP Prison Dog Training Program and partnerships with shelters across the State of Ohio to help save hundreds of dogs each year. Contrary to our name, we rescue dogs of all breeds, mixes, shapes, and sizes! We provide standard vetting for them while they are in our care - all of our dogs are fixed, heartworm tested, vaccinated, and microchipped before they are placed in adoptive homes.

Help Save Pets

Help Save Pets was originally founded as the Humane Society of Plainfield in 2000. Since then we have placed over 16,000 animals into loving homes. Each one of these animals was given shelter, food, medical aid and vaccinations and time to find the right home. Our doctors mended mutilated limbs and cured many illnesses so that these animals could get a second chance at good lives. We have grown and now operate out of 10 locations, 8 in Illinois and 2 in Ohio. In 2008, we changed our name from the Humane Society of Plainfield to Help Save Pets, still HSP.

Franklin County Dog Shelter & Adoption Center

We are dedicated to providing responsible enforcement of dog laws in our community, compassionate treatment of the dogs in our shelter, and on-going education for our citizens. Franklin County Dog Shelter & Adoption Center is committed to saving lives. Our shelter is the largest county shelter in Ohio. Last year we took in 9,819 dogs and puppies, including all stray dogs in the county as well as owner surrenders and unwanted litters of puppies.

Colony Cats & dogs

Colony Cats is an all-volunteer, 501(c)(3) non-profit organization whose primary mission is to address cat overpopulation in central Ohio through public awareness and spay/neuter efforts. Since 2002, our organization has facilitated spay/neuter of nearly 26,000 cats and dogs, and placed more than 21,000 pets in homes. We have a cage-free cat adoption center and a network of foster homes for friendly, adoptable cats and kittens (as well as dogs/puppies we encounter while assisting cats) that have been rescued. We are also in partnership with area pet supply stores that help us by showcasing our adoptable cats at offsite locations throughout central Ohio (click here to see a list of offsite locations). Specialized help for feral, stray and abandoned cats is a core element of our programs. We assist compassionate caregivers who are feeding and watching over homeless cats by providing TNR (trap-neuter-return) and other support services including food, shelter, vaccines and additional vet care for injuries/illness, as well as educational resources. Experts estimate that there are more than one million feral and stray cats in this area; animal shelters can't accommodate such a vast number due to lack of space. Sadly, thousands of cats in the region are being euthanized each year. Through Colony Cats' humane, non-lethal programs, homeless cats can have the decent, healthy quality of life they deserve and better co-exist with their feline and human neighbors.