The Best Olympia, WA Dog Rescues & Shelters in 2025

The Humane Society for Tacoma & Pierce County

The Humane Society for Tacoma & Pierce County was founded by a handful of compassionate community members and has grown into one of the state's largest animal welfare agencies. Each year, we find loving homes for more than 6,000 pets, reunite over 1,100 animals with their overjoyed owners, and provide care for thousands more in our community. Additionally, we offer several comprehensive programs and resources, including Spay/Neuter & Wellness Vouchers, a monthly Vaccine & Wellness Clinic, a Pet Food & Supply Pantry, behavior advice, and private rehoming services.

Caring Hearts 4 Paws

Founded 06/21 with a passion to help strays of the Yakima Valley and Yakama Reservation we take in pregnant or nursing strays with their puppies.

Misspits Rescue

I started Misspits Rescue in 2013 to help advocate for pit bull type dogs. After adopting Dexter, a big, happy, pit bull that almost died simply due to his looks, I knew I had to do something. After years working with a local pit bull rescue and volunteering at a shelter, Misspits Rescue was born. In the last ten years we have grown and moved to larger property. We adding additional breeds over the years and help those that need us the most. Now that we have the space, we offer sanctuary to farmed animals as well. This created a perfect place to help struggling herding breeds as well.

Forgotten Dogs Rescue

Forgotten Dogs Rescue is a volunteer and foster home based rescue organization focused on saving Pit Bull type dogs. Located in Washington State, we are a 501c3 non-profit and have been saving animals since 2011. We are dedicated to rescuing homeless and abandoned dogs who are in Washington's shelters, surrendered by their owners due to difficult circumstances or are in danger of abuse or neglect. We save the dogs that need help the most, the dogs whose time has run out, the dogs who have lost all hope the forgotten dogs.

Red Rose Animal Rescue

Every year hundreds of animals such as dogs, cats become homeless for many reasons. Our mission is to find the homeless animals around the country and give them a better life. As like humans, they need love, care and also need home. We founded our organization to give them a chance for a loving home and family. Our successes are going forward and every year we give a better life to hundreds of homeless animals.

Kitsap Humane Society

Kitsap Humane Society is a nonprofit, charitable organization that depends upon the kindness and generosity of its community to find homes for homeless pets. We spay/neuter thousands of animals each year to prevent animal overpopulation and reduce the number of future homeless pets. Sheltering animals since 1908, Kitsap Humane Society envisions a time when all adoptable pets have loving homes.

Seattle Animal Shelter

Animal control officers at the Seattle Animal Shelter are responsible for enforcing the laws and codes involving animals within the city of Seattle. Officers work seven days a week to ensure human and animal safety within our city. Many complaints may be submitted using our online service request form, a system provided and maintained by the City of Seattle. This system is available 24/7 for your convenience and allows you to track the status of your complaint and communicate with our staff. The service request form should be used for complaints or questions that are not time sensitive and do not involve threats to public safety, injured or sick animals, or animal cruelty concerns. Service requests are handled by customer service representatives seven days a week, pending handling of high-priority and emergency calls.

Casa Dog

Casa Dog 501c3 # 83-4562131 Casa Dog is a non-profit, no-kill, volunteer dog rescue organization serving South King & Pierce County founded April 19, 2019. Casa Dog is headquartered in Puyallup, WA. We are completely foster based. We have fosters from Mill Creek to Portland. We rescue dogs from Mexico, California & locally. Unfortunately, dogs are in need to be rescued everywhere.

JustCare Rescue & Sanctuary

Founded in 2017, we are a 501c3 nonprofit in Oakville, WA. We have a dedicated team of volunteers who take in unwanted animals, provide them with the necessary care and affection, and ensure they are ready for adoption into their forever homes. The animals that are not adoptable will have the opportunity to live out the rest of their lives in the sanctuary.

Misunderstood Mutts Rescue

Misunderstood Mutts Rescue (MMR) is a registered 501(c)3, volunteer-operated organization serving the greater Yakima Valley and Puget Sound region. We are dedicated to saving abandoned, free, and throwaway dogs in areas where abuse, neglect, and cruelty are prevalent. Misunderstood Mutts Rescue exists to ensure the welfare of canines while helping to stop the abuse, neglect, overpopulation, and euthanasia in Washington State. We're also 100% volunteer-operated and 110% sure that all dogs deserve to be happy, healthy, and loved!

Shayne's Rescue

Shayne’s Fosters (formerly known as Shayne’s Rescue) is made up of some foster families in Western Washington who are dedicated to saving the lives of dogs who are rescued from very high kill shelters and there is a myriad of entire litters needing rescue in Texas:( We have assisted Texas rescues in rehoming thousands of their rescue dogs/pups. We assist Pet Central SATX Rescue, Sam Coffey Animal Friends and other Texas rescues, when we can. They rescue abandoned dogs, from high-kill shelters and from other situations. They use professional dog rescue transporters to get the dogs to the Pacific NW for pre-adoption and to our fosters in Western WA. They are in rescue/foster in Texas quarantined and evaluated/trained and all medical is done there. All vet/medical records go with the dog when adopted. Some pre-adopt and others come to the Pacific NW to foster prior to adoption.

North Beach PAWS

North Beach PAWS is committed to saving the lives of homeless and unwanted dogs and cats by providing shelter or foster care, and to seek permanent loving homes for them. We promote the spaying and neutering of dogs and cats to reduce overpopulation. We are dedicated to educating the community to create responsible pet guardianship. We seek justice for animals that are victims of abuse.

South Pacific County Humane Society (SPCHS)

Our Story – Before There Was a Shelter The South Pacific County Humane Society began as a grassroots effort to help the animals of the Long Beach Peninsula. Dawn Gregory formed a group called the Pet Protectors, a small non-profit organization. Another small group began under the name of the Humane Society. The Pet Protectors and the Humane Society each worked to trap and alter feral cats, providing a loose network of foster homes, providing temporary refuge for stray pets, and connecting them with forever homes. Meanwhile, Ed Ketel and Catherine Lindblad’s Oceanside Animal Clinic in Seaview, Washington, was pinch-hitting with medical care and very temporary shelter as they could without jeopardizing resources for their patients. There was not a no-kill shelter in the region and so, when a pet had nowhere to go, the only options were humane euthanasia or to beg a pet be taken in by a surrounding shelter, buying it a little time, the last chance. 1991: The two groups joined forces under the name Humane Society resulting in today’s South Pacific County Humane Society (SPCHS) and plans for a facility were dreamed into reality. Floors heated by water pipe, concrete block construction, air circulation system, quarantine, and common areas were all a part of the plans. The City of Long Beach granted SPCHS an extended lease for the land on which the Shelter sits, with a yearly rent of $1, which has been paid for fifty years. 1996: Construction Begins A ground breaking ceremony took place on October 4, 1996, and construction began just 3 days later. Funding for the Shelter facility came primarily from a $50,000 grant, a $10,000 bequest, a fundraising mailer raising between $5-$6,000, and a classic car raffle. In addition, a number of businesses and individuals donated time, talent, and materials. Major contributors included Steve Langer, Steve Newell, Milt Wadler, Maria Patten, Krissy Lindsey, Billie Sacks, and Doris Holcomb. Mr. Phil Olsen of the Longview Humane Society was a vital consultant in the construction phase of the shelter. Don Anderson of Peninsula Plumbing, Gary Miller of Universal Services, Ford Electric, Tony Mourikas, Jeff Dorr, and Miller Paints were among some of the many merchant donors. So many names were not recorded; we would like to acknowledge those unnamed volunteers, businesses, and contributors who are not listed here. Your gift of time, goods, and/or services has allowed us to reach out to the community and better serve our animals in need and we, along with generations to come, thank you. Some of the cash donations received along the way created the organization’s general operating fund. While the Shelter was being built, the group continued to use donations of cash and goods to provide food and medical care to pets in need, keeping as many as possible in forever and foster homes. 1997: Open For Business! When the Shelter opened its doors in 1997, it was unofficially as a no-kill Shelter. In that first year or so, the Board and volunteers quickly ensured that NO-KILL was a part of our mission and vision for all time. No animal in our care is euthanized unless its health dictates this as the most humane course of action or it is unadoptable due to aggression we are unable to either retrain or move to a facility with more capability than our own. Animals in our care receive medical attention and socialization. All animals adopted from our Shelter are spayed or neutered; it is in our mission to alleviate the dog and cat overpopulation problem. 2006: Reorganization In 2006, the Board of Directors was reorganized, increasing its seats from seven to fifteen. A group of Board members and Shelter volunteers spent more than a year with the bylaws, clearing up sections that led to dual interpretations and preparing the organization for the next decade and more. Board, Staff, and Volunteer manuals were developed and policies and procedures were developed to both ensure our legal compliance with government organizations and to better position the organization to apply for, and receive, grants and other funding. Over the next few years, Board, Staff and Volunteer Handbooks and other documentation were developed, policies were developed and reviewed and SPCHS was brought from a grassroots effort into a business model. 2009: Expansion In August of 2009, SPCHS entered into an agreement with Pacific County and the City of Long Beach to lease a small piece of land north of the shelter facility. Using grant funding, the area was developed into a Meet & Greet area for dogs. 2011-2018: More Expansion In March of 2011, SPCHS entered into an agreement with Pacific County to lease the modular building to the west of the shelter facility through February 28, 2021. The property had a solely administrative function until 2016 when permission was granted to develop a fenced area into a small dog exercise area. On November 27, 2018, the lease was extended to December 31, 2030. And now… SPCHS has one full-time Shelter Manager and half a dozen part-timers working early morning and evening shifts to make sure the cats and dogs are fed, have clean kennels and receive proper medical care, Everything else is done by a big team of super volunteers. Our volunteers walk dogs, cuddle cats, do lots of laundry and dishes, answer phones, process adoptions, solicit grants, promote adoptable animals, help at fundraising events, and much more. Our Board and Advisory Council volunteers oversee operations and finance and plan for the Shelter’s future. Operating an animal shelter is not cheap. It costs about $19,000 every month to operate the Shelter. Our biggest monthly expense is payroll, averaging about $9,000 per month. For spays, neuters, medical care and medicines, we spend an average of $4,000 each month. Almost $3,000 a month goes to supplies, which includes cat and dog food, vaccines, microchips, cat litter and disinfectants for cleaning. Our supply costs would be higher if not for the generosity of the South Pacific County community. We receive donations of cat and dog food, toys, beds, blankets, bath towels, paper towels, garbage bags, toliet paper and other items we would need to buy. SPCHS continues to care for animals because of community support. Cash donations are our top source of income. Grants, adoptions and fundraising events supplement the support we receive from hundreds of wonderful donors.

PAWS of Grays Harbor

The Doberman Rescue Pack

The Doberman Rescue Pack is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation in Washington State. Our primary focus is to help Dobermans in need get their best second chance at life in a new suitable home. Rescue dogs go into foster homes while they are properly vet checked and assessed by our preferred veterinarians and trainers. We work very hard to understand each dog's needs and find them their perfect match. We are not a first come first serve rescue because our mission is to make sure each dog is ready to be placed in their forever home, no matter how long that takes.

Doggone Seattle

We are dedicated to saving homeless dogs in high-kill shelters across Washington state and beyond. Every dog we rescue is placed in foster care so we really get know their temperament and compatibility. Our case managers strive to match each dog with the adopter that's right for them. As a non-profit organization, we depend on adoption fees and donations to fund our life-saving work. Please support us in our mission by volunteering, fostering, adopting or donating today.

Second Chance Dogs

Second Chance Dogs was founded by Diana Crimi. In July 2009, the group became an official non-profit organization in an effort to help more dogs. Each current member brings their own special gift to the organization. When all heartfelt efforts are combined, Second Chance Dogs is able to offer a variety of services to help rehabilitate and find loving homes for these wonderful dogs.

Wet Noses Foster Paws

501c3 non-profit l No-Kill l Est 2019 l Tacoma l Bremerton We have been rescuing dogs since early 2019. Our main goal is to help our out of state rescue partners who are having a harder time finding homes. With our second goal being a second alternative to surrendering your pet to the shelter. Since we do not have a physical shelter, we partner with Wet Noses Dry Paws doggie daycare where we are able to showcase them in a playful, happy, loving environment with other loving dogs in our community giving them the chance to shine while also providing mental and physical stimulation where some over crowded shelters do not have the resources to do so. ​We have a 7 day trial with no strings attached to ensure the dog is a good fit in your home before fully committing.​ Most of our dogs come from Texas. We also take a few flights a month to help our street dogs in Mexico. Locally we do take in surrenders and try to pull dogs from Yakima Humane Society monthly.

Valhalla Rescue

Valhalla Canine Rescue's purpose is to help improve the lives of animals through rescue, community support, and education programs. We are a medically based rescue that specializes primarily in canines, but to assist all animals in times of need. Our volunteers are experienced animal advocates and most are professionals in a variety of animal care and behavior fields. Valhalla Rescue was formed over 25 years ago by Patti and her family and other animal lovers whose careers brought them face-to-face with the tragic reality of companion animals. Today, Valhalla Rescue includes ‚'the ranch' and a network of foster homes, medical experts, and other volunteers experienced in animal behavior who help to ensure our rescues can find forever homes with families that match their needs.

Lewis County Animal Shelter

The Shelter's goal is to attract responsible pet owners who will provide adopted animals a permanent, loving home. The Lewis County Animal Shelter is open to the public from 10:00 am - 4:00 pm Tuesday through Saturday. The Shelter houses stray, homeless, and unwanted animals. The Shelter strives to find all adoptable pets a lifetime home and promote responsible pet ownership through education and outreach. For lost or found pets please contact us at (360) 740-1290. The Shelter does offer a disposal service for deceased cats and dogs for a small fee. The Shelter will not pick-up deceased animals.