The Best Riverside, CA Dog Rescues & Shelters in 2025

Yucaipa Animal Placement Society (YAPS)

Yucaipa Animal Placement Society (YAPS) is a no-kill nonprofit dog and cat rescue based in Yucaipa, CA. Our mission is to strive to prevent the euthanasia of dogs and cats throughout the region by providing them a temporary safe haven until a permanent and loving home can be found.

Guardian Angel Pet Rescue, Inc

Our Goal is to assist in the Rescue of Dogs and Cats from High Kill Shelters. We also foster and assist in the networking of pets in need of permanent loving homes. We have limited space so we are always looking for volunteers to Foster…. for information on how you can foster please click on the Fostering link above.

All Paws K9 Rescue

We started rescuing on a small scale in 2003. We helped with trap and release of abandoned animals in our local desert area. In 2016 we became a 501(C)3 and rescuing those at risk of euthanasia in our California Shelter system. Since then we have been growing and growing. Now in 2023 we are recognized as a 501c3 in the State of Iowa. We are so excited to see what is in store for us this coming year. To date we have rescued over 200 dogs, some moms with pups and several medical dogs needing help. We would not have been able to do so without the support from many of our friends family fosters board member and the donors that have given anything from money to blankets towels and DOG FOOD. Our rescue is in constant need of fosters. We are always in need of fosters for our seniors that need a quiet place to stay comfy, also bottle feeders for the little ones that have had something happen to their momma, Large dogs are always in need of a place to stay especially those that get a bad wrap just because of their breed. All our fosters provide a safe and loving home for those awaiting their furever homes.

Foster Army Animal Rescue

Animal Authority Rescue Team

Domino Effect Animal Rescue

Living Free Animal Sanctuary

We believe in creating a refuge for those in need of a second chance. Living Free is a home for all, a place where you can hear animals playing, people laughing and hearts healing. Emily Jo Beard had a vision – to create a sanctuary where abandoned, abused and neglected animals would be safely housed, cage free, until they could find a loving home. She believed in freedom and reverence for all life, and that justice was not meant for humankind alone, but also for animal-kind. To her, dominion over the animals meant guardianship, not power and tyranny. The courage to stand up for the rights of animals did not mean physical courage, but moral courage. Emily’s compassion still inspires us, and each life saved is a tribute to her legacy. For thousands of years, our site was home to the Cahuilla Indians who left behind archaeological evidence in the many morteros and petroglyphs that can be found on the property. We have taken steps to protect these sites and the Cahuilla legacy. In the early 1900s, John Keen bought the property developed it into a camp. His family built a resort known as Tahquitz Lodge that was used as a location for filmmaking featuring Mary Pickford, Gene Autry, Roy Rogers, John Wayne, Elvis Presley and Katharine Hepburn. Since then, it has been a cattle ranch, a logging camp, a stagecoach stop, a mountain retreat and film location for the 1920's Hollywood elite.

Joshua Tree No-Kill Shelter

The story of the Joshua Tree No-Kill Shelter began in 1972 amidst a growing crisis of homeless and abandoned pets in the Morongo Basin. It was Kay Baker, a dedicated animal lover and the operator of Hi-Dez Kennels, who donated a 3.5-acre property in Joshua Tree to the newly formed Morongo Basin Humane Society. This generous act led to the shelter’s official opening in 1981. Over the years, despite facing challenges, the shelter has thrived with the support of our community, evolving into a recognized no-kill shelter in 2005. Today, we stand proudly as the Joshua Tree No-Kill Shelter, a testament to our enduring commitment to saving lives and nurturing the bond between humans and animals.

ALMA Rescue Foundation

Erin Riley-Carrasco and Suzie Williamson, lifetime friends, have a shared passion for animal advocacy. Suzie founded a Spay and Neuter Campaign in her hometown of Vizcaino, Mexico and teaming with several veterinarians, has spayed and neutered over 5000 dogs in her hometown. She has also fostered, rescued and found homes for countless dogs in the area and Southern California. Erin has been an animal activist since the age of 19 and has been involved in dog rescue for 30 years. In 2015 she worked closely with a group of dedicated volunteers to get nine city ordinances passed in Southern California, banning puppy mill pet stores in the area. She also volunteered with “Social Compassion In Legislation,” flying to Sacramento and testifying in favor of AB485 which ended up passing, ending puppy mill pet stores in the state of California. Together, this dynamic duo hopes to make an impact on the lives of needy animals by providing networking, transport, veterinary care, fosters and homes for neglected and abused dogs and cats. They truly believe that animals are someONE not someTHING and that every animal deserves a chance and a forever home.

Luna Siberian Rescue

Luna Siberian Rescue is a small but mighty 501c3 non-profit Husky Rescue located in Southern California near Joshua Tree National Park. Our first husky Luna inspired us to try and help other huskies in need. We especially love to help the underdogs that many overlook.

Pet Place International, Inc.

Pet Place International, Inc. (PPI), is a 501c(3) non-profit animal rescue, sanctuary, and therapeutic riding program (Great Strides) located near Joshua Tree, California. We live at the rescue ranch along with all of our animals. In addition to scheduled adoption events, we utilize all genres of media, including appearances on K-Cal 9 and KTAL News, local radio programs, newspaper, magazine write-ups, and social media to find homes for our rescued animals. Our founder and president of PPI, Joan Grandizio started actively contributing to animal welfare needs while operating a dog grooming business. She created a wall calendar featuring her groomed dogs, the sales of which garnered funds to donate to various animal rescue organizations. How did we get our name? Joan Grandizio created an Animal Product Directory designed to help raise funds for rescue. It was called Pet Place International Pet Directory. In 2008, PPI became a non-profit, boots on the ground, hands-on animal rescue! Since its inception, PPI has rescued and placed thousands of animals. We currently provide a healthy, loving environment to dogs, cats, pigs, horses, and a donkey — and the new kids on the block (See below). Until they get their forever home, they are safe, healthy, loved, and happy with us at the PPI Rescue Ranch. As animal stewards, it is our goal to educate, help prevent cruelty and neglect to animals, and bring awareness to children and all members of the community regarding animal welfare issues; and to provide for the health and well-being of animals with an emphasis on saving lives, and spay/neutering to help eradicate pet overpopulation and euthanasia. In a struggling economy, many horse owners cannot afford to properly care for their horses; and horses that are not winning on the track are eventually auction and slaughter-house bound. These regal animals deserve to live out their lives with dignity and respect. PPI rescues these at-risk horses, restoring their health, training them, and making them ready for placement into qualified forever-homes. Love 1 Love All - photos of puppy, baby pig, baby lamb, and calf. As vegans, our concern reaches beyond companion animals. We lobby and advocate with fervent activism to educate the public and bring about change regarding the cruelty of factory farming. Consuming factory-farmed animals is not only unnecessary to sustain one’s health (to the contrary), it is harmful to our planet. We encourage everyone to sign every petition that advocates for ethical, compassionate, and dignified treatment of all animals world-wide; and to adopt a plant-based vegan diet. It’s our job to make the world a better place; moreover, it’s our job to be an attentive, caring, voice for the voiceless.

Retrievers and Friends of Southern California, Inc

Retrievers & Friends of Southern California, Inc., was formed to rescue and re-home Golden Retrievers and Labrador Retrievers, providing an alternative to the animal shelter for owners who can no longer keep their dogs. We are a full-service rescue, with dogs coming to us from all over the Southern California area for foster care services. RFSC not only provides care for dogs while they are waiting for adoption, but we provide follow-up assistance for the life of the dog. If for any reason a family can not keep a dog, the dog is brought back to the organization for placement. We have volunteers that perform home visits before each adoption. Our geographic adoption area is Riverside, San Diego, Orange and certain areas of San Bernardino counties. We cover areas of San Bernardino county that are 1 1/2 hours or less driving distance from Temecula. In addition to Golden Retrievers and Labrador Retrievers, RFSC also accepts mixed breeds and other small purebred dogs as space allows. We accept Goldens and Labs of all ages, including seniors and those with special needs. All dogs are spayed and neutered and updated on vaccinations if not already done by the owner. Dogs with special medical needs are further evaluated by our veterinarian for treatment. Your donations are always appreciated and help us to continue to care for these special dogs. Because we are an all-volunteer group, 100% of all adoption fees and donations are used for the care of the dogs in our program. Your tax-deductible donations are appreciated!

Apple Valley Animal Services

The Animal Services Department consists of Field Services and Shelter Services, working together to protect public safety and provide humane animal care through sheltering, pet placement programs, education and law enforcement. Our philosophy is to promote responsible pet ownership, compassion toward animals and safe human-animal interactions. We celebrate partnerships with various individuals and rescue organizations that allow us to increase placement of adoptable animals into permanent loving homes. Working together, we all can provide a "Better Way of Life" for the animals in our care - four paws at a time.

Huey's Rescue

We are a Non-Profit Organization inspired by the loss of a beloved cat, Huey, that is here to help local shelter pets in need. Our rescue is located in Temecula, CA and we focus our efforts on helping our local animal shelters (Animal Friends of the Valleys and Ramona Humane Society). We take the unwanted, sick and injured kittens, cats, puppies and dogs as well as small animals from these shelters. We place these animals into loving and experienced temporary foster homes until they are physically and mentally healthy enough to find their forever homes.

I.C.A.R.E. Dog Rescue

Dream Team Angels Rescue

Dream Team Angels Rescue is a group of women who volunteer 100% of their time to helping homeless, sick, and injured dogs find their forever homes. Our history Dream Team Angels Rescue has been operating as a small federally recognized non profit rescue 501(c)(3) since 2018. Collectively, we have been helping our local pet population for more than 25 years!

Code Red K9 Crew

Redlands Humane Society

The Redlands Humane Society generally has a varied selection of pets available for adoption. Cats and dogs, pure breeds and mixed breeds, large and small, young and old. All waiting for that special person or family to love and be loved by. We operate an “all breeds” pet rescue and adoption program. We do not operate a shelter and never euthanize a healthy animal. All of our animals are in volunteer foster homes until they find good adoptive homes. We have no paid staff, this is an all volunteer organization. While this gives our pets a more caring environment, it also limits the number of pets we can take into our system at a time. If you are interested in more information on becoming a volunteer foster, please see our page for volunteer opportunities. We are the oldest Humane Society operating in California, with over 100 years of history. This history pre-dates the annexation of Redlands as a city. Our historical documents are on display at the Smiley Library in Redlands. Our current program, “Operation Second Chance” has been our focus since the 1990s.

Laguna Beach Animal Shelter

PUP Laguna Beach, a non-profit corporation, is the fundraising arm of Laguna Beach Animal Shelter, dedicated to bridging the gap between City funding and the special needs of our animals. PUP Laguna Beach directs fundraising efforts to ensure that the animals receive the best care possible including medical attention, neutering/spaying and behavioral reinforcement before they are adopted. In addition to fundraising, we are involved in animal issues that are brought to the attention of the City Council, along with working with the Police Department and Animal Control concerning any animal problems within our communities of Laguna Beach and Laguna Woods. PUP Laguna Beach is made up of a small board of directors who are active volunteers and staff members at the Laguna Beach Animal Shelter. Each member can attest to the heartwarming experience of pairing a once-abandoned dog with new loving “parents” and witnessing tears of joy that often follow. There are also many heartbreaking stories about neglected and abused animals who find their way to the shelter. The Board is privileged to experience firsthand how fortunate we are in the City of Laguna Beach to have a quality, clean and humane shelter providing extraordinary services every day.

Unconditional Rescue

Compassionate Animal Rescue for Medical Aid

Compassionate Animal Rescue for Medical Aid is a private, non-profit 501(c)(3) founded by veterinary professionals dedicated to enhancing the lives of people in our community through our love for animals. Our purpose is to rescue sick or injured animals, provide them with necessary medical care and place them into caring homes if needed. CARMA continues to be an all-volunteer organization so that 100% of the money raised through adoptions, merchandise sales, and from our valuable individual and corporate donors and sponsors goes towards the animals we rescue.

New Beginnings For Animals

We’re an all-volunteer, 501c3, non-profit organization based in Mission Viejo, California. Our four Board Members and more than 30 Volunteers are dedicated to saving abandoned dogs and cats in overcrowded shelters throughout California. Many of the animals we rescue have a slim chance of getting out alive due to sickness, injury or lack of kennel space. Owners Who Must Give Up Their Pets — Our rescue efforts focus on shelter animals, particularly adults and seniors in need of medical care with little chance of survival, so we don’t often have the resources to take pets from owners who can no longer keep them. We are always happy to help network a pet in need of re-homing, though the owner will be responsible for fielding inquiries, screening, home checking, and adopting their pet to a good home.

Promise 4 Paws

Desert Paws Sanctuary

Desert Paws Sanctuary is committed to the rescue, rehabilitation, and rehoming of abandoned animals. Our mission is to establish a sanctuary for these animals while also offering educational resources and support to low-income communities in the area of animal welfare.

Support 4 Paws

Support 4 Paws is a 501c3 nonprofit ​organization supporting animals and their ​guardians through community outreach, ​medical assistance and educational ​programs. Our mission is to keep animals in ​their homes, out of shelters and off the ​streets by providing much needed services ​to their owners. Thereby, we are “rescuing ​before rescue is needed.” If we can keep animals at home with their ​owners then they don’t end up in ​overcrowded shelters at risk of euthanasia

Doggie Bonez, Inc.

Doggie Bonez was founded by Jacqueline aka Jackie. She has a passion for dogs that started at an early age. Instead of playing with dolls, she enjoyed playing with all of her animals. Jacqueline’s first rescue was more than 18 years ago. She hasn’t looked back since, except to fondly remember all of her successful adoptions! Doggie Bonez is run by a group of volunteers, who provide their time, effort, and their love of all dogs. Doggie Bonez would not be as successful as it is today without all the help of these special people. If you would like to volunteer to help these great people and care for these great dogs & puppies, please Contact Us. We would be forever grateful for any and all help you could provide.

Shadow Husky Rescue, Inc.

Forever Young K9 Rescue

In July 2013, I walked into North Valley shelter in Los Angeles to adopt a dog named Austin for a wonderful woman Gina Mann Landers. Gina had seen his picture in the shelter and wanted to open her home to him. The shelter advised me against adopting him because they thought he was at least 10 years old, and they did not believe he would live much longer. Austin and I walked out of the shelter that day and he never looked back. After leaving that day with Austin, I could not help but wonder how many other seniors were left behind because someone told adopters they were too old and it was a mistake. That began the journey to start Forever Young. I have learned many things along the way and have been touched and blessed by many experiences. I learned it was not just seniors that were left behind; the sick are treated similarly. In November of 2013, a sweet boy named Pelo was turned in by his owner because he was sick. He was not given treatment and he spent his time lying in his kennel in pain. Many rescues walked by him and did nothing. For me, it was beyond heartbreaking to see him neglected and suffering. But, there was a small community of individuals who resolved to rescue him. With only 30 minutes to closing, Sandy Naples rushed in and adopted him. With the help of the AC officer, Sandy placed him in her car and met me at our vet. Our vet confirmed he was suffering, and had been for some time. We gave him a comfortable bed, a sponge bath, managed his pain, and gave him the affection he deserved. For the first time in a very long time, he had a restful night’s sleep. The next morning, on Thanksgiving Day, we celebrated with the entire staff with a large breakfast consisting of all things that are bad for you. Later that day, surrounded by people and affection, he crossed the rainbow bridge. By giving just a little of our hearts and our time, we were able to provide profound relief to Pelo. Our experience with Pelo stays with us and serves as a strong reminder of our purpose in starting Forever Young. As our rescue has grown over the years we have opened and will continue to open our hearts to all dogs of all ages and circumstances. Whether they are with us for an hour, a day, a week, a year, or a lifetime, they all deserve to cross with love and dignity.

Greendog Foundation

We are passionate about caring for those who need an extra hand (or 5!). We believe that everyone (and every animal) deserves a chance to be their best, and we try our best every day to make sure that all of our animals can find a forever home. The opportunity for an animal to have a second chance at life would not exist without the extraordinary generosity of our donors. Every dollar raised provides care, medical services and the opportunity for an animal to have a loving and permanent home.

All Things Pups Rescue

All Things Pups Rescue was founded in 2020 by celebrity dog trainer & behaviorist Kaelin Munkelwitz. Growing up, Kaelin always had a deep connection with dogs and developed a passion for fostering and rescue. When Kaelin moved to California, she was devastated by the number of sweet and healthy dogs being euthanized due to overcrowding in California shelters, especially pits and other large breeds who had been labeled as “aggressive dogs”. Over the years, Kaelin has poured her heart into saving these dogs through training and education and has built a reputation within the rescue community as a "miracle worker" with aggressive and reactive dogs; so much so, that she is considered the 'go-to' trainer for aggressive dogs on the verge of euthanasia among rescues she partners with. Kaelin’s ultimate goal was always to start a rescue but saw it as a long-term goal. However, a puppy named Kuma came into her life changed everything… Kuma first entered Kaelin's life in 2017 when he was a 3-month-old training client and started having seizures and high fevers under her care. After rushing him to the vet, Kuma was given less than a 10% chance of surviving the next 24 hours, and his owners were ready to give up on him. But recognizing Kuma's strength and love of life, Kaelin knew that Kuma had more to teach the world. She begged his owners to surrender him to her so that she could give him a second chance. And so began their incredible journey together. He was given a prognosis of around a year, and Kaelin was ready to do everything she could to give Kuma the best life with the time he had. Kuma’s condition included spiking fevers as high as 106 degrees and painful joint flare-ups about twice a week that lasted throughout the night. The disease was managed by high dose steroids, countless medications, and long nights of constant cold water baths, enemas, and fluids that Kaelin would administer herself until 2, 3 or sometimes 4am in the morning before going to work that morning to help other dogs. But beyond his terrible disease, Kuma was full of incredible happiness and powerful, unconditional love. He fought every single day of his life, always with a smile and a wagging tail, showing the world what true strength is. And Kaelin fought right alongside him, making sure he always knew he was never alone through any of it. At the age of 11 months, Kuma crossed the rainbow bridge in Kaelin’s arms. While Kuma may be physically gone, his story lives on, teaching others what unconditional love and true strength looks like. After going through this experience with Kuma, Kaelin was inspired to act on her dreams of starting a rescue to save other dogs like Kuma who are looking for someone to give them a second chance. All Things Pups Rescue’s ultimate goal is to give abandoned dogs like Kuma a second chance and decrease the number of dogs euthanized in local shelters by showing our community that you can find wonderful dogs of all ages, breeds and sizes through rescue. All Things Pups Rescue is lucky to have an incredible team of dog-loving, loyal and intelligent people that share Kaelin’s undying passion for doing whatever it takes to save dogs and educate the public on how to become better dog owners. As Kaelin knows the importance of training and owner education, every All Things Pups Rescue dog receives individual training to ensure we know the best fit for our dogs and can ensure successful adoptions.