The Best Seattle, WA Dog Rescues & Shelters in 2025

Resilient Hearts Animal Sanctuary

Resilient Hearts is a 501(c)3 nonprofit rescue that rescues animals from high risk situations and unites them with their forever families in the Puget Sound area. As a queer led organization, we are committed to accessible and inclusive programs for our entire community, and maintain a community safe space for anyone to share our animals.

Motley Zoo Animal Rescue

Motley Zoo Animal Rescue is the revolution of rescue. As a rock and roll-themed, foster-based, volunteer-powered rescue, we take in animals that have no one else. "Animals" primarily means dogs and cats, but as the name "zoo" implies, we take all kinds (as long as we have a foster home/ resources for that species). We work with shelters and owners who cannot keep their pets and through extensive veterinary care and training, we rehabilitate them and place them in loving, forever homes where the animals will never again be abandoned. More than 30% of the animals we take in are special or medically needy and require more extensive and expensive care. In all we work with all ages, breeds, many species and all different types of humans too- treating each as an individual so they can find the life and love they deserve.

Auburn Valley Humane Society

AVHS is a local, independent 501(c)3 non-profit, which relies on pet licensing fees, vulnerable pet housing agreements with the City of Auburn, shelter services, spay and neuter services, Thrift Store sales, Cat Cafe Sales, and generous donations from the community to fund the shelter, clinic, and educational programs.

Greyhound Pets, Inc.

John A. Hern Jr. founded Greyhound Pets, Inc. in 1985. John was a Coeur D'Alene, Idaho businessman who built a foundry business and owned Industrial Park real estate. Among John's many and varied interests, he held greyt admiration for ex-racing greyhounds and became committed to their care and welfare. As the greyhound racetrack opened in Coeur D'Alene John started a small side business providing feed and racing equipment to track kennels. He demonstrated his commitment to the dogs by being instrumental in building a track sponsored Greyhound Welfare Committee that reviewed track and kennel policies. John's first greyhounds were Roo and Babe, the two greyhounds featured in the GPI logo. John adopted several greyhounds after Roo and Babe. Ace was one of his favorites and was the subject of many of John's stories. John was the executive director of Greyhound Pets, Inc. for many years and oversaw expansion to include the Pacific Northwest and Southwestern Canada. John's generous bequest to the organization he founded has provided for GPI's continued prominence in the ex-racing greyhound rescue effort. The volunteers who continue in the efforts John began, honor his colorful leadership in finding homes for ex-racers. John is remembered and his love for ex-racing greyhounds honored in the Hern Greyt Works, GPI's kennel facility in Woodinville, WA.

Juno's Den

Welfare for Animals Guild (WAG)

Since 2001, WAG has placed dogs into new, loving homes. Our rescues come to us in many ways: owner surrenders due to unplanned life changes, over-populated shelters, and strays found wandering streets and fields. Prior to adoption, all of our rescues are spayed/neutered, receive all vaccines, are micro-chipped, and all other medical needs are addressed.

CHEW Dog Rescue

CHEW Dog Rescue is an all-volunteer organization dedicated to rescuing abandoned dogs, dogs scheduled for euthanasia due to shelter space limitations, and other dogs who need us. We are always looking to find additional foster homes and acquire funding for other essential elements of dog rescue to allow us to help more dogs in need. We strive to place our dogs in safe and loving forever homes. Additionally, we promote responsible dog ownership through the facilitation of educational and recreational activities and events. CHEW (Canine Health Education and Welfare) is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization.

The Pit Bull Pen

We are an all volunteer rescue specializing in bully breeds. We are facility based and prefer our dogs experience the home environment with their foster homes because the care they receive is superior to a shelter environment. Spay/neuter, microchip, vaccinations, training, socialization and lots of love are critical for producing well balanced and well behaved dogs.

The Humane Society of Mason County

The Humane Society of Mason County (HSMC) is a private 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that serves the Mason County area of Washington State. Our organization adheres to a philosophy of a no-kill shelter and animal rescue. We believe in providing second chances for companion animals whether they are abandoned, abused, neglected or homeless. We believe that all animals deserve the chance to live, thrive and be loved in "forever homes!" It is our sincere desire to provide aid when needed and to create opportunities for these needy animals to have a second chance at life.

Homeward Pet Adoption Center

Homeward Pet's mission is to transform the lives of cats and dogs in need through compassionate medical care, positive behavior training, and successful adoption while building a more humane community.

Seattle Humane

Founded in 1897, Seattle Humane proudly promotes the human-animal bond by saving and serving pets in need. We are one of the region's leaders in animal adoption, education and welfare. Seattle Humane is more than a shelter we are a community resource center, providing adoption services, a pet food bank and support for pet owners, low-cost spay/neuter surgeries and wellness exams, humane education for all ages and more. Our work is made possible by the support of a generous community, and through our outreach, advocacy and services we strive to ensure that animal companionship is accessible to all.

Old Dog Haven

Old Dog Haven is a small nonprofit group using a large network of foster homes to provide loving, safe homes for unadoptable senior dogs in need in western Washington. When we have room and the means, we take these dogs into our homes. We care for them as members of the family in permanent foster homes (what we call ‚Final Refuge‚) and provide all needed veterinary care for as long as they have a good quality of life. In addition, we assist rescues, shelters and owners in finding new homes for senior adoptable dogs through our website, social media and referrals.

Save A Mutt

Red Waggin' Rescue

Red Waggin' Rescue is a Washington State dog and cat rescue. We are a foster-based non-profit founded in 2012 in Eastern Washington. Our mission is to rescue, rehabilitate, and find homes for abandoned dogs and cats in need, ensure healthy pets through pet food education, cultivate the younger generation's love of animals, and build a community where animals are valued and celebrated. Every animal deserves to be loved and find a forever home! 100% of your donation will go directly to help animals in need.

Saving Great Animals

Saving Great Animals is a matchmaking rescue organization focused mainly on dogs in the Greater Seattle area. We work tirelessly to match the best pet to your family based on breed, lifestyle and other factors. With more than 8500 lovingly homed since 2007, we are proud of our dedicated team and foster homes for bringing new life to pets with loving homes to last their lifetime. We adopt out only after a dog has been spayed/neutered, updated on shots, has received proper medical care and chipped. We are dedicated to lowering the dog reproduction population, which leads to millions of lost lives. We use a trial adoption program, which includes training and counsel, and dogs are only adopted after that period. As a result, our return rates are very low. We love every single animal we rescue and we are cradle to grave, staying in touch with adopting families for years, often adding new furry loves to their homes. Adopters must sign a contract, and this is to ensure that if for some unforeseen reason, the dog needs to be rehomed, he/she is returned to Saving Great Animals for rehoming. Our dogs are never to see a high-kill shelter again in their lifetime.

The NOAH Center

In 1988, Northwest Organization for Animal Help first opened its doors at our original shelter location on Camano Island. For more than ten years our staff and volunteers worked diligently to help animals in the community. As the need for help grew in our own community and across Washington state, we knew we had to expand our resources to better serve our mission to save more animals. After years of serving animals in our local community, we expanded our horizon by adopting a new approach to our facility, programs, and services. In 2003 we debuted our current location in Stanwood, WA where we introduced our expanded adoption and brand new transfer and low-cost spay/neuter programs. Since then we have created partnerships with more than 100 different shelters to transfer animals at risk of euthanasia to our facility for the second chance they deserve; we have developed the second-highest volume spay/neuter clinic in Washington state; and we have continued to expand our efforts to ensure healthy, adoptable and treatable animals across Washington state and beyond are given a second chance.

Center Valley Animal Rescue

The Olympic Mountains provide the backdrop to Center Valley Animal Rescue (CVAR), a ranch with 32-acres of pastures, ponds, barns and shelters for large animals. The central building is home to small animals, an office, a medical room and storage. This animal rescue is the vision of Sara Penhallegon who in 2002, formed a 501(3) C Charitable Organization on the Washington State Olympic Peninsula. Sara and a handful of friends created a network of carefully screened foster care families to temporarily care for animals that were being signed over due to abuse or neglect or by people who simply could no longer care for them.

6Dogrees Rescue

At our non-profit dog rescue, we believe that saving dogs is a team effort. From our dedicated fosters to our generous donors and supporters, it takes a community of animal lovers to make a difference in the lives of these deserving pups. Together, we can give them a second chance at finding their forever homes and experiencing the love and happiness they deserve. 6dogrees – a 501c3 – is a small, grassroots rescue focusing on saving local & CA death-row dogs. Why CA? We save “red listed” dogs meaning those with less than 12 hours to be rescued. A good percentage of these dogs end up on the euthanasia list by no fault of their own. Pet stores are over selling dogs, backyard breeders, & puppy mill dogs are a big part of the problem. As they breed the new trendy dogs, these “less desirable” dogs are discarded. The dogs end up in the streets and shelters. We help many dogs in California because 800 dogs per day are dying there. The lack of spay and neuter, and education also adds to the problem leaving many agencies with very limited resources to help the animals.

Bulldog Haven NW

Bulldog Haven NW is a rescue and adoption organization that provides a safe place for English and French Bulldogs, mental & physical rehabilitation, rehoming, breed-specific shelter assistance, and more. Bulldog Haven NW was founded by a group of experienced Bulldog and Frenchie rescue people and owners from the Pacific Northwest region. All of our members are unpaid volunteers who love animals so much they give their time to help the dogs and the cause. Whether a Bulldog finds itself at a shelter where they feel it has needs before placement, is found by someone in the community, goes missing from its home, a puppy mill is shut down, or an owner finds themselves facing the need to find their Bulldog help outside what they are able to give.. this is where we can help. Our team also consists of caring shelter staff who alert us of dogs who need our resources and care, Veterinarians and Veterinary Clinics who care for our dogs as if they were their only clients, Businesses who donate supplies and food for your foster dogs, and the public who donate to our program.

Wet Noses Rescue

In Sayulita, fate brought together two extraordinary women – one American and one Mexican – who shared a deep concern for the well-being of countless sick, abandoned, neglected, and abused dogs and cats in the area. Their partnership began informally, as they joined forces to rescue, rehabilitate, and find loving homes for these vulnerable animals. Over time, their dedication and hard work paved the way for the establishment of Wet Noses Rescue. What once started as a modest backyard operation has now blossomed into a thriving 501c3 nonprofit organization with two dedicated facilities in Punta Mita. Join us in our mission to create a brighter future for these innocent beings, one Wet Nose at a time.

Lady's Hope Dog Rescue

Royal Hounds

Royal Hounds is a nonprofit, tax exempt organization in the Seattle area of Washington State and comprised solely of volunteers, who give graciously of their time and love, to this noble breed with the common goal of finding secure and loving homes for the many ex-racing and retired Hounds that grace us with their presence. At Royal Hounds, our mission is to facilitate the placement and adoption process of ex-racing and retired Greyhounds, and those bred for the racing industry. Specifically, ● We value compassion and respect for people and animals. ● We value the humane treatment of greyhounds before, during and after their use by the racing industry. ● We advocate education on the importance of responsible pet ownership. ● We believe every greyhound deserves life as a beloved pet. Our volunteers are committed to finding homes FIRST, and then determining what type of dog will best suit the approved adopters lifestyle and needs. Greyhounds are all different, having different temperaments and personalities. While some may seem similar, no two are alike. They require the correct setting if they are to thrive in their new home and adjust easily to their new life. Adopting from us usually means that there will be a waiting period as we go through the process to match the right dog to your home. During this time we suggest that you research the breed and prepare yourselves for a change in your lifestyle once your dog arrives. We work closely with Victoria, Australia based non-profit Racing 2 Rehome to find forever homes for retired racers.

Left behind K9

We support the greater-Enumclaw community through the following actions: Offering low-cost spay and neuter surgeries. Providing financial support for emergency care in life-or-death situations for injured pets. Educating the community about the importance of adoption, spay/neuter, and general animal care. Donating pet food and supplies for families in-need. Assisting other animal rescues and shelters.

Camano Animal Shelter Association

CASA (Camano Animal Shelter Association) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with a managed-admissions no-kill animal shelter which is devoted to the care of homeless pets. Our shelter is located on beautiful Camano Island and was founded in 1998 when Camano Island lost its previous animal services organization and the void needed to be filled. CASA is an independent charitable organization that cares for cats and dogs as well as the occasional pocket pet. We are contracted for stray services in Camano Island only, but accept owner-surrendered animals from Camano and beyond as space allows. Through our limited contract with Island County we provide dog licensing services as well as temporary care, boarding and redemption services for impounded/seized dogs (via Camano Sheriff Deputies/Animal Control) from Camano Island. CASA recognizes that finding forever homes for homeless animals is a community effort. When possible, we assist other shelters by taking animals that have been at their shelter for a prolonged period of time, are facing euthanasia due to space, and/or could really benefit from a change of environment or different exposure. We also work with a variety of rescue groups in order to transfer animals to them when they need more specialized care prior to finding a forever home. A number of rescue groups also utilize us on a referral basis when they are too full. Our organization works hard each day to make a positive and lasting impact in our area and beyond. Our ability to help animals is thanks to donations and support like yours. Our organization would not exist today without the generous support of our community. THANK YOU! Thanks to the ongoing support from the community, CASA is able to care for over 600 lost, abandoned and surrendered cats and dogs, per year. We are proud to say that every single animal that is adopted from us will go home spayed or neutered and microchipped.

Emerald City Pet Rescue

Founded by Vivian Goldbloom in 2013, Emerald City Pet Rescue is run by dedicated staff and volunteers who give their time and resources to house, train, rehabilitate, and care for our rescue animals.

Sunny Sky's Animal Rescue

We are a 501(c)3 Non-Profit Animal Rescue in Northwest Washington. Our focus is helping animals who need us most, with an emphasis in helping senior pets and animals in need of medical attention. In 2021 we lost our shelter due to a fire and after some time of being a foster based rescue, we finally have a sanctuary to call home. We are currently under construction and look forward to inviting you soon in the near future!

Pasado's Safe Haven

Pasado's Safe Haven investigates animal cruelty and provides sanctuary and rehabilitation to animals who have suffered from abuse and neglect. We advocate for better laws to protect animals and work to educate the public about how they can help end animal cruelty. Our programs help save the lives of thousands of animals each year and inspire people to reimagine their relationships with all beings.

Seattle Beagle Rescue

Seattle Beagle Rescue is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit, Federal Tax ID #03-0377785, dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation, and re-homing of unwanted beagles, education of owners on responsible dog ownership, and education of the public on the beagle breed. We are a volunteer run organization that relies solely on tax deductible donations to help dogs from shelters that may be overcrowded and assist private homes that can no longer care for them, as well as dogs from other rescue organizations that may be overwhelmed with beagles needing new homes and laboratories releasing beagles from testing. We have partnered with high kill shelters, international rescue groups, domestic rescue groups and individuals to safely bring pups to the Pacific Northwest. We are able to provide various types of assistance for beagles in our rescue, such as foster homes, training or medical care until each beagle can be placed in an appropriate loving, permanent home. In some cases, we may be able to provide hospice care for beagles that may not be adoptable due to health issues, but still deserve the love and warmth of a home in their final days. We are a foster based rescue and do not have a traditional kennel facility. Our dogs are cared for by their foster families until we find a forever home for them. Therefore, our process to meet dogs and to adopt our rescue dogs may be different than an animal control facility, humane society or animal shelter.

Prison Pet Partnership

Dealing with the challenges of today requires problem-solvers who bring different perspectives and are willing to take risks. Prison Pet Partnership emerged out of a pursuit to inspire and support the community, and a desire for actions to speak louder than words. Established in 1981, we’re an organization driven by progressive ideas, bold actions, and a strong foundation of support. Prison Pet Partnership (PPP) provides incarcerated individuals the opportunity to learn valuable pet care vocational skills to secure employment post-release. In addition to training, boarding, and grooming dogs, incarcerated individuals also have the opportunity to gain clerical and customer service skills. PPP identifies dogs in shelters and purpose-bred puppies to train and place as service, facility, and therapy dogs. Service dogs are trained to provide mobility assistance, respond to seizures, and to assist those who experience combat-related PTSD - increasing the independence of their handlers. Facility dogs are trained to provide assistance in clinical settings. Therapy dogs are trained to assist children in hospitals, domestic violence survivors in court, and seniors in assisted living facilities. Studies of the human-animal bond have reached the not surprising conclusion that humans benefit from the unqualified love and acceptance that only animals can provide. Incarcerated individuals earn certification as Pet Care Technicians, Groomers, Dog Trainers, and Veterinary Assistants. They love the dogs they care for and train and receive unconditional love in return. The positive mental health impacts to both the participants and dogs create a transformative experience for all involved. For years, Prison Pet Partnership has changed the lives of the incarcerated individuals who work with the dogs, the dogs who are given the chance to lead lives of service, and the individuals with disabilities who receive well-trained dogs to help increase their level of independence.

City of Shelton Animal Shelter

Shelton Animal Shelter is at capacity. We cannot accept any additional strays or surrenders at this time. Shelton's Animal Control officers protect public and private property by helping to provide a safe environment for both residents and their pets. These officers also manage operations of the Shelton Animal Shelter, located at 902 West Pine Street. Our Animal Control partners with several local organizations to coordinate support and adoption of dogs, including Adopt-a-Pet and the Kitsap County Humane Society.