The Best South Dakota Dog Rescues & Shelters in 2025

Almost Home Canine Rescue

Almost Home Canine Rescue (AHCR) was founded in Madison, SD. In Early 2018, the group was reestablished in the Sioux Falls, SD area by a group of passionate animal lovers. While we will now be based in Sioux Falls, we will continue to have a large presence in Madison through community events and assisting the Madison Animal Shelter. Our continued presence will not only fulfill our mission, but also assist in reducing the overpopulation of animals in our area and the surrounding communities. Controlling overpopulation is the foundation in which our organization was established on. AHCR is a 501c3 non-profit organization that is 100% volunteer-run and serves to help abandoned animals find new homes. Any of our board members would be glad to answer any questions at info@almosthomecaninerescue.com. Almost Home Canine Rescue recognizes the need for diversity and inclusion so that we may carry out our mission to serve unwanted, homeless, abused or neglected pets in South Dakota and the surrounding area. Just as every dog and cat has needs that our mission works to fulfill so do our donors, volunteers, fosters and adopters. All involved play a vital role in the success of our mission no matter their gender, race, ethnicity, national origin, age, sexual orientation or identity, education or disability. All are valued and respected and we work to ensure all voices are heard.

B-squad Dog Rescue

Our first transport was in November of 2014 after the death of Jayla Rodriguez. Dogs were being rounded up with a horse trailer to be disposed of, so many rescue groups got involved to help save as many of the gentle dogs as possible. We loaded our suburban to head to Hot Springs, SD to pick up a load of puppies from KC Willis of LightShine Canine. When we arrived we were nothing short of a hot mess, missing many of the necessary supplies, not quite sure how best to assemble kennels, and fumbling around with the dogs as we loaded them for their ride to safety. I remember feeling discouraged like I had no business in the rescue transport world. I apologized to KC saying that they sent the B-Squad to work with her today. She turned to us and said that the dogs didn't care that we weren't the most organized transport in the world. What mattered was that we were there, doing what we could to help get them to safety. The name B-Squad stuck, and we've transported well over 9,000 dogs to safety since that time. B-Squad Dog Rescue is 100% volunteer-driven. All of our volunteers have full-time jobs, we are hockey moms, photographers, dance moms, professionals, students, etc. We all have busy schedules, but find time to do what we can to help make a difference in the lives of others. B-Squad's motto is you don't have to be perfect to start making a difference today! We aren't professionals‚ we aren't the A-Squad‚ we are just ordinary people doing what we can to help make a difference. We are B-Squad Dog Rescue!

Paws Animal Rescue

Humane Society of The Black Hills

Located in the beautiful Black Hills and just one-hour from Badlands National Park, The Humane Society of the Black Hills (HSBH) is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that has worked with the community to provide shelter and care for lost and abused animals for more than 50 years. Incorporated on November 29, 1968, the HSBH currently operates the only major animal shelter west of the Missouri River in South Dakota. Each year, our humane society rescues about 4,000 animals. Because of the shortage of shelters, animals are picked up and brought to our shelter from as many as 20 different counties. We are an open admission shelter – no animal is turned away from our doors regardless of species, medical status, or behavior. The HSBH also provides animal welfare services and humane law enforcement to Rapid City and Pennington County governments as an independent contractor. Our Animal Services and Enforcement officers uphold Rapid City codes, Pennington County ordinances, and the State of South Dakota laws pertaining to domestic animals, educating our community to help animals alongside us. We are not affiliated with any other humane societies and rely on public funding and donations from our community to keep the doors open. Donations to national groups do not reach the pets that stay with us; if you’d like to support community animals and families who need it most, please support your local Humane Society of the Black Hills!

Battle Mountain Humane Society

Sturgis/Meade County Animal Shelter

The Sturgis/Meade County Animal Shelter is financed by the City of Sturgis and is operated as a division of the Sturgis Police Department. The Police Department has full-time Animal Control Officers (ACO), who are assigned to enforce animal laws, are responsible for the shelter operations, adoptions and the care and welfare of the animals.

Western Hills Humane Society

The Western Hills Humane Society is a no-kill, non-suffering pet shelter that protects, saves and enhances the lives of abused, neglected, forgotten or lost animals. We rely on donations, fundraisers, and generous grants we receive to keep this safe haven for precious animals around. Since we are a no-kill shelter some animals wait years to find their forever home but we will willingly keep them for as long as we need. We will accept responsibility as guardians and protectors of each animal and promote a compassionate vision of the way companion animals are valued. We believe it is time to move past the format of simply managing the animal population by euthanization. No animal should die for want of a loving home, making life an option for every animal.

Sioux Falls Area Humane Society

Serving since 1919, the Sioux Falls Area Humane Society takes in abandoned, abused, homeless and unwanted animals that need tender loving care until they can find a permanent home. We help these animals find their permanent home, prevent animal cruelty and educate people on the humane treatment of animals. Our mission is to be a safe haven and human voice for all animals in need. The Sioux Falls Area Humane Society was first founded in 1910, becoming a recognized organization in 1919. Our first location was located at 110 East 10th Street, which is now a Lewis store! In 1926, they moved their operations to 700 South 8th Avenue, into a 7-room house that was to be used for headquarters for the humane society to use for children and unwanted animals. In 1947, land was purchased north of the penitentiary at 2105 North Drive. The humane society was renovated in 1964 and 1977 while at this location. The address was eventually updated to 2001 N. Third Street. This remained our home until 2002, when we were relocated East of town off Benson Road where we still remain today. In 2012, we went through a large expansion to fit the growing need in Sioux Falls and surrounding communities. We've come a long way and are growing each and every day. We are an open admission shelter, and we have made a promise to never euthanize animals for reasons of space or time, and we've upheld that commitment ever since. Strong community support helps make each and every day at the shelter a possibility and a bright future for each animal. We continue to move forward and be innovative in our ideas and processes to help save more of the animals that need homes each year. Many of our intakes come from people surrendering their animals because they have nowhere else to go. For a variety of reasons, they can no longer care for their animals and have often exhausted their own placement resources - family, friends, online listings, etc. We make no judgment on why an animal comes to us and understand when someone feels they can no longer adequately care for their animal. That's where we come in; to help give that animal a voice and find it a forever home. The Sioux Falls Area Humane Society also provides animal control services for multiple counties surrounding the Sioux Falls Area, as well as a partnership to help care for the animals taken in by the Animal Control of Sioux Falls. We also receive animals from other shelters and rescues across the United States that can no longer care for their animals or animals that may have an "expiration" date at a different shelter. To all these animals we offer clean kennels, warm beds, loving hearts and medical attention. We are proud to be entrusted with the care of so many wonderful animals every year and we deeply value the compassion and respect our staff upholds in every animal interaction. Sadly, not all of these animals can be saved, although we do try our hardest and exhaust all resources we can on a daily basis. We rehabilitate the animals we can, with great volunteers, partnerships, and programs but we will not place a dangerous animal back into the community, nor will we allow an animal to suffer unnecessarily from medical issues that cannot be treated.

Lake Traverse Animal Rezcue

The Lake Traverse Animal Rezcue is an all-volunteer based 501c3 non-profit rescue group. Our board is made up of both tribal members and non-tribal members, we have volunteers in both SD and MN. Since we don’t do adoptions ourselves, all of our income is generated through donations and fundraising. Our Federal tax ID number is EIN 27-4582954.

Circle of Friends Animal Shelter

Mitchell Animal Rescue

We are a very small group of people who are committed to helping rescue pets from the city pound as well as assisting other pets in need. We have a small board of directors and our rescue is run entirely by volunteers and from donations and fundraising. We are an official 501c3 non profit organization which means all donations are tax deductible. Mitchell Animal Rescue/MAR Info Mitchell Animal Rescue (MAR) was formed in October 2008 by two Mitchell residents. It is a foster based rescue located in Mitchell, SD. MAR is not affiliated with the City of Mitchell, Lakeview Vet Clinic, or any other rescues. Our #1 priority at MAR is to save the adoptable animals from the local pound in Mitchell. When an animal is not adopted or unclaimed when their time is up, MAR adopts the same way anyone else does. We do not have a facility. We house our pets in foster homes. Generally, we do not know anything about the animals we take in. However, in the home setting we learn important information about the animals. This helps us when we are looking for homes for them to make sure it will be a good fit. We never know when we may need to take in an animal and are generally short on fosters. Generally speaking, we cannot receive surrendered pets unless it is an emergency. MAR is happy to provide "courtesy posts" to our Facebook Page. We have 5,000 +followers who will see and can share your post (See services we offer page) We are always seeking dedicated volunteers. If you would like to help us with our goals, please contact us. Many daily activities are required to operate MAR. Since we all have jobs, families, our own pets and foster pets, we're always open to more help. We are a 501c3 non-profit and all donations are tax-deductible! Without Mitchell Animal Rescue, all the pets we foster would more than likely be euthanized!

Oglala Pet Project

Founded in 2011 by community based volunteers at Pine Ridge who had been helping rez pets for many years, the Oglala Pet Project (OPP) helps community members and their pets through education, spay/neuter support, pet health resources, and the re-homing or networking of abandoned, abused or unwanted pets on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota. Animals have played an important role in Lakota history. Dream catchers also have significance and most Native Americans believe the dream catcher holds the destiny of the future. Many people have a dream catcher above their bed to sift their dreams and visions. The good is captured in the web of life and carried with the people, but the evil in their dreams drops through the hole in the web and are no longer a part of their lives. The OPP logo captures the good of our animal friends. Pine Ridge is one of the poorest communities in the country, with an 85% unemployment rate, an even higher alcoholism rate and some homes have no electricity or running water. Some families are overcrowded in homes caring for each other and most pets live their entire lives outside. It is our goal to work through community member volunteers to enhance the quality of life for pets through education, spay/neuter support, pet health resources, and the re-homing of abandoned, abused or unwanted pets.

Sioux Empire Pit Rescue

SEPR is a 501 (c) 3, foster-based rescue organization. • SEPR is a bully breed dog rescue located in Sioux Falls, SD • All dogs live in foster homes. We do not have a facility. • We are an all-volunteer, 501-c-3 rescue. • All dogs come from areas with Breed Specific Legislation, or shelters where they would be euthanized for overcrowding. • We have brought over 650 dogs into our foster program since 2009.

Sarah's Treasures Rescue

Dakota Dachshund Rescue

Dakota Dachshund Rescue is a private all volunteer non-profit 501(c)3 organization. We are a small group of foster homes and volunteers who really love those short legged dachshunds that are called by so many names.....dachsies, doxies,wiener dogs, sausage dogs, lowriders. We also have foster homes that love other smaller breeds. We work together to bring in dachshunds, dachshund mixes and a few other small breeds that aren't doing well at the HS or need more vetting than the HS can provide, smaller dogs that need rehoming because their owners just can't keep them anymore, abandoned, abused, and unwanted smaller dogs. Dachsies are intelligent, lively, comical, confident and courageous dogs. They are hunters and most have a high prey drive. They can be difficult to housebreak, and they have a tendency to be barkers. Dachsies are also faithful, versatile, stubborn, adorable, and we think irresistible! We provide medical and behavioral care for each dachsie and other breeds coming into our rescue. We do our very best to help them put their best paw forward as they prepare for the forever homes in their future. Dakota Dachshund Rescue takes every opportunity to educate those we come in contact with on the responsibilities of pet ownership, the prevention of cruelty to animals, and the need for pet owners to spay and neuter their pets. One day at a time. One dog at a time. Friends Forever!

Brookings Regional Humane Society

Since 1998, Brookings (South Dakota) Humane Society has provided a safe haven for dogs, cats and other small companion animals while they await their new homes. BRHS supports the spaying and neutering of animals in order to prevent the overpopulation of unwanted animals – all of our dogs, cats and rabbits are spayed or neutered PRIOR TO adoption! At BRHS, we typically see 500-600 animals yearly! ​ The Brookings Regional Humane Society is a tax exempt non-profit 501C(3) charitable organization. BRHS is a small, local non-profit, and not affiliated with or funded by national organizations. We are 100% community supported — your donations, endowments, memorials, and volunteerism are critical to the consistent care of the animals in our care. BRHS would not exist, saving thousands of animal lives, if not for the on-going, generous support from the community.

Sioux Falls Canine Rescue

Sioux Falls Canine Rescue is an all volunteer, 501(c)(3) non profit organization. We rely solely on donations to cover the costs associated with caring for the four-legged friends in our rescue program. We are committed to providing our rescue dogs with the absolute best care until their forever families are found.