The Best Colorado Dog Rescues & Shelters in 2025

Summit Dog Rescue / Pod To The Rescue

We are a small volume rescue with a huge focus on humane education. We rescue dogs and cats and work with our adopters/fosters and the general public to educate about how to best support our companion animals so that their placements can be successful. Unwanted pets is at epidemic levels, and without education we won't make progress. Our rescue is unique in that we are run by multiple certified dog trainers and behavior professionals. We have a podcast called Pod To The Rescue, which is produced with the goal of providing evidence based behavioral support to adopters and fosters.

Jailbreak husky rescue

Jailbreak Husky Rescue is a 501(C)(3) and PACFA licensed organization based out of Colorado that aims to rescue, rehabilitate, transport, rehome and advocate for Siberian Huskies and other northern breeds that are at risk of being euthanized, abandoned, or in neglectful or abusive situations. Our mission has a specialized focus on pregnant or nursing northern breeds, including pre-natal and postpartum care, whelping, bottle, syringe and tube feeding, and breed-focused litter care and development.

Ho-Bo Care Boxer Rescue

Ho-Bo Care Boxer Rescue is a non-profit, all volunteer group in Colorado. We have been active and engaged in our community since 1972.

La Plata County Humane Society

La Plata County Humane Society is a private non-profit, that has been helping pets in need in rural, southwest Colorado since 1971! We adopt companion animals, provide low-cost spay/neuter, microchipping, and vaccination, have a robust trap-neuter-release program, a life-saving foster program, offer onsite training, and provide animal protection services.

My Fairy Dawg Mother Rescue LLC

The Fairy Dawg Mother works with trusted partners in Colorado and nearby states to bring dawgs to the Denver Metro area, where they will have a better chance at adoption. We do our best to select dogs that will be highly successful candidates for placement with a new furever family, but change can be stressful for even the most easy-going dawg. Because of this, we work with foster families to start getting them stabilized, learn about each dawg's individual temperament, and provide training and guidance to the dawg.

PawsCo

PawsCo is a 501(c)3 animal welfare organization based in Denver, Colorado. PawsCo is dedicated to reducing pet homelessness by partnering with animal shelters and other rescues in order to help the most in-need animals ‚ those animals not thriving in a shelter setting.

Soul Dog Rescue

Soul Dog is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit animal rescue organization founded with the mission to spay/neuter and protect animals. Soul Dog is proactive in animal welfare, advancing the need for spaying and neutering our pets to reduce overpopulation. We travel to rural communities on Native American reservations, where spaying and neutering will only happen if it is nearly free or very convenient. Soul Dog works with volunteer veterinarians to provide the spaying and neutering service at no cost to the public. Donations are used to defray the costs associated with medications, supplies, and the operating cost for clinics.

Australian Shepherds Furever

At Australian Shepherds Furever, we work daily to save aussies in need. It can be tough work, but incredibly rewarding to see this beautiful and intelligent breed flourish when given a second chance. We are a 501 (c) 3 non profit corporation. As a nonprofit, raising funds for rescue, fostering, training, boarding and health care is vital. Please consider showing your support today

National Mill Dog Rescue

NMDR's mission is to RESCUE, REHABILITATE and RE-HOME discarded breeding dogs and to educate the general public about the cruel realities of the commercial dog breeding industry.

Colorado Saint Bernard Rescue

Colorado Saint Bernard Rescue is a 501(c)3 non-profit that was founded in 1997, all volunteer organization dedicated to the rehoming of unwanted, abandoned, and abused Saint Bernards and Saint Bernard mixes.

Foothills Animal Shelter

Foothills Animal Shelter is an open admission facility serving Jefferson County in the state of Colorado and is a member of the Metro Denver Animal Welfare Alliance. We are driven to make lives better for animals and people in our community. We are a Socially Conscious Animal Welfare Organization, creating the best outcomes for all animals that enter our care. We place every healthy and safe animal for adoption. We assess the medical and behavioral needs of homeless animals and ensure these needs are thoughtfully addressed. And, we alleviate suffering through thoughtful euthanasia.

Dumb Friends League

One of the ways the Dumb Friends League can fulfill its mission to end pet homelessness and animal suffering is to influence the laws and policies that protect animals and enhance their welfare. Our Advocacy team works with policymakers, animal welfare agencies, law enforcement and the community to drive the policies that make Colorado a leader in protecting our furry family members. We hope to help you stay informed on issues in Colorado and across the country that impact animal sheltering and welfare and continue to make systemic changes that benefit animals and the humans that love them, now and in the future

Big bones canine rescue

MAXFUND

Mamco rescue dogs

Our mission is to ensure that all rescued animals are treated as valuable members of society through quality veterinary care, regular grooming, and excellent nutrition. We are a foster based, 501c3 non-profit rescue, dedicated to the health and wellbeing of mother dogs and cats and their litters. We see our rescue dogs and cats through pregnancy, birth (whelping), nursing, weaning, and adoption. In addition to providing necessary care, we also work to socialize, train, and evaluate each animal to ensure that they find permanent forever homes. This involves establishing close and trusting relationships with our volunteers, adopters, and the community.

A Friend of Jack Rescue

A Friend of Jack Rescue is a Colorado, foster-based 501(c)3 non-profit rescue dedicated to finding loving, lasting homes for unwanted dogs and puppies.

Taysia Blue Rescue | Siberian Huskies & Alaskan Malamutes

Taysia Blue Rescue is a 501c3 nonprofit organization. We are a family of volunteers and advocates dedicated to helping local Siberian Huskies, Alaskan Malamutes, and their guardians. We are funded solely and supported by, the generosity of individuals and corporations in our communities. All our dogs are located in approved foster homes in the metro areas of Omaha, Lincoln, Kansas City, Des Moines and Denver. Taysia Blue does not have a physical building and does not have set hours of operation.

RezDawg Rescue

RezDawg Rescue collaborates with several rescues in NM, AZ and CO to ensure the safe and comfortable transport of unwanted animals to rescues, shelters and fosters where they will have a chance at a forever home. We relocate dogs and cats from high-intake shelters, animal control facilities, and reservations in the Four Corners area to animal rescue partners and forever homes in Colorado. We provide transportation to foster homes and other partner organizations, offer medical care and low/no cost spay and neuter services, manage a network of foster homes for temporary shelter, and run adoption events so that these animals can find forever homes.

Harley's Dream

Harley's Dream was established in 2016 in honor of Harley, a senior one-eyed puppy mill survivor who became the face and voice of the puppy mill dogs, earning the distinction of being the 2015 American Hero Dog for his work. Our mission is to create awareness and educate the public about the cruel commercial dog breeding industry (also known as puppy mills) and to rescue and rehome senior dogs in need.

Colorado Corgis and Friends

Colorado Corgis and Friends is a 501c3 Dog Rescue specializing in Corgis and other lowrider breeds. Established in late 2019 by a group of Corgi-loving people who love and understand the Corgi breed and love all other dogs as well. The founding members have over 100+ years of experience owning Corgis and 50+ years in Rescue. It is our pleasure and passion to help homeless dogs in need, help struggling owners rehome their pets, and offer advice on training issues typical of this herding breed.

NOCO Humane

Welcome to NOCO Humane, your community partner for comprehensive animal welfare services in Larimer and Weld counties. We have expanded our reach and our impact, taking on the sheltering and care of animals in Weld County in light of the dissolution of the Humane Society of Weld County. Join us as we heal, nature, and protect more than 10,000 animals in the year to come!

Rocky Mountain Great Dane Rescue

We rescue, rehabilitate and rehome Great Danes and Dane mixes. We help those that have been abused, abandoned, neglected or through no fault of their current family, just need to find a new forever home.

PAWS ON THE GROUND COLORADO

We are a 501c3 organization dedicated to the reduction of euthanasia of shelter animals and puppy mill commerce through the promotion of adoption of our rescued animals. The objective of our rescue efforts are to raise awareness around animal welfare along with finding a best matched placement of our animal clients.

Longmont Humane Society

Originally a branch of the Boulder County Humane Society, Longmont Humane Society was established as an independent non-profit animal shelter in 1972. What once began as a small shelter established by a compassionate group of individuals has since grown to become a sanctuary dedicated to profound change, firmly devoted to the overall welfare of each animal that passes through our doors. After 10 years in a small facility on the edge of town, it became clear that a new shelter was required to house the ever-increasing need in our community. In 1985 ‚'the dome' shelter building was constructed on land provided by Boulder County, ushering in a new era of care for pets. Longmont Humane Society was even recognized by The American Humane Association (AHA) Standards of Excellence program ‚ one of the few shelters in the nation to receive that honor.

Lola's Rescue

L.O.L.A.'S Rescue is a non-profit animal rescue organization. We are based in Colorado, providing services for Colorado and surrounding states. Our rescue was founded on the idea of being able to save as many at risk animals as possible from uncertain futures, while upholding the highest regard and values for animals in our care. Our concentration is on animals from high kill shelters and at-risk animals in abuse, neglect, and abandonment situations, reducing the number of euthanasia (due to overcrowding) in our shelters and surrounding areas. We rehabilitate these animals so they can be placed in amazing, loving homes without the threat of an uncertain future.

Humane Society of the South Platte Valley

The Humane Society of the South Platte Valley (HSSPV) is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization established to serve the communities of south Denver. Our humane society offers shelter, care, and compassion for lost, stray, and unwanted animals, until they are reclaimed by their families or adopted into a new home.

Humane Society of Boulder Valley

It is the mission of the Humane Society of Boulder Valley to protect and enhance the lives of companion animals by promoting healthy relationships between pets and people. The Humane Society of Boulder Valley (HSBV) is a trusted source for services and information related to companion animals in Boulder and Broomfield counties. Founded in 1902, HSBV is the longest-serving, continuously operating humane society in the state of Colorado! Today, we provide a safety net to animals in need in our community and beyond. Each year, HSBV impacts more than 16,000 animals, helping them find their new beginnings in the Boulder community or working to protect happy and healthy relationships, and supports thousands of existing pet-guardian relationships in our community through our Safety Net services.

sloppy kisses animal rescue

Sloppy Kisses Animal Rescue is a volunteer-based organization that was founded in 2018 by a group of animal advocates in Colorado. It was formed to rescue as many stray and homeless animals as possible by partnering with shelters in areas that are inundated with stray and relinquished animals. Sloppy Kisses Animal Rescue works to transport the animals to Colorado, fosters them in temporary homes, provides for their medical needs, brings them up to date on vaccinations, spay/neuters them if they aren't already, and adopts them to permanent homes. This is accomplished through working with a network of volunteers, foster caregivers, local veterinarians, animal trainers, and donations! We also work with our local community to provide assistance with re-homing pets and providing resources such as behavioral and medial to people who are considering surrendering their pet in an effort to keep pets in their homes and out of the shelter system.

Golden Retriever Freedom Rescue

Retriever Rescue of Colorado

RROC was created in 2006 by people who had volunteered for years with single-breed rescues and recognized the need for a group that could take any of the retriever breeds. With a shoestring budget and a handful of volunteers, the expectation was that RROC would save about thirty dogs a year. That estimate was shattered within a few months and RROC has saved well over 2000 retrievers and continues to welcome over 200 dogs in need annually.