The Best Denver, CO 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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!

Scroungy Dogs and Pretty Pups Rescue

Our organization was established in October 2015 by Pamela Calderwood, a passionate animal lover who had fostered for several rescues before taking the leap to start her own. Initially a one-person operation, our rescue has since grown into a dedicated team of volunteers and fosters who are committed to rescuing shelter animals and providing them with a better life. At Scroungy Dogs and Pretty Pups Rescue, we value collaboration and kindness in all of our endeavors. We work closely with shelter employees, potential adopters, other rescuers, and our veterinarians to ensure that our animals receive the best possible care. We are especially dedicated to helping animals with extraordinary medical issues, whenever our budget allows. Our ultimate goal is to find loving, forever homes for our dogs and cats, ensuring that their lives are not disrupted again in the future. As a 100% volunteer-run organization, all donations and adoption fees go directly towards caring for our animals. Since our founding, we have rescued over 1,500 animals and are continually expanding our impact. We take great pride in our work and are always striving to make a difference, one animal at a time. We are thrilled to have made a difference in the lives of so many. Pamela remembers thinking in the beginning that she would be happy if she saved only one!

The Snuggle is Real Animal Rescue

The Snuggle is Real Animal Rescue a Foster-Based Rescue Operating in Denver, CO Our Vision We serve last-chance dogs and cats from parts of the U.S. struggling with overpopulation, and we believe no animal should face euthanasia due to crowding alone. We understand that high euthanasia rates represent a complex social problem that does not occur in a vacuum. Though we are new and our operations are small, we aim to implement rescue services :  In an environmentally sustainable manner  Supplemented with education initiatives  Alongside spay and neuter outreach programming  In coordination with child mental-health and disability services (our founder is a psychologist in training)

Colorado Shiba Inu Rescue

Colorado Shiba Inu Rescue (COSIR) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to the rescue and rehoming of Shiba Inus, and Shiba Inu mixes, in Colorado. While in rescue, all our dogs are spayed/neutered, vaccinated, microchipped, given heartworm prevention, and any/all veterinary care necessary to ensure they are healthy and ready for their forever homes. We also provide post-adoption training for our younger dogs, and maintain a lifelong relationship of support with our alumni. We have an all volunteer staff who donate their free time to saving Shibas because of their love and appreciation for the breed. The Shiba Inu is a very unique breed with very strong personality traits, and they are not for everyone! People often decide they want a Shiba because they are cute, without doing any research first, and don’t know what they are getting into. For this reason, many Shibas end up in shelters, surrendered by their owners, or abandonded. COSIR understands and appreciates the uniqueness of this quirky and difficult breed, and has the expertise to ensure each dog finds the right forever home. This challenging of a breed warrants an in-depth screening process for adopters, and our goal is to find each dog their FOREVER home, not just their NEXT home. COSIR takes in Shibas from animal shelters or other rescues, as well as from owners looking to surrender their Shiba in order to give them a better life. Shibas typically do not do well in shelter environments and are often deemed un-adoptable and euthanized. COSIR prioritizes taking in Shibas from local shelters and places them in foster homes. By doing this, we not only relieve the shelter load, so they can help other dogs, but we give a deserving dog a chance at life. We do not have a shelter facility for you to visit and meet our dogs. All of our dogs are cared for in loving foster homes. An adoption application must be submitted, reviewed, and pre-approved prior to scheduling a home visit to meet our dogs.

Mile High German Shorthaired Pointer Rescue

We provide a second chance for German Shorthaired Pointers (GSPs) who have been abandoned, neglected, abused, surrendered or otherwise displaced and adopt them into permanent, loving homes that will nurture and appreciate their energetic, affectionate and loyal personalities.

Colorado Herding Dog Rescue

DMK Rehoming

DMK is a Colorado non-profit 501c3 licensed dog rescue. We focus on saving death row dogs, those that would otherwise be euthanized due to overcrowding in shelters. We provide spay/neuter, microchips, vaccines and any additional medical care that is needed. Our goal is to then make the best match between dog and adopter and get them into their forever homes.

Mother Gaia Animal Rescue

Summit County Animal Shelter

Summit County Animal Control and Shelter is a division of the Summit County Sheriff's Office. We enforce the animal control regulations for unincorporated Summit County. The shelter is utilized by citizens and visitors of all Summit County.

Snow Capped Shepherd Rescue

Snow Capped Shepherd Rescueis a Denver, Colorado based, volunteer-run non-profit 501(c)(3) organization. We rescue abandoned, abused, neglected and stray White German Shepherds and German Shepherd mixes. We do not have a shelter, instead all of our rescued dogs are housed with caring foster families…a temporary stop on their way to happily-ever-after.

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.

Golden Retriever Freedom Rescue

Do Over Dogs - A Second Chance At Life

Do Over Dogs is a foster-based, 501(c)(3) organization that gives at-risk dogs from the shelter environment a second chance at life. We focus our rescue efforts on dogs and puppies that are at high risk of euthanasia.

Poso Dog Rescue

We are a small Colorado based Dog Rescue team, dedicated to providing a loving and caring environment for our rescues, while also working to break the cycle of owner surrenders. POSO is working tirelessly to ensure that each dog receives the attention, medical care, and love they deserve. We hold monthly group training classes for the community (yes, even those without a rescue dog), providing free training for our foster families and our adoptive families. We are doing more than just rescuing dogs, we are changing the pattern of surrendering by providing knowledge and education through our community. Our origin story is rooted in our passion for animals and our goal to make a positive change in both the lives of a dog and their human to break the pattern and ensure less dogs are returned to shelters. With over 15,000 Dog Rescue organizations in the United States and over 1.5 billion websites out there, we believe our story, our mission and our approach sets us apart. POSO is a Dog Rescue doing more than rescuing dogs. Foster, Adopt, Donate, Share our name. We want you to hear our genuine voice as you explore our site, and we hope you feel the warmth and care that defines our rescue mission. So take your time, get to know us, and join us in this journey of love and compassion.

Mile High Dachshunds Rescue, Inc

Mile High Dachshunds Rescue, affectionately known as Team Doxie, is a group of dedicated volunteers who are all about giving second changes to dachshunds who have found themselves abandoned, in a shelter or relinquished to us. Located in the Denver area, we are non-profit rescue, that matches dachshunds with individuals and families for “happy ever afters” since 2015.