The Best Florida Dog Rescues & Shelters in 2025

Animal Welfare League

We are a no kill shelter. As a volunteer I see how dedicated the staff and volunteers are. Here the animals are loved, great care. They have many clinics that give a free first visit after adopting. AWL holds several events outside the facility a month to raise funds. I am proud to volunteer here. We are a 501-3c.

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Humane Society Naples

Humane Society Naples serves thousands of animals in the community each year through our sheltering, fostering and adoptions programs as well as with medical care through the Humane Society Naples Veterinary Clinic and the Patty and Jay Baker Mobile Veterinary Clinic. We also help families with crisis boarding and behavioral training services as well as a community pet food pantry.

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Brooke's Legacy Animal Rescue

BROOKE'S LEGACY WAS NOT A RESCUE THAT CAME FROM A PLAN, WE ARE A RESCUE THAT CAME FROM TRAGEDY. BROOKE ASHLEY MILLER IS THE REASON FOR BROOKE'S LEGACY ANIMAL RESCUE TEAM. SHE KNEW HER MOM NEEDED SOMETHING TO KEEP BUSY AND KEEP BROOKE'S MEMORY ALIVE. SHE HAD GIVEN SO MUCH IN HER LIFE, THAT WE WANT TO GIVE SOME BACK. BROOKE DIDN'T GET A SECOND CHANCE AT LIFE. WE ARE ABOUT THE SECOND CHANCES, AND THESE PETS WERE ABOUT TO BE EUTHANIZED THE DAY WE SAVED THEM. BROOKE'S LEGACY ANIMAL RESCUE IS COMMITTED TO SECOND CHANCES FOR THESE WONDERFUL PETS AND ADOPTING TO GREAT COMMITTED FAMILIES

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South lake animal league

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Husky Haven of Florida Inc.

We, at the Husky Haven of Florida, strive to rescue homeless Siberian Huskies. We provide foster homes and medical care until a suitable new forever home is found.

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Florida Pointer Rescue

Florida Pointer Rescue is an all-volunteer no kill dog rescue based in New Smyrna Beach FL. Every day we rescue dogs from overcrowded kill shelters, unwanted litters, and from owners no longer able to care for them. We rescue dogs, pups, seniors and pregnant dogs from Florida and bordering states and provide shelter, food, medical care, transportation, and affection to homeless dogs of all breeds and the dogs are fostered in private homes till adopted. Our hands-on rescue efforts secure permanent loving homes for hundreds of dogs and puppies each year. We are dedicated to rescuing, nurturing and adopting dogs - both big and small into loving homes. Florida Pointer Rescue joins in the fight to reduce the vast problem of pet overpopulation by requiring every adopted dog and pup are spayed or neutered. All dogs brought into the rescue are examined by a licensed veterinarian and are given complete vetting care including age appropriate vaccinations, dewormed, and placed on flea and heart worm preventive, spayed or neutered, and adults are heart wormed tested. Florida Pointer Rescue is a registered nonprofit with the state of Florida and operates solely on the generosity of donations, and adoptions fees help support what we do; to save and improve dogs lives. Our mission is to provide the gift of life to as many dogs as compassionately possible, to provide hospice and senior sanctuary as necessary and to enrich the lives of those who adopt them.

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The London Sanctuary

The London Sanctuary is a nonprofit exclusive hound rescue and sanctuary. TLS provides long-term care for dogs who are unable to be placed due to their advanced age or medical needs. We also work to place adoptable hounds in their forever homes who have been rescued from government-run shelters around the Southeastern U.S. or were abandoned forest hounds in more rural areas in NE Florida.

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Fur Sisters - Furever Urs Rescue

We are a foster based rescue group that pull dogs from small overcrowded shelters. These dogs are at risk of being euthanized due to lack of space. We provide all vet care - spay/neuter, vaccinations, monthly prevention, etc. We make sure all dogs are healthy and ready for their forever homes. Alot of the dogs we take in are Heartworm positive unfortunately so we make sure they get treatment and test negative before adoption. We rescue by need not breed.

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S.A.F.E Pet Rescue Inc

SAFE was founded in 2008 with the goal of rescuing animals from kill shelters when they are facing euthanasia. To date, SAFE has rescued over 28,000 wonderful, precious pets who, through no fault of their own, became homeless. Each has a story, a heart, and feelings, and deserves a chance to have the home they want so desperately.

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The Jacksonville Humane Society

The Jacksonville Humane Society (JHS) is a local, independent, 501c3 non-profit in Jacksonville, Florida. We care for nearly 9,000 dogs and cats each year and offer a wide range of community programs including pet adoption, support for pet owners, resources for lost and found animals, veterinary outreach programs, youth programs, and more. JHS receives no government funding, and our work is only made possible by the support of friends like you. Please consider a gift to provide compassionate care to pets and the people who love them.

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DC Dogos Rescue

DC Dogos Inc is a non-profit organization dedicated to Dogo Argentino rescue efforts. Our goal is to help this wonderful breed and educate owners and adopters so that every Dogo has a place to call home.

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Humane Society at Lakewood Ranch

The HSLWR is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that provides a safe haven for companion animals in need until a loving, forever home can be found.

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SPCA Tampa Bay

The SPCA of Brevard, Inc. is a private, non-profit organization with the mission of ‚protecting and providing a voice to the homeless animals.‚ Founded in 1979 in Titusville, Florida, the SPCA is the largest private no-kill animal rescue group in Brevard, finding homes for more than 2,600 animals a year. It is the first adoption facility with free-roaming cat rooms in the County, allowing adopters to interact with the cats in a more home-like setting. The SPCA of Brevard also has performed more than 60,000 low-cost spay/neuter surgeries since 1999.

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Canine Estates

Canine Estates, Inc., located in Palm Harbor, Florida, is a tax exempt, non-profit 501(c)(3) adoption and sanctuary facility. We are dedicated to saving the lives of abandoned, abused and injured dogs primarily from high kill shelters. We do not discriminate against fur kids who are special, disabled, or seniors. We always try to ensure that each of our fur kids is able to continue a long and comfortable life.

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Golden Rescue South Florida, Inc

Since 2005, Golden Rescue South Florida, Inc. ‚'GRSF' a 501c3 non-profit registered charitable organization has been dedicated to rescuing and rehoming displaced Golden Retrievers and Golden at Heart Retrievers. We are all-volunteer and foster-based organization who place abandoned, unwanted, displaced, or abused, Golden Retrievers and "Golden At Heart" dogs with safe, loving forever families in South Florida where each dog will receive the second chance they so richly deserve.

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Barky Pines Animal Rescue & Sanctuary

Barky Pines Animal Rescue is located in Loxahatchee Fl. Founded in 2014. We are a 5.5 acre farm and house dogs and farm animals. We also have a veterinary clinic

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Good Karma Pet Rescue

Good Karma was started by Stacey Tollackson in 2011 after experience volunteering and fostering for other local organizations. We have grown from just a couple of foster parents to a network spanning hundreds of caring folks from Kendall to Port Saint Lucie with over a dozen partner veterinarians. We are now the largest foster-based rescue in Florida and saved over 2,000 dogs & cat in 2022. We rescue dogs and cats of all sizes, ages, breeds, and medical conditions. As long as we can find safe, appropriate placement with one of our foster parents, we welcome them into our program.

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Edddy's Dogs

Eddy Alvarez has patrolled the edge of the Everglades, Redlands, Homestead area for the past 20 years, feeding abandoned dogs, cats, birds, etc on a daily basis. Eddy feeds at least 50 ‚ 60 dogs on any given day. He has been doing this on his own, most of the time paying for vetting out of his own pocket and getting scraps from restaurants so the dogs would not go hungry. It wasn't until about two years ago, that while Eddy was feeding the dogs a car stopped to ask what he was doing. At that point Eddy explained to her that he would feed homeless, abandoned dogs daily. This person was Jennifer Bird from Fur Kids in Pennsylvania, and she helped Eddy get some exposure. Eddy does not have too many volunteers, but has managed to save thousands of dogs in the past years with the help of few trusted friends and supporters.

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The Pet Project for Pets (Florida)

The Pet Project was founded in 2002, originally established to assist individuals having HIV/AIDS. Carefully modeled after the successful POWARS (Pet Owners with AIDS Resource Services) program, services were offered to those who qualified within the Broward & Miami/Dade area. From 2002 to 2007 The Pet Project averaged a 15% client growth annually, predominantly generated from "Word-Of-Mouth" referrals. With five years of experience, and a very successful track record of providing for those challenged with HIV/AIDS, The Pet Project in 2007 expanded it's services to include the terminally ill, the elderly and the disabled. This insight to the needs of the local area and courageous decision to expand quickly doubled the annual growth of clients during the following two years, bearing a 30% average growth from 2007 to 2009. The success of the expansion gave birth to many more new ideas for growth and partnerships benefiting the clients of The Pet Project. In 2010 a partnership with the Humane Society of Broward County allowed The Pet Project to provide vouchers to their clients for free pet vaccinations and reduced veterinarian services. In 2011 a three year relationship was established with Natural Balance Pet Food allowing us to serve more clients. In 2012 a gift/grant from the Petco Foundation was awarded to The Pet Project of $55k, allowing the purchase of a box truck for increased hauling and distribution of pet food. In 2013 a larger building was secured, home of The Pet Project today. This increased square footage not only allowed for the storage and distribution of more pet food, but also allowed for the opening of "Hidden Treasures" thrift store, where all proceeds directly benefit The Pet Project. In 2014 The Pet Project went into "Event Over-Drive", raising thousands of dollars with a "Paws-4-Paws" Halloween pet parade and "Push-Ups-For-Pets" athletic challenge. 2015 marked a historic moment in the undeniable growth and admirable benefit that The Pet Project was bringing to the Broward & Miami/Dade residents. The Rescue Bank, a national nonprofit organization that works with pet food companies to distribute their donated pet food and supplies to approved 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations throughout the country, selected The Pet Project as their Florida affiliate. The Pet Project receives, warehouses and distributes this donated product for the Rescue Bank to approved Florida 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations. The Pet Project is one of Rescue Bank's approved 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations therefore we receive a portion of the donated products which saves us substantially in pet food costs while distributing portions of those donations to other surrounding 501(c)(3) organizations - in turn feeding more pets. Today, having kept thousands of "Pets & People Together Forever", The Pet Project continues to grow, and hopes to expand and be seen not only throughout the state of Florida, but throughout the country. Monthly over 7000 lbs. of pet food is distributed from The Pet Project. The event schedule raising thousands of dollars monthly continues to expand, now including a Bowl-A-Thon, A Female Impersonator Extravaganza, A Pet Night Out, 4th of July BBQ Bash and many more. Local business owners now dedicate evenings hosting events at their place of business, directly benefiting The Pet Project. While presently a "One-Of-A-Kind" organization, dedicated to keeping pets with people, no matter the circumstances - The Pet Project continues to relentlessly dream of growth. The goal to provide food, veterinarian services, foster and find homes for pets suffering from the loss of their human companion will never change - that is the foundation of The Pet Project.

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Rescue Garage

Having owned and trained Belgian Malinois dogs, a specialized working breed, a need was recognized for a dedicated organization to support the rescue and rehabilitation of this breed; Chez Malinois (House of Malinois) was formed. While our primary focus was on the working breeds, it became apparent that Southwest Florida was overpopulated with all breeds in need of rescue, veterinary care, foster, training, and just a new chance at a better life. While we continue to dedicate capacity to the Malinois, working breed dogs, and their specialized training and rehabilitation, we have expanded our services through Rescue Garage to include all breeds of dogs in need. Chez Malinois, dba Rescue Garage, is a 501(c)(3) not for profit organization whose rescues are mostly pulled from high kill rate shelters in the surrounding communities of southwest Florida, while others are rescued directly from adverse living conditions. We evaluate and address any medical conditions, spay or neuter, microchip and provide training to all the animals in our care.

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Guardians of Florida Animal Rescue

Guardians of Florida Animal Rescue, Inc (GOFAR). was founded by a group of professional women on 4/27/21 who are passionate about making a difference in the lives of animals who have no voice, no hope and no GUARDIAN. We are a 501(c)3 organization whose mission includes: Removal of animals from situations that are abusive, endangering and/or neglectful, which include, but are not limited to, kill shelters, stray animals, owner surrenders and puppy mills; Providing temporary homes and appropriate care (general and medical) for rescued animals; Placing rescued animals into responsible, permanent adoptive homes or provide sanctuary for rescued animals for which adoption is not feasible; and Promoting and advancing public education on the importance of spaying/neutering and responsible animal ownership.

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Satchel's Last Resort Animal Shelter

Satchel's Last Resort is a no-kill animal shelter/sanctuary whose mission is to Rescue, Rehab and Rehome dogs and cats with nowhere else to go because of breed, behavior or medical issues. We are housed on 12 acres ‚two large play yards in the front of the building and a large area behind our building where volunteers can walk the dogs.

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Tampa Bay Vizsla Rescue

The Tampa Bay Vizsla Club Rescue is dedicated to the saving and placing of Vizslas who need a loving forever home, and is the only vizsla rescue in the state of Florida.

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Rescue Rebels by Cash 4 Canines

Cash 4 Canines, Inc. dba Rescue Rebels' sole mission is to provide a better and improved life, essentially a "second chance", for working dog breeds that have been left at shelters, surrendered by their owners, or that have been abused and neglected. Through Rescue Rebels, these companion animals are rescued, given the physical care necessary, spayed or neutered, and provided with behavioral guidance if necessary. Our TLC Transformation Project welcomes medically fragile companion animals, that have been left at shelters and provides funds for the medical care unique to each animal's needs, and then finds these animals foster homes or "fur" ever homes.

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ADORE Pet Rescue

Adore Pet Rescue is an all volunteer based rescue in the Central Florida area committed to rescuing and finding forever homes for all types of dogs and cats. We do not have a physical location, instead all of our animals are in foster homes throughout the orlando area where they are treated like part of the family. After our inception in 2020 we have grown significantly, having over 1850 adoptions in our first four years of operation.

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Orange County Animal Services

Orange County Animal Services (OCAS) is a progressive animal-welfare focused organization that enforces the Orange County Code to protect both citizens and animals. OCAS is the only open admission shelter in Orange County, which means that it does not turn away any animal and accepts all animals, regardless of their temperament or health. The health and well-being of the animals in the care of OCAS is of the utmost importance to Orange County and its community. Most animals are ideal candidates for adoption, yet some come to the shelter suffering from long-term and profound health problems, as a result of being homeless, stray or abused. On average, the shelter receives approximately 50 animals each day, but these numbers can double during peak summer months.

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Happy Trails Animal Rescue

About Us Happy Trails Animal Rescue is a 501c3 Non Profit Animal Rescue Group located in the Central Florida area. Our organization was founded in 2013. After five years of rescuing and rehabilitating dogs in need from local area shelters, we started to realize that we have to get to the source of the issue rather than only trying to clean up the mess. We opened a brand new Community Resource Center for pet owners in 2019 that services Orange, Osceola and Seminole counties that provides free and low cost training assistance, educational programs, youth programs, a pet food pantry, help with emergency veterinary expenses, free grooming, and other assistance. Our mission is to provide the resources and support pet owners in our community need to create a better community for the animals in Central Florida and help reduce overpopulation and keep existing pets in their homes. As always, we will still be taking in and rehabilitating shelter dogs in need and appreciate all of the support we have received from Central Florida in our rescue endeavors.

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Hunter's Village Rescue

We are a foster-based, non-profit dog rescue, based out of Hunter's Creek (SW Orlando), Florida. The rescue's story began with a lost dog in our community, Hunter, a 2-year-old German Shepherd. Poor Hunter was abandoned by his owners, left to fend for himself alone on the streets of Hunter's Creek. Based on sightings, the community knew he was alone for at least a month, and speculated he was probably roaming for 2-3 months total. The community came together on a mission to save Hunter, and shared photos and updates on the community Hunters Creek/Southchase Rants, Raves & Reviews Facebook page. Despite countless efforts from the community, Hunter was terrified and would not allow anyone approach him (and story has it this boy can gain speed FAST!) Multiple homes throughout several Hunter's Creek neighborhoods graciously set out feeding stations for him to help assure he stayed fed while on his journey. The community stepped up to bring volunteer trappers from East Orlando, and the traps were monitored with a live feed, but Hunter still managed to evade any attempts to catch him. Volunteers in Hunter's Creek came day and night to refresh and reset the trap and release any wildlife that ventured in the trap meant for Hunter. The trap was even relocated 3 separate times, based on patterns determined from the sightings shared on the Facebook page. On December 27th, Hunter was so hungry that he finally entered the trap - he was instantly caught on camera and the trappers sent an SOS so the local community could get to him quickly while the trappers made the long commute. A group of about 8 neighbors showed up to transfer the trap into a community member's van. Hunter's Creek Veterinary Hospital was called, and they kept their doors open and remained in the office late for us to arrive as they had also been following Hunter's journey. Hunter was terrified but never showed aggression while being scanned for a microchip. A chip was located, and the rescuers were hopeful. Voicemails were left and Hunter was transferred to a temporary foster home until his owners could be located. Hunter was very overwhelmed and shy after his long journey - he always wanted to have his back in a corner, he was unable to make eye contact with anyone and his tail was stuck between his legs. His foster mom spent the first night sleeping on the couch with him and he started to get a taste of what love is all about. Hunter's owners were finally located, but they shared that they didn't want him. But there was a happy ending after all - Hunter found his forever home right here in Hunter's Creek! He now has a fan page with over 400 followers following his journey, along with other dogs in need. Hunter now lives with his new mom, dad, teenage brother, college sister and fur sister. He is learning to trust more every day and even learned what it's like to play! He loves to be outside and lounge by his new pool or run in the yard with his fur sister. After Hunter's successful adoption, a handful of the community members united through his journey decided to start a rescue mission, named after the pup who started it all, and Hunter's Village Rescue (HVR) was born! The community has been incredibly supportive of us from day 1, and we truly could not have made the difference we've made without their support.

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SPCA of Brevard

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HALO No-Kill Rescue Shelter

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Humane Society of St.Lucie county

The Humane Society of St. Lucie County is proudly under new management and leadership. We are a non-profit organization dedicated to providing compassionate care and safe shelter for homeless animals and education to the community on responsible pet ownership.

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Big Dog Ranch Rescue

Big Dog Ranch Rescue was founded on the idea that every dog deserves to live and most importantly, to live a full and happy life. We are devoted to creating a healing community for dogs, both big and small, who have been neglected, abandoned, and mistreated.

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Peggy Adams

Our mission is to provide shelter to lost, homeless and unwanted animals, to provide spay and neuter and other medical services for companion animals, and to care for, protect, and find quality homes for homeless and neglected companion animals, to advocate animal welfare, community involvement and education to further the bond between people and animals.

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Mercy Full Project

Mercy Full Project was founded in October 2019 as a Nonprofit organization located in the Tampa Bay Area. We focus our efforts mainly in Animal rescue and helping the helpless animals in our community, We take in all animals from all different situations such as Medical Cases at the shelters that face euthanasia, Behavioral cases that need longer and special training sessions, Owner surrenders that come to us from multiple reasons and these owners cannot longer have them, Stray animals found all over Florida, Animals facing euthanasia at Overloaded shelters even outside of Florida as Georgia and Alabama, and Emergency cases when the animals are injured from accidents or Animal Abused. We are a foster home-based animal rescue, and we are always looking for families to open the doors of their homes to help us help these pure souls in need. Being a foster does not require much as we provide all supplies needed and cover all vet expenses. All that Requires is a little more time and love to spend with an animal in need. Once the animal is ready for Adoption, we use all our tools to find their perfect match and these happy stories are what we call Happy Tails.

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Elizabeth's Animal Rescue and Sanctuary (E.A.R.S.)

Welcome to Elizabeth's Animal Rescue & Sanctuary, otherwise known as E.A.R.S.! We are dedicated to finding a loving home for every rescue dog we receive. We never give up on rescuing, rehabilitating, and rehoming our sweet residents! E.A.R.S. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization committed to rescuing dogs from central Florida. We are not just a shelter and sanctuary for animals, but also for the people that love and care for them as well. We pride ourselves on the fact that all our animals are happy and well taken care of until they find their new home. Our volunteers open their hearts and their homes to our animals in need, as long as that may be. E.A.R.S. relies fully on monetary and physical donations to fund our rescue mission. If you would like to ease a dog's suffering, please click our DONATE link above. There are many ways to help a dog in need! 100% of your donations go directly to our sweet dogs! If you would like to help our dogs through volunteering, please click the APPLICATIONS link above. We always welcome volunteer staff who are willing to make a difference for our dogs!

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Humane Society of Pinellas

The Humane Society of Pinellas is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that has been caring for animals and our community since 1949. The Humane Society of Pinellas is dedicated to providing individualized care for every animal that comes our way and we ensure that every treatable animal is treated. This means we have made a promise to our community that no animal will be euthanized for a treatable condition. As Pinellas County's largest no-kill animal shelter, we do not receive any State or Federal tax dollars, or funding from any national animal organizations including the Humane Society of the United States or the ASPCA.

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Howling Hounds Sanctuary Rescue

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The Humane Society of Tampa Bay

The Humane Society of Tampa Bay, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, provides shelter for homeless & at risk animals, adoptions, hospital and TNVR services for the general public; operates independently from the Humane Society of the United States. And we, along with our animals, would love to have you as a partner on this journey. Stand with us and other like-minded individuals, animal welfare organizations, foundations and companies as we work to end animal homelessness in Tampa Bay. By lending your voice, mobilizing supporters and customers, and helping to raise critical funds, you can change the lives of pets and people.

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