The Best Houston, TX Dog Rescues & Shelters in 2025

Friends For Life Animal Shelter

We're here for the undercat and underdog, regardless of their breed, age or condition. Houston-grown, we're here to help our neighbors care for the pets they love. We're not done until every animal has a safe home. Until then, we'll be innovating, improving and tracking results to find the most effective ways to save lives.

THREE LITTLE PITTIES RESCUE

Three Little Pitties Rescue is a non-profit, 501c3 all-breed dog and cat rescue dedicated to saving animals out of desperate situations, primarily in the Houston, Texas area. From 2018 to 2024 the rescue has saved 13,000+ animals and delivered them to better lives up north.

Donna's love pet rescue

Our charitable, tax-exempt mission is to save as many lives as possible by giving homeless and lost animals a warm and special touch to show them that they are loved so they can trust again and return that love. I served in the military (Navy) from 1989 till 1993. My passion in life has always been to work with and care for animals. I have 7 dogs of my own (Palen, Rocsco, BK, Chico, Beau, Star and Annie). All of my dogs, except Palen, were found and taken in by my facility, The Dog House Pet Salon. If I could take every rescue home with me, I would. We have taken in over 290 homeless and lost animals since we opened our doors for business at The Dog house Pet Salon in 2009. We have re-homed 289 of them. Dash has been with us for one year. Dash needs a little more training to become confident and trust humans again. If I cannot re-home one of my loved ones, they will stay with me and live a good life. We believe that every lost animal with a microchip, rabies id/vet tag number or a name tag should be able to be identified and the parents contacted in a matter of seconds. We created the innovative My Pet Credentials mobile app for that very reason ‚an easy to use digital platform to empower the parents of lost pets with a means to find their lost pet quickly and efficiently without the need of calling, faxing or emailing. Pet owners, pet salons, rescue shelters and veterinarians can download the MPC app or register at www.mypetcredentials.com. The cost to pet owners is $16.99 annually. The platform is free for pet salons, rescue shelters and veterinarians. I am most proud of the lost and found function that is part of the MPC pet service platform. Pet owners enter the microchip number or rabies id/vet tag number in their pet's profile. If someone finds the pet, they can use the MPC mobile app or go to www.mpclost.com to identify the lost pet by entering any one of three tracking numbers. The MPC platform will immediately display: A picture of the pet (front, left and right Image) The pet's name, age, gender, breed, color and markings The pet's most current vaccinations A button to contact the owner who will receive a text, email and mobile app notification with the good Samaritan‚ name, phone number, email and message When someone finds a pet, MPC‚ lost and found function assists in reuniting the lost pet with their family, quickly and efficiently, by giving the Samaritan the ability to enter the lost pet's name, age, gender, breed, color and any markings along with any microchip, rabies id or vet tag number (tracking numbers) and upload an image of the lost pet. Once the tracking information has been entered by the Samaritan the family of the lost pet will be able to go to our universal lost and found website, www.mpclost.com, to input their pet's tracking information and our platform will display to the family an image of their pet, the pet's name as reported by the good Samaritan, age, gender, breed, color and any markings and the name, address and phone number where the pet can be reunited with their family. This innovative process reunites lost pets found with a microchip or rabies id or vet tag number with their families quickly and efficiently by eliminating the need to post lost and found flyers or waste time calling animal shelters, city pounds or veterinarians to locate their lost pet. I could go on about all the features of the MPC platform such as transfer of ownership, vaccination records storage, vaccination reminders and scheduling appointments with your pet salon. We created Donna's Love Pet Rescue for people who want to help end homelessness for animals and provide an easy to use digital platform to help identify pets, contact owners of lost pets quickly and efficiently and allow owners of lost pets with a microchip or rabies id or vet tag number to be registered with MPC for a quick and joyous reunion! The donation we receive from you helps with. Vetting Food Training Fostering Transportation Spay and neuter Our goal is also to educate the community on the importance of spay and neutering, having dogs vetted and properly trained and provided with appropriate identification markers. Animals are family too. To make a tax-deductible donation by mail: Donna's Love Pet Rescue 5917 Richmond Ave. Houston, TX 77057

Texas Sled Dog Rescue

Texas Sled Dog Rescue is a small rescue focusing on finding fur-ever homes for sled dog types (Siberian huskies and Alaskan Malamutes, and mixes). While in rescue, we will place them in foster homes, provide basic training as needed, and vetting which includes vaccinations, spay or neuter, microchip and other medical services as needed. Our volunteers are involved in all facets of rescue including but not limited to fundraising, transporting, evaluating dogs, respresenting the rescue at local dog events, fostering, etc.

Caitie's Foster Fam Rescue

Founded in May 2021, we are a non-profit 501(c)3 rescue made up of animal-loving individuals. Our team consists of animal rescuers who have been making a difference in the lives of homeless pets for over a decade. We each started as volunteers and fosters, specializing in medical needs cases. Because of the high demand for more medical fosters and rescuers, we decided to join together and start our own non-profit rescue. We are an entirely foster-based organization, so we do not have a physical shelter. All animals are kept in loving foster homes. Our founder, Caitie, has been fostering medical cases in the Houston area for over ten years.

Wag Again Rescue

Wag Again is a section 501(c)(3) foster based dog rescue group with years of animal and rescue experience amongst our volunteers. Wag Again is committed to helping the neediest, as well as the readily adoptable, among our community's most vulnerable creatures. We are a volunteer-driven organization dedicated to restoring the dogs under our care to physical and emotional health as they await placement in loving, responsible homes. Virtually all donated funds will be spent directly on the care of the animals. Wag Again stands ready to help you, the prospective adopter or foster home, find a companion who will thrive in your home. We are here to assist you in every way possible throughout the adoption process and will continue to be a helpful resource after you have welcomed your new pets into your life.

Cypress Lucky Mutt Rescue

Cypress Lucky Mutt Rescue is a Houston area 501(c)(3) non profit organization dedicated to rescuing homeless and abandoned puppies and dogs from high-kill shelters and owners who can no longer care for them. By working with committed volunteers, foster homes, local veterinarians, trainers, and boarding facilities, we are able to rescue countless animals every year, provide them with loving foster care, and ultimately find them well-matched, carefully screened forever homes. We also plan to serve as a resource to our community and all pet owners by providing education and information on responsible pet ownership, including the importance of spay/neuter, positive behavior training, and good nutrition and care.

Corridor Rescue

Corridor Rescue was born in 2009 when Deborah Hoffman, while driving through the area to work, realized there was a horrible problem with abandoned and stray animals. Her tenacity and love for the dogs would not allow her to stand by and watch...Corridor Rescue was conceived! Corridor Rescue is named after a 14 square mile area of Northeast Houston dubbed ‚'The Corridor of Cruelty'. The sheer number of dogs abandoned, dumped and allowed to roam the streets in this area is mind boggling. But sadly, the Corridor area is known for animal cruelty. The animals are unwanted, seen as a nuisance, and in some cases wrongly thought of as aggressive. People hit them, throw things at them, shoot them, fight them, and even deliberately run them over. Corridor Rescue has grown phenomenally over the last decade. What started as a one-woman show now has multiple volunteer teams and a kennel facility where we are able to take our rescued street dogs directly off the street for rehabilitation. The facility can house up to 30 dogs and is staffed with two Veterinary Technicians and three Kennel Technicians. The dogs receive medical care and enrichment to begin healing and to put them on the road to their forever home. Corridor Rescue is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and is solely funded by the generosity of our wonderful donors and supporters. We are a volunteer-based organization, always looking for enthusiastic, outgoing, motivated, and animal loving volunteers to join our team. Corridor Rescue has a number of areas that you can help save lives.

Sunnyside Street Dogs

At Sunnyside Street Dogs, we believe every dog deserves a loving home and a happy life. We rescue, rehabilitate, and rehome street dogs, ensuring they receive the care and love they need. Our mission is to create a world where every dog is valued, protected, and cherished.

Forgotten coast animal rescue

Our co-founders Rachell Jones and Courtney Lomelo met in 2019 where all good rescue ladies hang out: Facebook groups dedicated to rescuing dogs. Although Rachell lives in Florida, and Courtney in Texas, together they networked and found a home for their first dog together! His name was Ryder. Courtney began rescuing street dogs in 2011 and Rachell entered the rescue world in 2018 inspired by countless dogs displaced by Hurricane Michael in Florida. The duo went on to network several more dogs on high-kill Houston shelters' euthanasia lists. They got to know each other over late night calls and Facebook messages. A true modern friendship! Finally, they decided to officially form a rescue together and Forgotten Coast Animal Rescue was born. Forgotten Coast Animal Rescue was named for Rachell's home coast in Florida. Presently, FCAR operates primarily in Houston, Texas. We hope to expand to North Florida, the forgotten coast, in the coming years to care for Rachell's home state.

In the name of Zoey

Lola's Lucky Day

Lola's Lucky Day strives to make a positive impact by rescuing animals that otherwise would not have a chance in Texas. We rescue pups from the streets and shelters, get them healthy, fully vetted, spayed/neutered, and network with our partner rescues in Wisconsin to match them with loving families.

Greater Houston German Shepherd Dog Rescue

is a 501(c)(3) non-profit volunteer organization founded in 2008. We are a breed-specific organization dedicated to rescuing and rehoming German Shepherds in Houston, Texas and surrounding areas. GHGSDR is guided by three core values: dedication, integrity, and compassion. We are devoted to finding homes for our GSDs with people who want to continue our mission of giving these dogs a better life and a second chance. Our GSDs are obtained from public shelters after they have completed a stray-hold period or they are surrendered to us directly by their owners. We strive to ensure that each dog in our care is given the love, attention, and medical care they need to thrive. We believe that every dog deserves a second chance at a happy life. All of our rescued German Shepherds are placed in a foster home while we work tirelessly to find loving, forever homes; carefully matching each dog with an adoptive family who will provide them with the love and care they deserve. We attribute our success in rehoming German Shepherds to our wonderful volunteers. We have many volunteers who have been with us since inception, which gives us stability and a sense of history. We also have newer volunteers who bring enthusiasm and new ideas to our group, which is essential for us to continue our mission. As an all-volunteer run organization, we all hold different jobs in our actual lives. We are not professionals in animal behavior, training, or health, but we work closely with local veterinarians, trainers, and other animal welfare organizations to ensure that our dogs receive the best possible care and support.

Houston K911 rescue

Houston K911 Rescue is a non-profit organization with a mission to address the immediate crisis of animal overpopulation in Houston by rescuing street dogs in poor health and in danger. We provide safe haven and rehabilitation. We place them in loving homes to be fostered and adopted. We turn their lives around. Many of the dogs that we take in are emergency cases that require immediate assistance. We help dogs no matter the condition they are in. We care for abandoned and neglected dogs, nurse broken bones, and help heal old and new wounds alike.

HOPE: Homeless & Orphaned Pets Endeavor

Homeless & Orphaned Pets Endeavor (HOPE) is a coalition of animal advocates dedicated to ending the homelessness of cats and dogs in the greater Houston area through foster to adoption, feral cat Trap-Neuter-Return, and education.

D&A Animal Rescue

D & A Animal Rescue is a no kill, foster based non – profit organization just outside of Houston. At D & A we wish that no animal endures the pain and suffering of a life on a chain, abandonment, abuse, or neglect. Our volunteers work to support and preserve the precious lives that are in our care regardless of the mountains we must climb to get there. We assist dogs in distress without regard to age, breed, or ease of placement. All animals in our care are spayed or neutered, receive all appropriate veterinary care and treatment, micro-chipped and placed in a nurturing foster home while they await adoption to their permanent homes. Our adopters must have a home that is loving, responsible and committed. We have a comprehensive adoption process which includes taking considerable care in finding good matches and educating prospective adopters about the responsibilities and costs of bringing a dog into their homes and lives. Education is key to combating this epidemic in the animal welfare community.

Noah's Ark Bayou Sanctuary

PugHearts the Houston Pug Rescue

PugHearts of Houston is a non-profit rescue dedicated to giving unwanted and neglected Pugs a second chance. It is staffed by a network of volunteers in and around the greater Houston, TX area. Some of these volunteers donate their time; they pick up dogs, drive them to vet appointments, process adoption applications and help us out at events we attend throughout the year. Some volunteers open their hearts and homes to our Rescues and provide safe, loving foster homes for these dogs. None of our dogs stay in a shelter or kennel. All of our dogs are in private foster homes throughout the area. They learn to live (some of them for the first time) in a home with foster siblings and parents who teach them how to be part of a loving family. These fosters will try to get them ready for the next phase of their lives – when they get to join their new forever home!

Athena's Angels Rescue

Living in Texas we witness the serious stray problem, animal abuse, and neglect there is on a daily basis. It is overwhelming, but we do our best to play our part in fixing this problem. We focus on saving dogs that many would turn away from. No matter what they have gone through they all deserve a second chance at life! We need to stand up and be their voice! Our Purpose Our rescue aims to primarily take on the difficult medical cases that most would turn away from.]We do everything in our power to get these guys on back on their feet and into their forever home. Every dog deserves a second chance at life!

Citizens for Animal Protection

Animal Rescue Kingdom (A.R.K.)

Animal Rescue Kingdom (A.R.K.) is a small rescue group. We save dogs out of high kill shelters and off the streets in Texas and transport them for adoption up North. We have been rescuing dogs in Texas for over 17 years! We are a registered 501c3 organization.

Great Pyrenees Rescue Society of Texas

Great Pyrenees Rescue Society (GPRS) is a rescue group that focuses on rescuing dogs in Texas and places many in the Pacific Northwest including Oregon and Washington state. Great Pyrenees Rescue Society is a coalition of rescuers founded by Malise Saucier in 2006 to facilitate the placement of Great Pyrenees dogs and Pyr mixes across the country, with rescues located in several states that have high kill shelter rates for the Great Pyrenees breed. GPRS has long history of successful adoptions both in Texas and in the Northwest through a monthly transport of Pyrs from Texas to the Pacific NW. GPRS also has a large network of fosters for Pyrs both in the Northwest and Texas. Great Pyrenees Rescue Society of Texas: Saving and Rehoming Great Pyrenees Dogs in Need Located in Texas, Great Pyrenees Rescue Society is a volunteer run, foster-based, 501(c)(3) animal rescue dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation, and adoption of Great Pyrenees dogs whose lives are in danger. Absolutely 100% of all donations go to the dogs that we care for. Most of our dogs come to us from kill shelters around the Central Texas, South Texas and Greater Houston area. We place them in foster homes in the Pacific Northwest and Texas while they are evaluated and rehabilitated until we find a permanent home for them. We transport and adopt dogs to Washington, Oregon, Idaho, California, New Mexico, and Arizona, along with Texas. There are so many more wonderful, majestic, and deserving Great Pyrenees needing help in Texas than we have places for. The only way we can save these precious dogs is with your help. We always need temporary foster homes, donations, volunteers' help and of course if you can give a dog a permanent home, you'll complete our dream.

Dude's Animal Ranch And Sanctuary Inc

Our love for helping animals in need started from a very young age and continued to grow throughout the years. Our beloved dog “Dude” passed away Easter morning 2023 surrounded by the people who meant the world to him, his humans. Dude was a lover of all animals big and small; he was the “King” of his castle and “Big Daddy Dude” to 2 orphaned kittens ( Jinx & Mr. Whiskers ) he raised, loved, and nurtured them as his own when they were just a week old. Over the years Dude has watched and assisted his humans rescue, foster, and adopt others just like him in need of a loving forever home. When Dude passed away after 17.5 years of giving unconditional love, devotion, and comfort to his humans and fur babies alike Brendon and Brian knew they needed to continue Dude’s mission to provide “A safe haven for all animals in need.” This is when we decided to turn Dude’s passion for all animals in need into a 501(c)(3) non-profit rescue organization.

Lucky Tails Inc

Saint Bernard Rescue Foundation, Inc. - Texas

To act as a shepherd for Saint Bernard dogs and puppies that are without suitable caretakers and are in need of help; to shelter the homeless; to care for and find homes for the unwanted, abandoned, neglected and abused; to feed the hungry; to provide medical services to the sick, injured and lame; to assist in the rescue of those subjected to conditions hazardous to their well-being or to confinement in government or private shelter, who without intervention would be needlessly Euthanize; to provide for the humane disposition of those not sound in mind, body or temperament; to educate the public as to the characteristics of, and proper care for, the breed so as to promote compatible, loving, lasting home/family placements; to educate the public as to responsible pet ownership so as to prevent accidental litters and to prevent inhumane trafficking in puppies and dogs, and so as to promote the most humane manner of disposition of pets at journey’s end; to encourage, promote and support research respecting the breed that explores or improves relations between the breed and owners or sheds light on the causes of abandonment, neglect or abuse, or promotes the public’s understanding of the special characteristics and attributes of the breed or that is designed to improve the welfare of the breed in any manner. Though the Foundation is established to provide services primarily to the Saint Bernard, the foundation will not refuse services to any dog in need of immediate and caring attention.

Starlight Outreach and Rescue

Starlight Outreach and Rescue (S.O.A.R.) is a 501(c)3 non-profit, foster-based animal rescue serving Brazoria, Galveston, and Harris counties in Texas. Starlight was established in 2017 to support the efforts of local area shelters to provide a better quality of life for stray and abandoned animals, medical attention beyond the scope/capabilities of the facilities, and fostering and rescue services for animals with special needs. As we’ve grown, our mission has too! Since we began, we’ve expanded our efforts beyond helping shelters to include: • Directly rescuing animals from the streets of the community and providing medical care and housing until they find forever homes • Trap/Neuter/Return services for community cats to keep cat colony populations from growing and animals healthier • Community outreach to loving community members whose pets need medical care beyond their financial needs to avoid having these families make the agonizing decision to either euthanize their treatable pet or give it up to a shelter to receive care • Education of the community on rescue-related issues such as the importance of spay/neuter and microchipping and what to do when you find abandoned pets The organization is named in honor of Emma Starlight Hyde who was just 14 years old when she passed away unexpectedly in October 2017. Emma and her mom Shelley, with the support of their family, volunteered at shelter events, such as the annual Shelter Dog Birthday Party, and fostered baby kittens to ensure they received proper socialization and feeding during the weaning period. Emma put in a lot of time and effort to get her kittens used to interaction with and handling by people, which helped ensured all her fosters were highly adoptable by the time they returned to the shelter and were put up for adoption. Emma’s bright and caring spirit continues on in this organization, lighting the way for stray and abandoned pets to find their way to their forever homes. In 2021 Starlight Outreach and Rescue absorbed Zoo's Rezcue and began a full partnership with Family Animal Hospital of Friendswood. With the help of FAH, Starlight will continue Zoo's Rezcue's Dogtoberfest event every October in Stevenson Park.

SMART Rescue

A SMART Rescue is a Federally recognized 501(c)(3), organized under the name of Sunmart Animal Rescue Team, Inc., that was founded in 2002 by two veteran animal rescuers. SMART established themselves in the Petsmart at I-45 and FM 1960 and they have continued to grow in both volunteer and adoption counts. Currently, in addition to web based adoptions, the organization adopts pets through four Petsmart locations; Conroe at I-45 and Hwy 3083 and 2 locations in Spring, the Grand Pkwy and Kuykendahl and the Grand Pkwy and Riley Fuzzel and in Portofino Center off I-45 in The Woodlands/Shenandoah. SMART is 100% foster based and runs strictly off of donations. Animals are cared for in the homes of our volunteers with SMART providing for their medical expenses. All animals in the program are spayed or neutered, vaccinated, dewormed, given health checks, and feline leukemia/FIV testing for cats and heartworm testing for dogs.

FosterDocHouston Dog Rescue

We are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit saving dogs in Houston, Tx. In July of 2022 we took in 6 puppies and their mama off the streets. Zuleikha had been finding dogs a home since her residency but had always dreamed of creating a true shelter. After caring for these 7 dogs and finding them all wonderful homes, we decided it was time to make that dream a reality. In June of 2023 we moved out to the country to allow us to expand the rescue. We now have a larger shelter on site as well as amazing fosters who help us save as many dogs as possible. We believe every dog deserves a happy, safe, healthy life in a great family. Join us while we save lives and make our dreams come true!

LND Animal Rescue

Second Chance Poms, Inc.

Pomeranian rescue group for southeast Texas. We are a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.