The Best Maryland Dog Rescues & Shelters in 2025

Canine Humane Network

Established in 2016, Canine Humane Network is a non-profit dog rescue, shelter, adoption and training organization here in Highland, Howard County, Maryland. We are substantially operated by volunteer staff and many big-hearted volunteer foster families. Here at Canine Humane Network, we are dedicated to saving the lives of homeless dogs and providing a safe haven, humane care, and adoption programs for rescued dogs. We are deeply invested in the lifelong happiness of the dogs and owners we serve. We strive to build a humane environment for animals and people by providing excellent resources and training including humane education and therapy dog programs.

Key to lions heart rescue

Key to Lion's Heart Rescue was founded in January 2018 in honor of Lion, a dog who made a tremendous impact on so many lives. Lion was dumped at a very high kill shelter where his time was up. Without knowing his past, he was pulled by a rescue and placed into a home. Lion was then moved nine times over the course of one year in an effort to find the right home. Unfortunately, the second to last move was that one that forever changed his soul. Just like people, dogs have a breaking point, and Lion had reached his. He had been through more in one year than any dog should ever have to go through in a lifetime. His last move was to a home where he was loved and cared for by a handful of people, his advocates for many months. Unfortunately, it was too late. The pain and suffering he had endured in some of his previous places was more than Lion could overcome. The light in his eyes was gone and he was suffering. In the arms of the people who loved him dearly, we whispered our goodbyes and told him how much we loved him. Humans had failed him. As we kissed him goodbye, we promised Lion that we would do our best to ensure no dog would ever have to endure what he had in his last year. At that moment, we dedicated ourselves to unlocking hope for all dogs by giving a little piece of our hearts to every single one that we can save.

Reed's Rescue

Reeds Rescue is a non-profit volunteer dog rescue organization serving Baltimore County and surrounding areas. We are dedicated to rescuing dogs of senior age or deemed to be terminally ill from area shelters, dogs given up by their owners because of difficult circumstances, and those in danger of decompensating in the shelter environment. Reeds Rescue will provide nurturing foster homes while they await placement in their permanent homes. Reeds Rescue, the board, and the volunteers will strive to work with area shelters, the community, and other rescues to develop a network of supporters to create a better world for the elderly and terminal pets in need.

Miri's Haven Senior Dog Rescue

A senior dog rescue working to raise awareness of the dangers of puppy mills and backyard breeding

Senior Dog Sanctuary of Maryland, Inc.

SDS provides a safe haven for senior dogs who cannot be cared for by their owners, are abandoned or abused, or face euthanasia. Our sanctuary has provided a safe, loving home for over 900 dogs since 2016. Our staff and volunteers supply residents with expert-level care and rehabilitation until they are adopted. We also provide long-term homes to seniors who aren't currently adoptable.

SPCA of Anne Arundel County

The SPCA of Anne Arundel County is the oldest and largest animal welfare organization in the county.

Baltimore Animal Rescue & Care Shelter (BARCS)

BARCS is a non-profit, 501(c)3 organization operating Maryland's largest animal shelter and pet adoption center. We are an open admission shelter, granting refuge to every abandoned, neglected, abused, lost or surrendered animal that comes through our door. A staggering 30 or more animals are surrendered to BARCS every day. No matter what the circumstance, we do not turn away any animal in need of shelter, food, medical care and a loving touch. Yearly, this equates to 11,000-12,000 dogs, cats, kittens, puppies, and even wildlife and exotic animals that need care and placement. Each year, BARCS is growing, evolving and working to implement new innovative programs that benefit animals in need and the neighborhoods that support them.

Keller's Cause

We are a small, foster based rescue operating in Maryland and Michigan. We specialize in deaf and blind dogs, specifically double merles.

MID-ATLANTIC GERMAN SHEPHERD RESCUE

We are a non-profit rescue dedicated to German Shepherds and German Shepherd mixes. If you are looking to add a new family member to your loving home in the Mid-Atlantic area

Knine Rescue Inc.

Knine Rescue is a small non-profit 501(c)3 organization, dedicated to animal care and protection. Founded in 2005, we assist shelters and other rescues (both in our local community and beyond) by finding loving forever homes for neglected, abandoned and homeless animals. Our goal is to promote responsible animal ownership by educating the wider public on the importance of spay/neuter, positive training and pet health care. Last year, we helped save more than 600 dogs from euthanasia.

All Shepherd Rescue of the United States , Inc

All Shepherd Rescue is a group of German Shepherd lovers who work to rescue, rehabilitate and rehome abused, abandoned, surrendered or other wise homeless German Shepherds and find them forever homes. We are 100% volunteer and rely on fundraisers and donations to fund the Veterinary care and other needs of our dogs, to prepare them for their adoptive families.

Saving Grace Animal Rescue of Maryland

We are an all-volunteer 501(c)(3) non-profit animal rescue. As a rescue, it is our mission to end the neglect of animals across the east coast by rescuing them and helping find their forever home. We want to save the lives of pets and enhance the lives of people by finding the perfect new fur-baby for each family! We do not have a facility, our fosters accept these rescue dogs and cats into their homes out of their love for animals.

Almost Home Dog Rescue

Almost Home Dog Rescue is a non-profit, foster-based, all volunteer rescue organization dedicated to rescuing and rehabilating dogs at risk and in danger of an untimely death. We all share the passion of helping these homeless dogs who don't have a voice, who won't have a chance, without organizations such as this one, helping them to a new beginning. It is our mission to seek out dogs where there is need, to bring them to us where they are placed in loving foster homes and prepare them for their forever families. It is also our mission to prepare our adoptive families for a smooth transition and a better outcome. Our community outreach program will offer New Adopter classes whether you adopt from us or not.

PetConnect Rescue

PetConnect Rescue was founded in 2005, in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, and has evolved into a vibrant animal rescue organization. Our mission is to save the lives of abandoned dogs and cats and place them in loving and permanent homes. Each day, we respond to desperate email and phone pleas to rescue dogs and cats imminently slated for euthanasia. We pull these animals into rescue from over-extended shelters between Maryland and Georgia. PetConnect Rescue is a non-breed-specific organization, and we are committed to stepping forward whenever we can and wherever there is the greatest need. We are a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.

Pitties and Purrs Rescue

Pitties and Purrs Rescue Inc. is a small, foster-based rescue in Baltimore, MD. Our rescue dogs come from all over the country in order to be rehabilitated and to ultimately find their forever homes. Because we are a foster-based rescue, we completely rely on our incredible volunteers to care for & to temporarily welcome the dogs and cats into their homes to prepare them for adoption. All donations are tax deductible as we are a 501c(3) non-profit! You will receive a donation receipt. If you donate to our vet or through Amazon, please drop us a line to let us know so we can thank you!

Forever Changed Animal Rescue

FCAR is a small, locally-run 501(c)(3) non-profit charity dedicated to saving dogs from high-kill shelters and other dangerous or unhealthy situations. We operate through a network of volunteers and foster homes in the DC Metro area. Our efforts are funded by tax-deductible contributions from compassionate people and organizations who want to make a difference in our community. We can't save every dog, but every dog we save is forever changed.

LAB. RESCUE. OF LRCP

We are a non-profit volunteer organization that rescues, fosters, and finds forever homes for abused, neglected, and abandoned Labrador Retrievers in the states of Virginia, Maryland, West Virginia, Delaware, Pennsylvania, and North Carolina. We provide our Labs with veterinary care, spay or neuter services, and placement with foster families where they are loved while they await adoption.

Baltimore Humane Society

The Baltimore Humane Society was founded to protect our region's pets and to address and prevent their suffering. Since our first day we've developed a set of tenets that represent our commitments to the pets we care for. All of our efforts are centered around one word ‚'humane'.

Maryland SPCA

Our animal shelter works to improve the lives of pets and people in the communities of Baltimore City and the surrounding areas.

Petey and Furends

Petey and Furends is a certified 501(c)(3) nonprofit no-kill animal rescue organization that is dedicated to reducing instances of neglect, abuse, and homelessness in companion animals. To do this, we use research- and evidence-based practices to facilitate a matchmaking experience that will increase the rate of successful adoptions.

Animal Care Shelter for Kent County

As Kent County's only animal shelter, we care for hundreds of animals each year, with the mindset that each and every single adoptable pet will receive food, shelter, medical attention and love until they're home. We also focus on progressive programs that strengthen our community through our food pantry, lost and found services, rehoming support services and more.

3 Acres Rescue

3 Acres Rescue is a no-kill Animal Rescue in Chesapeake Beach, Maryland, that specializes in dogs, cats, and livestock. We rescue pets from high kill shelters across the United States and bring them to our rescue to then rehome with applicants that are extensively processed with our Application Processing Team. Marilana Zahedi-Mullis is the founder of 3 Acres Rescue and established her nonprofit status as a 501(c)3 in 2022. 3 Acres Rescue does not profit from donations or adoption fees; all money goes toward the pets' care. Costs for rehoming a pet on the euthanasia list include things like, transport fees to get them to safety, certificates to cross state lines, initial vet care, spay/neuter fees, microchipping, additional vet care when needed. These fees outweigh the adoption fees we charge, so we really rely heavily on donations and volunteer hours. When adopting a pet from 3 Acres Rescue, you'll received a fully vaccinated, spayed/neutered, and microchipped pet. 3 Acres Rescue also coordinates a decent number of our rescued dogs specifically for Heartworm positive pups, which we will provide funding/medication for slow-kill Heartworm treatment. Over a hundred homeless and abandoned animals were able to find their fur-ever homes from September-December 2023 alone. Our dream is to give every pet a fair chance at life. Could you help?

Baltimore County Animal Services

Puppies Are Worth Saving Inc. (PAWS Rescue)

ABOUT US Puppies Are Worth Saving Inc. is a 501c3 nonprofit dog rescue based out of Forest Hill, Maryland. Puppies Are Worth Saving Inc. (PAWS Rescue) was started in February of 2013, and we became a 501(c)3 in January of 2015. All donations, fees, and proceeds go directly to helping our dogs. PAWS is ran by a group of volunteers that are dedicated to saving the lives of dogs and puppies. We are open to any breed and as long as we have room, we do not say no. We will try to find a specific breed or age of dog in a shelter as an alternative to someone buying from a breeder. We believe that all Puppies Are Worth Saving. PAWS pulls dogs and puppies from dangerous situations and places them in loving, caring, forever homes. We work with a group of dedicated fosters to ensure that the dogs are getting the love and care that they need. We will adopt to any location that is within a 4 hour drive, as long as the adopter can come meet and pick up the dogs.

Montgomery County Services and Animal Adoption Center ( MCSAAC

Defenders of Animal Rights

Defenders of Animal Rights, Inc. is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to eliminating cruelty to all animals. In 1988, our shelter opened in the middle of a 35.8 acre wildlife sanctuary in Northern Baltimore County, where we've been operating since.

PuppyPaws Rescue

Puppy Paws Rescue was created in March of 2013 in order to find loving homes for abandoned puppies and dogs. We are a non-profit (501c3) Also like us on facebook to get constant updates on available dogs, current adoptions and rescue news. Puppy Paws saves dogs from high kill shelters from the eastern portion of the United States. With the help of many foster families we typically have a large inventory of puppies and dogs available for adoption in the Maryland and northern Virginia area.

Talbot Humane Society

Our goals continue to grow, but our mission has stayed true: To provide a safe and healthy environment for all animals in our care; To rescue animals from cruelty and neglect; To place companion animals into loving homes; To reunite lost pets with their owners; To reduce pet overpopulation through progressive spay and neuter programs To provide the community with programs and services which support the human animal bond.

Dogs Finding Dogs

Dogs Finding Dogs is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization of highly trained handlers and dogs that can track and find a lost pet. When we take on a missing pet case, we stay with you until your pet is found. We never turn down a plea for help! Our goal is to reunite you with your pet as soon as possible. We will advise you on what steps to take and when. Dogs Finding Dogs offers more than just tracking teams. We can be instrumental in reuniting you with your pet using a variety of methods. Our dogs have gone thru extensive training for tracking on multiple surfaces such as streets, fields, and buildings. Dogs Finding Dogs is also able to track successfully in all kinds of weather conditions. Our teams obtain certifications in tracking and trailing according to the National Tactical Police Dog Association guidelines. DFD_website_heidigrasspapers_400x275 DFD_website_morethan8k Dogs on our teams have helped aid the police in tracking persons in connection with a crime. They also have successfully tracked lost pets with full recovery of the animal. Our dogs have been honored with citations from State Governors, Delegates, Police and Fire Departments. Dogs Finding Dogs strives to connect missing pet owners with legitimate, certified tracking dog teams in areas that we cannot cover. DFD is one of the driving forces involved in the the national organization Missing Animal Scent Dog Network (MASDN).

Eskie Rescuers United

The dogs we foster come from many places. Some are turned in by their owners who can no longer care for them. Other dogs are found as stray dogs, or for one reason or another they wind up in dog shelters. There are far too many dogs without homes in the U.S. and the majority of them have to be put to sleep due to overcrowded conditions in shelters. We work to save as many American Eskimo dogs that we can by rescuing them. We then foster the dogs in the volunteer's homes, provide veterinary care, and put a profile for the dog on our website. We do not "sell" dogs. We find homes for dogs and adopt the dog to you. This means that you cannot just walk off the street and buy a dog from us. Learn more about the adoption process.