The Best Massachusetts Dog Rescues & Shelters in 2025

Gals Best Pal Inc.

Our goal at GBP is to make rescuing a dog stress free and interactive, while also setting our adopters up for success by thoughtfully placing the dogs we are adopting out. During the application process, our goal is to communicate and educate each person we talk to, so that when you find your perfect match and are ready to bring them home, you are prepared and ready for the next few weeks to come! We will continue to provide thoughtful advice and emotional assistance throughout the lifetime of each GBP adoption.

Last Hope K9 Rescue

LHK9 is a 501(c)(3) registered non-profit all-breed dog rescue based in Massachusetts. We are dedicated to saving abandoned, neglected, and abused dogs from high-kill shelters in Central Arkansas and beyond. Though our rescue efforts are focused in the Central Arkansas area, we also serve as a resource for local dog surrenders, shelters, and special rescue efforts in other areas. We don't discriminate on the basis of age, pre-existing medical conditions, or breed, because every dog deserves to know love. As the literal ‚'last hope' of the dogs we serve, our southern fosters pull dogs and puppies from partner shelters in Arkansas. While in foster, each dog receives love, care, and medical treatment, then receives a health clearance and transports to New England. After a mandatory 48-hour quarantine stay and an additional health clearance, each dog is picked up and fostered by a northern foster family who serves as a gateway to his/her adoptive home, affectionately known as a FURever home.

Buddy and Friends Animal Rescue

Buddy & Friends Animal Rescue is a 501(c)3 non-profit, all-volunteer organization based in Pembroke, MA. We are NOT a shelter facility and rely solely on the backbone of our rescue which is fosters and volunteers.

Animal Protection Center of Southeastern Massachusetts (APCSM)

The Animal Protection Center of Southeastern Massachusetts (APCSM) is a 501(c)(3) education and outreach animal shelter serving Plymouth, Norfolk, and Bristol counties. Since 2009, we have placed over 10,000 animals into forever homes. Our Mission is to operate a managed admission animal care and adoption facility, with focus on prevention of cruelty to animals, education and outreach. The APCSM offers a variety of programs and events throughout the year and we encourage animal lovers of all ages to participate!

Ruff Tales Rescue

Ruff Tales Rescue is a dog rescue operating in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Connecticut, and Rhode Island. We are dedicated to saving the lives of abandoned dogs and redirecting them to stable, loving environments that serve as their forever home or the bridge to their forever home. Ruff Tales rescues dogs from shelters in southern states, where they are at risk for euthanasia due to significant overpopulation. Before meeting us, these dogs have often been neglected, abused, or abandoned. Once pulled from the shelters, our dogs are fostered locally before moving to their northern fosters when they are ready for adoption.

Sweet Paws Rescue

Sweet Paws Rescue (SPR) is a registered non-profit animal rescue based in Massachusetts. We are a grassroots, boots-on-the-ground, shelterless, foster-based, and volunteer-powered organization. We primarily work within two of the poorest counties in Mississippi and Alabama and since 2011, we have rescued close to 22,000 puppies, dogs, kittens, and cats that would not have a chance at life otherwise. We are also a New England resource for the abandoned and displaced, and animals seized in cruelty cases within our home state.

Great Dog Rescue New England

Great Dog Rescue New England (GDRNE) is a 501(C)(3) non-profit, shelterless, all-breed rescue group headquartered in Massachusetts. Our group is comprised of volunteers from all over New England who love dogs and want to help those that end up homeless through no fault of their own. Loyal and loving dogs turn up every day in New England and Southern shelters, as owners turn them in or they're found roaming the streets after being dumped. To the best of our abilities, we evaluate all of our Great Dogs temperament and suitability for living with other dogs, cats, and children. A dog's health is checked, and we make sure they are up-to-date on all shots and are spayed or neutered. Then, we place them in loving foster homes until they find their very own family. Our goal is to meet the needs of each dog as an individual and to assure proper placement in a loving forever home.

Schultz's Guest House

Shultz's Guest House is a 501c3 dog rescue shelter located on 200 private acres in Dedham, MA. We offer a secure haven for dogs on their journey to finding the loving forever homes they deserve. Enveloped by lush forests and serene ponds alongside the Charles River, these pups enjoy a peaceful and picturesque environment while receiving lots of love and care from our amazing volunteers.

The Dog House K9 Rescue

At The Dog House, our mission is to pave the way for dogs in need to find their forever homes. Our furry residents boast a multitude of backgrounds some have been entrusted to us by previous owners, while others have been rescued from various shelters. We take a tailored approach to each dog's journey, taking the time to intimately grasp their distinct personalities, strengths, and areas with potential. This comprehensive process empowers us to thoughtfully pair them with compatible forever homes, ensuring a harmonious and enduring companionship. By investing in the uniqueness of each dog, we're scripting narratives of heartwarming transformations and the joy of a new beginning in the embrace of a loving family.

Greyhound Friends

Greyhound Friends is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and dog adoption shelter based in Hopkinton, Massachusetts. Founded in 1983, we are dedicated to placing greyhounds and other dogs in responsible, loving adoptive homes, as well as educating the public about the greyhound breed and generally promoting animal welfare through educational & outreach programs.

Rescue Inc

We may be the new rescue in town, but we are not new to rescue. We are seasoned and we are committed. Established in late 2019, we have a core leadership and consulting team with decades of combined rescue, corporate, and dog behavior experience. We are in the business of second chances. In addition to being a resource for local dogs, Rescue Inc. homes the displaced and abandoned dogs from the rural south that would not have chance at life otherwise. We partner with organizations in Mississippi, Alabama, and Massachusetts, that enhance the human-animal bond, and improve the well-being of an at-risk canine population. As a licensed and registered 501(c)(3) organization, we rely on your tax-deductible donations to support our rescue efforts. Every dollar is put to work supporting our mission to provide options for animals when there are none.

Dakin Humane Society

Dakin Humane Society is a 501 (c) (3) community-supported animal welfare organization that provides shelter, medical care, and spay/neuter services to more than 20,000 animals each year. Since its inception in 1969, Dakin has become one of the most recognized nonprofit organizations in the Pioneer Valley and a national leader in animal welfare.

Second Chance Animal Services

Second Chance Animal Services is a nonprofit animal welfare organization founded in 1999. Second Chance began as an animal shelter and grew to help more pets in need. Today Second Chance operates Community Veterinary Hospitals in North Brookfield, Southbridge, Springfield, and Worcester providing access to the highest-quality veterinary care for all. Subsidized rates are provided to underserved communities to ensure access to care for all pets in need. Last year Second Chance helped over 49,000 pets live better lives through full-service veterinary care, spay/neuter services, adoption services, community & educational outreach programs, training, and a pet food pantry. Second Chance is a 501c3 tax exempt organization EIN: 04-3490671

New England Border Collie Rescue

New England Border Collie Rescue, Inc. (NEBCR) is a network of volunteers working to find homes for Border Collies in need within the Northeast US. Our dogs are all fostered in home environments, and we do not operate a central facility/shelter. NEBCR assists dogs in need regardless of age or health concerns. New England Border Collie Rescue originated as a group of eight concerned volunteers, led by Carole Presberg, in 1999 to help this special breed. Incorporated as a non-profit organization in 2000, we have spent 20 years rescuing dogs, educating the public, and assisting owners about living with this quirky breed. Our efforts include staffing booths at festivals, hosting events, and assisting owners with referrals to trainers, and new activities to try in their area.

Lowell Humane Society

The purpose of the Lowell Humane Society shall be to provide shelter, prevent cruelty to animals, and advocate for their welfare. Through humane education, the Society strives to enlighten the public with the goal of improving the quality of life for animals and people.

Lighthouse Animal Shelter

We are an all-volunteer, 501(c)3 organization whose leadership brings decades of combined experience in animal welfare and rescue. At Lighthouse Animal Shelter we focus our efforts on helping homeless animals, with the main focus being adult and senior animals.

Quincy Animal Shelter

uincy Animal Shelter is primarily a volunteer-run organization. The shelter relies completely on our volunteers and the community for support. Incorporated in November 1999 as a non-profit Massachusetts charity, we are also a recognized charity under Section 501(c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Service code. Since 1999, Quincy Animal Shelter has placed more than 7,500 cats and dogs into loving homes throughout New England. We are committed to finding the right home for every adoptable animal in our care. Every animal receives age-appropriate vaccinations, is spayed or neutered and micro-chipped before being placed in its forever home. Delivering this type of care involves many volunteers, an active and dedicated management, and a lot of money. Our annual budget runs approximately $250,000 in order to provide services to the animals in our care and serve the continuous needs of our growing community. Please visit our Volunteer and Wish List pages to find out about ways you can help. As a “no kill” shelter, we make every effort to find the right home for every adoptable animal in our care. This means we exercise the same ethical and humane treatment of animals in our facility that you would for your own family feline or canine friend. Our capacity at the shelter is limited to a maximum of 12 dogs and 15 to 25 cats, depending on ages and condition of the cats. Our dream is to eventually find a larger facility so that we can continue our mission on a larger scale and serve the continuous needs of the community and the animals.

Animal Rescue League of Boston

For 125 years, The Animal Rescue League of Boston (ARL) has responded to the needs of animals and the people who care about them. In fact, we are often the first to respond. With over 1,200 dedicated volunteers and 100 staff members, ARL lends unwavering support to local animals, families, and neighborhoods. We provide outstanding veterinary care, adoption, and field services. We also confront the root causes of animal cruelty and neglect through special police investigation and advocacy aimed at strengthening the laws that protect animals.

Baypath Humane Society

We are a small shelter at less than 2000 square feet of indoor space, but what we lack in space we make up for in our dedication to the quality of care. We are fortunate to have a great adoption program and social media reach to get animals into their great forever homes as quickly as possible. We also leverage our robust foster network to get our more stressed-out cats and dogs into these temporary homes so we may gain more information to best place these pets. While the animals are in shelter our priority is to make their stay as stress-free and as enriching as possible through training, play, cuddle time, and general goofing around. Our dedicated staff in concert with our veritable army of volunteers sees to this each day.

Big Little Life Rescue

Our group came together after years of volunteering and life-long, deep love and respect for animals. Each of us has had a strong connection with animals since early childhood. We see animals as beautiful, sentient beings, who are capable of unconditional love and acceptance. We believe that animals can feel and have complex experiences, just like humans. We also believe that every animal deserves respect and kindness, no matter where they are located. To us, a life is a life. Big Little Life Animal Rescue is an all-volunteer, non-profit organization, relying solely on donations to continue its work. We are a group of animal lovers, based in MA, NY, ME, and PA. All of us are professionals, with full-time jobs, families, and pets, united by our love and commitment to animals. We do not get paid. You give $5, they get $5. Period.

Brown Dog Coalition & Rescue

Brown Dog Coalition & Rescue is a 501(c)3, volunteer-run, foster-based, dog and cat rescue based in Hopkinton, MA.

PittieLove Rescue, Inc.

PittieLove Rescue Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Massachusetts. We are an all-volunteer, foster-home-based rescue dedicated to the care, understanding, and adoption of pit bull type dogs. PittieLove's primary goal is to ensure that our rescued dogs will never again suffer from abuse or neglect. We work diligently to carefully place them into loving homes where, for all of their remaining years, they will experience the affection and kindness that has been so sorely absent from their lives.

Cape Ann Animal Aid

Today we continue to make the rescue of local cats and dogs our first priority. Many of our animals arrive via owner surrender or from local overburdened animal control agencies, humane societies, and rescue groups. Due to effective spay and neuter in New England, we are also able to take in and find homes for animals from other areas of the country and beyond that are struggling with animal overpopulation issues.

Jet Wag Rescue

Jet Wag helps rescues and shelters in heavily-burdened areas place at-risk adoptable dogs and cats with loving families.