The Best Memphis, TN Dog Rescues & Shelters in 2025

Happy Dog Rescue

Happy Dog Rescue was organized in 2003 by a small group of volunteers in Memphis, Tennessee to rescue dogs from local shelters and rehome them locally with loving families. Our group quickly grew to include volunteers across the Southeast from Arkansas to Georgia, rescuing dozens of dogs in their respective communities every week. Before long, adoption applications began to come in from families in MA, CT, NY and surrounding states, and the rest is history! Since 2003, more than 4,000 Happy Dogs have been rescued and adopted to deserving families in the Northeast. Happy Dog Rescue is dually headquartered in Memphis TN and White Plains NY. Volunteers in TN manage and organize the intake, vetting, and fostering of our rescue dogs, while volunteers in NY coordinate the adoption, transport and post adoption support for the dogs and their new families. Happy Dog Rescue is run solely by volunteers and is a shelterless organization so we have no building or phone. Our dogs live in private foster homes in the South until they are adopted and travel to their Forever Families in the Northeast.

Fresh Start Sheltie Rescue

Fresh Start Sheltie Rescue, Inc. is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to rescuing and rehabilitating Shelties that need a "Fresh Start" in life. We are primarily located in Memphis, TN, and take in Shelties that are abandoned, lost, mistreated, or no longer wanted. We do not have a shelter facility. Therefore the dogs in our program are housed and cared for in our network of dedicated foster homes around the mid-south. Our special rescue Shelties will be available for adoption after they have been vaccinated, spayed or neutered, checked and treated if necessary for heartworms, checked and treated if necessary for parasites, and groomed. Prospective homes will be thoroughly screened before being considered to adopt.

Mercer Animal Rescue & Sanctuary

Mercer Animal Rescue purpose is to rescue, socialize, rehabilitate, and find forever homes for abused, neglected, abandoned and unwanted dogs, cats and horses. We rescue dogs from high kill shelters and the streets in the over-populated south. We transport them to the northeast states or the Chicago area where we hold adoption and fundraising events. All our potential adopters are pre-approved by submitting an adoption application and home checks are sometimes required. We want to make sure our dogs go to the best possible homes since they have not always had the best life. But it's all about the future‚ right?

Bartlett Animal Shelter

The Bartlett Animal Shelter is dedicated to serving the animals and citizens of the City of Bartlett.

Angels Among Us Animal Rescue

We Are An Organization Committed to Helping Animals in Need. Angels Among Us Animal Rescue is a 501C3 nonprofit rescue group in Brighton, Tennessee. We are a group of dedicated volunteers in Tennessee, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, Vermont, and New York who loves animals and have dedicated our lives to saving as many animals as we can and re-homing them into loving homes. We are not affiliated with Angels Among Us Pet Rescue in Alpharetta, GA.

Humane Society of Memphis & Shelby County

The Humane Society of Memphis & Shelby County has worked in the Memphis community since 1933 to give injured and abused dogs and cats a second chance at life. We provide a safe place to recover, nutritious food and outstanding veterinary care for an average of 100+ animals at a time. Our staff and volunteers provide training, affection, and socialization to the animals in our care to help them be adopted successfully into new and loving homes. Our funding comes almost exclusively from private donations.

Fayette County Animal Rescue

Fayette County Animal Rescue is a no-kill, non-profit animal shelter serving Fayette County, TN. We have a physical shelter which is located on 5 beautiful acres in Rossville, TN. Our primary focus is helping animals in extreme cases of abuse, neglect, injury or abandonment. We house between 70-100 cats and dogs at our shelter and in foster homes. OUR BEGINNINGS In 1998, two women decided to make a difference in the lives of the many animals that were suffering needlessly in Fayette County. Yvette Rose and Delores Cowan Provow began with two kennels in a garage and Fayette County Animal Rescue has now grown to a shelter that houses 70-100 animals in a sanctuary environment on 5 acres. The dedication and love for animals by these two ladies, and the will to make a difference in their community, spawned one of the largest no-kill organizations in the Mid South area. Heartbreaking years of struggle for these two founding members have given hope and a new life to thousands of animals that would have died needlessly on the rural roads of Fayette County. Their friendship and loving bond continues today for their life long mission of making a difference for all the needy animals that come to FCAR. Our shelter is now supported by hundreds of volunteers, all working tirelessly for the animals. Fayette County Animal Rescue is located in the third largest county in the State of Tennessee. Each month Animal Control picks up on the average 130 animals. All of these animals are euthanized after 72 hours. FCAR is the only No-Kill, No Cages Animal Shelter in Fayette County. Your donations are very important to our mission. We believe we can make a difference in our community and the animals that live here. Please join us in helping make this dream a reality.

Memphis Rottweiler Rescue

Memphis Rottweiler Rescue, Inc. [MRR] is a 501c3 nonprofit organization located in Memphis, TN. There are no paid employees at MRR. We are run solely by volunteers.

Dogs 2nd Chance

Dogs 2nd Chance is a 501[c]3 non-profit dog foster group that was founded in the fall of 2007.We are a group of VOLUNTEERS that saw the need to help medium and large mixed breed dogs find permanent loving homes. We have evolved to help any size dogs. We are NOT a shelter. We receive no government funding and depend on our minimal adoption fees, donations and our own bank accounts. All of our dogs are fostered in our homes and become a temporary active member of our family. Fostering helps to socialize the dogs, helping them adjust to life in a family setting. The majority of our dogs were abandoned, dumped or found running stray. We attempt to reunite lost dogs with their owners by placing ads in local newspapers and online classified ads. Additionally, we rescue dogs from high kill shelters as space allows. We are caring for the castaways by saving one dog at a time. With our network of dedicated rescue volunteers, we match homeless and abandoned dogs with forever homes, locally and up the east coast to the New England area where there is a shortage of adoptable animals. Leadership Statement As the founder and president of Dogs 2nd Chance, I have seen our organization grow from a few women able to help just a few dogs to a volunteer base of 20 men, women, and teenagers who work tirelessly to save abandoned and abused dogs. We operate along side at least a dozen other rescue groups, but even with that, we have no where near the manpower or the money to help the many, many needy dogs in our area. Irresponsible pet ownership and animal cruelty are pervasive in the southeastern United States, and our region is no different. But by saving just one dog, we have enriched many lives: first the dog’s, then the adopter’s, and finally our own. Nothing is more gratifying than watching a starved and frightened dog blossom into a happy, vivacious pet who adores his family and whose family adores him. Our goal is a carefree, happy and healthy dog who feels safe and nurtured. Our volunteers come from many walks in life and from various ethnic groups and races. Yet we come together to work for the dogs, and in that we’ve developed friendships that have enriched our lives. We also have made an impact, though small, in our communities as we have saved needy dogs and placed them in loving homes. Our organization is unique in offering one-week trial adoptions, which has significantly decreased the number of failed adoptions. — Linda Sutphin

HappiDog Animal Rescue

HappiDog is dedicated to rescuing neglected, homeless, and abandoned animals in the Memphis, TN area. Some are in danger of being euthanized at overcrowded shelters while others are owner surrenders. Our incredible foster homes give each dog a loving environment for rehabilitation and fun until they are adopted into their new family. HappiDog fully funds the veterinary care for each dog including any unforeseen surgeries or illnesses. Our rescue dogs are treated with the utmost care by the staff at Germantown Animal Hospital. We also value educating our community on the benefits of spay/neutering and the increasing risks of dog overpopulation. Through adoption and rescue events, we strive to engage the community to support animal rescue.

Collierville Animal Services

Hearts of Gold Pit Rescue

All Heart Animal Rescue

We are a 5013c non-profit, foster, and volunteer-based organization located in the Memphis, TN area. Our organization strives to help animals that have been left to fend for themselves to become healthy once again. Once they have received the proper care, we find them loving new families to adopt them.

Streetdog Foundation

Streetdog Foundation itself began with a phone call. When founders Melanie and Kent were asked by a friend at another organization to check Memphis Animal Services for a lost American Bull Dog, their one-hour task turned into a lifelong mission (not to mention the rescue of three shelter dogs at the same time). Since that transformational day, Streetdog Foundation has rescued more than 1,500 endangered dogs from the streets and shelters of Memphis, all without a dedicated structure to house them. Streetdog relies on volunteer foster families to not only provide homes for our dogs, but also give them the love, security, and confidence they need to succeed in their forever homes. Whether temporarily fostering or adopting one of our rescues, everyone who takes in a Streetdog becomes part of our family. And because we’re focused on the well-being of all the canine and human members of our family, Streetdog’s primary goal is to find the right fit for both the dog and the household. We are not a first-come, first-served rescue; our volunteers work diligently to make sure every match has the highest chance of success. We appreciate your interest and hope the compassionate vision that brought Streetdog Foundation into being will inspire you to join us however you can.

ALIVE Rescue Memphis

ALIVE Rescue Memphis is a foster-based rescue program for homeless animals in the Memphis area. We aim to save as many lives as possible from kill shelters and the streets by ultimately placing them in their best-matched foster homes. We then match people and animals to their forever families and homes.

MidSouth Animal Rescue League

We are a Memphis, Tennessee based rescue, but several years ago, moved 30 miles outside of town to a large piece of property as we grew and wanted to do more and help more animals. We are a foster based rescue, we do not have a physical shelter that is open to the public. Most of our foster homes are in the Memphis area, considered the greater Mid-South area, which can be confusing, but is a tri state area of Tennessee, Mississippi and Arkansas. We are not a shelter - our animals are fostered in volunteer's homes throughout the Mid-South area. We are staffed completely with volunteers, and try to respond to everyone as quickly as we can, but due to the volume of calls and emails we receive, we are not able to get back with everyone.

Memphis Animal Services

Memphis Animal Services (MAS) is the municipal animal control and sheltering agency in the city of Memphis. Between the 10,000+ pets who came into our care in 2023, plus the 5,000+ community pets we helped through our Pet Resource Center, MAS is committed to providing assistance to all pets in our jurisdiction regardless of breed, temperament, or medical condition. MAS saved nearly 86 percent of the over 9,000 pets in its care in 2022. History We are a department within the City of Memphis Division of Public Services and Neighborhoods. The “Memphis Dog Pound,” as it was formerly named, was originally opened in September 1936. It was on the northwest corner of Auction and Front Streets and was originally started as a Great Depression relief project. It was located there from 1936 until 1972. The current “Memphis Animal Shelter” was opened in 1972. The name was changed in 2004 to Memphis Animal Services to better describe the City’s broad range of improved animal programs and services. Memphis Animal Services moved into its new 32,000 square foot facility at 2350 Appling City Cove in 2011.

Team Memphis Rescue & Support

Team Memphis Rescue & Support is a 501C3 non-profit all-breed rescue group that helps abandoned, neglected and lost pets. We are intensely devoted to helping pets find their forever home. Our existence depends on support from volunteers, fosters and donations. It's what makes saving animals possible. Team Memphis Rescue & Support provides assistance to dogs in Memphis and surrounding areas who are displaced. We provide basic needs, vetting, evaluation of temperaments, and network to find foster and forever homes. Dog rescue is an ongoing battle. We are stronger when we stand together. Team Memphis Rescue & Support provides medical care, including vaccinations, microchip and spay/neuter for all our adoptable pets. With years of experience, our goal is to find the perfect fit for each dog as well as the best pet for your family.

All 4s Rescue League

All 4s Rescue League makes contact with pets and their owners in their own homes. This allows us to assess need and form a plan of action on an individual basis. We are very proud of the positive impact we have on the lives of the pets and people we serve. Learn more about what we do, who we help, and how we work every day to promote positive change.

Real Good Dog Rescue

Founded in 2004 by Lisa Trenthem, Real Good Dog Rescue ‘s goal is to reduce the number of animals euthanized in area shelters, primarily the Memphis Animal Shelter. We also occasionally accept owner-surrendered puppies or dogs, depending on the circumstances. RGDR utilizes a team of volunteers who foster animals while they await their new families and forever homes. Some volunteers devote their time to working at adoption events or tackling large and small projects

Covington Animal Rescue Effort

CARE Founded Sarah Sullivan was the founder of CARE and made sure that the city of Covington pound dogs had a rescue that would never give up on them. CARE began with just one person's dream to give the Covington City Dogs a way to a new life! As of Sept 18, 2023 the city pound is now closed. CARE will be revamping our focus as we continue rescue in Tipton county, TN Happy Tails CARE is fully volunteer members. From foster to The Core Board, we are all volunteers for the reason you see in the picture above. For the Happy Tails! There is nothing more joyful than seeing a rescued pound dog not only get to be loved but to give love to the adopter. The Extra Mile CARE goes the extra mile for all our rescued fur babies. The adoption fee is the same across the board. So, even if a dog has injuries, illnesses, broken bones, skin conditions that all must be treated before adoption, the adoption fee stays the same for ALL dogs. We are thankful to those that donate and support our fund raisers!

West Tennessee Border Collie Rescue

WEST TN BORDER COLLIE RESCUE IS AN ALL VOLUNTEER RESCUE DEDICATED TO THE RESCUE, REHABILITATION AND REHOMING OF ABANDONED, NEGLECTED AND LOST BORDER COLLIES (AND SOMETIMES AUSSIES). WE SERVE THE AREAS OF TN, LA, AR, AL AND SOMETIMES AREAS FURTHER OUT

Petmatchmaker Rescue South

Petmatchmaker Rescue South is a 100% volunteer, foster-based rescue group in Bartlett, Tennessee. Our main objective is to save animals from being surrendered or euthanized, especially seniors and those with medical needs. We also find ourselves bottle feeding, stopping for a stray and saving animals that are out of time in shelters every day. We wish we could save them all, but unfortunately we are limited by the lack of space, fosters and donations. Any financial donations we receive are tax deductible and go towards helping very deserving animals. Our rescue group offers a sanctuary for animals on their journey to a new forever home. We will make every effort to match you with your new best friend. We work diligently to learn everything we can about each rescue animal, so that our fosters can help you find the perfect fit. All of our animals are fully vetted, up to date on vaccinations, and ready to join their new families and forever homes. We keep in touch with our adopters and love to receive updates with pictures whenever possible. We realize that many animals will get several applications, while others will not be easily adopted. We strive to find the perfect match for you and our rescue animals. We hope you understand that not everyone will be approved, and many times there will be more applications than animals. We will encourage you to look at other animals in our rescue that matches your needs. We are constantly seeking adopters that believe as we do, that these are new family members for many years to come. We also understand that it takes a tremendous amount of trust to adopt a dog that you have not met firsthand. That same trust applies to us and our fosters in sending our precious animal. We are very careful in choosing families that have demonstrated this philosophy and who we believe will provide the same amount of love and level of care that they have received with us. We do not take this lightly and we will probably ask more questions than you may expect. Please understand that we do this out of love and commitment for our rescue animal. We are happy to answer questions, but please remember that we all have full time jobs, families and many animals that we are working to save daily. We will respond as quickly as possible. We primarily use two veterinary clinics in Memphis, TN. You are welcome to call either of them for a reference. They are Family Veterinary Practice at (901) 385-VETS and Memphis Animal Clinic at (901) 272-7411.

Germantown Animal Shelter

The Germantown Animal Shelter is all about making sure every paw finds its perfect match. Our shelter can host up to 15 dogs and 25 cats, ensuring they have a comfortable stay until they find their forever families. If you're a Germantown resident looking to surrender an animal, we've also got you covered — just keep in mind that there's a $50 fee to help us care for it. The Germantown Animal Shelter is also responsible for responding to all animal-related ordinance issues. For stray animal pick-up, dead animal pick-up or for more information, call (901) 757-7358. The shelter is located at 7700 Southern Avenue. Animal control services are provided Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Adoption services are available Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. The Germantown Animal Shelter will impound animals that pose an immediate threat to public safety, that need immediate medical care, are in danger or a danger to themselves. Strays will continue to be impounded as space allows. If assistance is needed to care for a stray while in a citizen's custody, please contact us for aid.