The Best Missouri Dog Rescues & Shelters in 2025

Stray Rescue of St. Louis

What sets Stray Rescue of St. Louis apart in the animal welfare community near and far? We seek out and take in those who no other organization will help or would simply euthanize because they are too expensive to heal. We take the abandoned, beaten, bred, fought, injured, terrified, defeated and betrayed. We see beyond their brokenness and are here to pick up the pieces to make these special animals whole again. We see the individual and know that there's no one size fits all treatment plan. The minute they enter our doors, we look in their eyes and promise them ALL the second chance they deserve for health, home, commitment and love. Because these animals come in with a story that would give us all nightmares, it takes them longer to open up, trust and believe in humankind again. But with patience and time always on their unique schedule we see the light shine in their eyes again. Animals have an amazing ability to forgive which never ceases to amaze us.

Unchained Melodies Dog Rescue

Unchained Melodies rescues, rehabilitates and rehomes chained, penned, and abused dogs that have no voice. We fight for stronger laws and have many programs that benefit our community.

Furry Kids Refuge

We are a no-kill, all volunteer animal rescue organization which started in the year 2003 by founder Carla Wing. Furry Kids Refuge was established to benefit the public at large by supporting local animal control agencies in their efforts to reduce the number of homeless companion animals. In June 2005, Furry Kids Refuge was established as a Missouri Not-for-Profit Corporation and a Federal 501(c) (3) charitable organization animal rescue that operates with a network of foster homes, a small facility and many dedicated volunteers.

Rescue One

Rescue One is a state-licensed, 501(c)(3), foster-based rescue located in Springfield, MO. All of the animals in our care live in foster homes until a forever home can be found. We rescue without regard to breed, age, or ease of placement. Our mission is not only to rescue animals in need, but to also educate the public on responsible pet ownership and help provide low cost spay/neuter for those in need of assistance. Since forming in 2013, Rescue One has helped saved thousands of animals. Dogs find their way to us for many reasons: some are owner surrenders, some are strays, some dogs are found abandoned, left to fend for themselves in vacant homes, open fields, or on the side of the road, and many are pulled from area kill shelters. Besides giving love and socialization to the animals, all will receive necessary medical care, required vaccinations, and be spayed or neutered prior to adoption.

KC Pet Project

KC Pet Project is a 501c3, nonprofit charitable organization operating the KC Campus for Animal Care, Kansas City, Missouri's, Animal Shelter. We care for more than 15,000 animals a year and now have 14 locations in Missouri and Kansas to adopt out pets. We focus on progressive programs to help people keep their pets through Lost and Found services, our Keep Em Together, KC program, and pet safety initiatives like microchipping, pet identification, and more.

Center for Animal Rescue & Enrichment of St. Louis - CARE STL

We accept the homeless, abused, neglected, injured, and surrendered animals of the City of St. Louis into our care so they will be safe and loved until they can be adopted into loving homes.

Missouri German Shepherd Rescue

MOGS has several long-timers in our system that would really love to find either an Adoption or Foster Home. All of these amazing GSD's arrived at MOGS with some rough edges, but have worked really hard and are ready to take the next steps in the rehab process - landing in their forever home!

Lucky 13

Lucky 13 Rescue is an organization dedicated to the rescue and aid of homeless and neglected dogs in the Kansas City metro and surrounding rural areas. We do not limit our efforts to a specific breed, but rather strive to assist any dog that is facing neglect, homelessness, abuse or death. Our ultimate goal is to rehabilitate each canine in our care through placement in loving fosters homes until they can be carefully matched with adoptive families.

Liberty Animal Control & Shelter

Liberty Animal Control enforces Missouri statues and Liberty Codes regarding the keeping of animals within the City of Liberty. This division strives to maintain a balance of the health, safety and welfare needs of residents and animals within Liberty city limits. Services Animal control provides the following services: o Picks up stray dogs within the City. o Investigates animal neglect and cruelty. o Investigates animal bites. o Issues citations for ordinance violations. o Makes court appearances. o Assists with barking dogs and other nuisance animal complaints. o Picks up deceased animals from residential City streets. Deer are the only exclusion. To report a deceased deer for removal, please contact the Non-Emergency Police Dispatch line at 816.439.4701. o Removes sick or injured wildlife that could pose a public safety risk. o Animal Control does not provide nuisance wildlife removal. All wildlife concerns should first be directed to the Missouri Department of Conservation. o If a wild animal has made an intrusion to your actual living space, call the Liberty Animal Control for assistance removing it from your home. o If you are having problems with a wildlife infestation, such as bats in your attic or a family of raccoons living under your porch, you will be directed to contact a professional pest removal company to handle the problem. o Assists with wildlife intrusion into human living spaces (not wildlife infestation). o Operates the Liberty Animal Shelter.

Raymore Animal Control

The Animal Control Division of the Raymore Police Department consists of two full-time Animal Control Officers (ACO). Duties of the ACOs include: • Pick-up and storage of loose, stray and dangerous animals • Enforcement of Raymore city ordinances regarding animals • Maintenance of animals housed at animal control facilities • Investigation of animal bite calls • Investigation of animal abuse / neglect calls • Adoption procedures of animals without homes • Direct contact with local veterinary offices regarding animal health concerns

Animals Best Friends

Animals Best Friends is a 501C3 non-profit organization that is run solely by volunteers. We are proud to be licensed in the state of Missouri.​ Animals Best Friends (ABF) was started in March of 1995 with 6 volunteers. By July of 2004, the organization was able to purchase a vet's office for the rescue facility. ​ We promote the importance of spay/neuter and educate the public on providing basic medical care and humane treatment of animals. All of our animals are spayed/neutered, current on vaccinations, microchipped and heartworm and flea prevention given. Any health problems are cared for and specialty vet services used as needed.​ Our Outreach Program continues to help the animals in need in our community.

Valentine’s Second Chance Animal Rescue

Mac's Mission

We are a tiny but hardworking grassroots rescue based in Jackson, Missouri but we rescue nationwide. We save the ones who need us most. Many are neonatal puppies, (cleft palates/hydrocephalus newborns). We have a very extensive, experienced neonate program. Mac’s Mission is a federally recognized 501c3 non-profit and a Missouri state licensed dog rescue. We have a satellite location near Fredricksburg, Virginia. The Mission lives by "i am pitbull strong", a federally trademarked registered slogan that we share to help raise funds so we can keep rescuing sick homeless dogs. This phrase is a way of life for us. We rely 100% on donations from our dedicated supporters. We also help pay for costs by selling merchandise designed by one of our most dedicated volunteers. When you purchase a product in our store you help save sick puppies!!! We can not do this without our generous supporters and we thank you so much for being part of the solution to save these helpless souls.

Lee's Summit Animal Shelter

Animal Control provides enforcement of Animal Control Ordinances to ensure the humane treatment of animals while protecting public health and safety within the City of Lee’s Summit. Temporary shelter is provided to more than 4,000 stray, unwanted, abandoned, orphaned and injured animals each year. With a 98 percent adoption rate, Animal Control makes every effort to find each pet a new home if an owner cannot be located. Animal Control responds to calls for service concerning animal abuse, animal bites, pet waste, barking complaints and disposing of deceased animals. Traps are also available for nuisance wildlife causing property damage.

Missouri / Kansas Italian Greyhound Rescue

Missouri / Kansas Italian Greyhound Rescue operates under Italian Greyhound Rescue Foundation (IGRF) and follows their policies and procedures. IGRF is a national not-for-profit organization with volunteers all across the country. This organization takes in unwanted Italian Greyhounds (IGs) and place them in carefully screened homes where they are appreciated and loved as they deserve. IGs in our program come from a variety of sources but most are owner surrenders given up when the family is no longer able to keep their pet. The dogs are fostered in our families until the right home is found. Their personalities and health are evaluated, and we try very hard to match each dog to the right situation. Our adoptable dogs range from Italian Greyhound puppies to seniors and everything in between. If you would like to adopt an Italian Greyhound, the first step is to research the breed to be sure they have the personality and traits you desire in a companion. IGs are wonderful pets but they are not your typical “dog” and many people find them too difficult, demanding and/or high energy. House training requires continuous reinforcement and supervision and they should NEVER be allowed off leash unless they are in a securely fenced area. One common misconception many people have is that puppies bond better and easier than adults when, in fact, it is actually the adults and more mature pups who bond most easily.

Angels Left Behind

Kansas City Doberman Rescue

Second Chance Pet Adoptions

Second Chance Pet Adoptions is a NO-Kill not for profit adoption organization operating in the Greater Kansas City Area. We are dedicated to helping homeless animals and displaced dogs and cats find loving, responsible, safe homes. Second Chance sponsors adoption events at Petsmart (2650 NE Vivion Rd KCMO). Between the events the animals are kept in foster homes of volunteers who socialize and tend to the animals. Our History Back in 1997 a group of us formed Second Chance Pet Adoptions with our first dog Goldie and her ELEVEN puppies which came from Independence Avenue. We were one of the original groups that started in Pet Food Save Mart (before Petsmart and Petco came to Kansas City). They allowed us to keep both our dogs and cats in the store. We were an all breed rescue at that time. In the early days we adopted thousands of animals per year. Petco purchased Pet Food Save Mart and we at that point became foster home based. Through the years we have done hundreds of mobile adoptions with our motorhome or canopies and tents through the summers. When Petsmart opened up in the Merriam store location we were there for many years with our cats an dogs. Target on Barry Road welcomed us with our motor home for over 10 years. I still have people come up to us and say, "Yep, I adopted from you at Target!" We have been invited to showcase our animals through the years at multiple Petsmart locations throughout the KC metro. We opened up an Adoption Center on North Oak and were in that freestanding facility for 4 years. We welcomed students, girl scouts, birthday parties, and lots of belly rubs there. We focused on adoptions, training, and educating the youth on spay/neuter and adoption first. The health of some of our volunteers changed so we went vack to being primarily foster home program helping small breed dogs find good homes. We opened up an Adoption Center on North Oak and were in that freestanding facility for 4 years. We welcomed students, girl scouts, birthday parties, and lots of belly rubs there. We focused on adoptions, training, and educating the youth on spay/neuter and adoption first. The health of some of our volunteers changed so we went back to being primarily foster home program helping small breed dogs find good homes. We moved into Petsmart (2650 NE Vivion Rd) in February 2018 when the store opened. We love working with Stephanie, the manager, and her staff. It's a wonderful relationship that we greatly appreciate. Please go check out our cats during regular business hours and we also showcase our dogs most weekends. We are still in the business of educating the public on pet over populations and to think adoption first. Our focus has never changed, it's to find our animals their forever homes and to give them a second chance. The landscape in Kansas City has changed over the years. In the last 20 plus years Kansas City has welcomed many groups of wonderful rescues. So Kansas City can help thousands of animals find forever homes. We are a smaller group now and our focus is on permanent homes. We try to match the right pet with the right family. We pride ourselves in a less than 1% return rate. This is more important to us at this stage as we embark on our 22nd year. Our pets come from transports from out of state shelters, our local shelters, and owner turn ins. All of our animals are spayed/neutered, have age appropriate vaccinations, heart worm negative, cats are FELV/FIV tested, kittens FELV tested, and all are seen by a vet prior to adoption.

Long Veterinary Clinic

Long Veterinary Clinic is a locally owned mixed animal practice in Kearney, Missouri. We strive to provide top quality care for our patients, and comfort to our clients knowing their pet is receiving the best medical, surgical, and emergency care at an affordable rate. HISTORY OF LONG VETERINARY CLINIC Long Veterinary Clinic is a mixed animal practice located in Kearney, Missouri. The practice was bought by Dr. David Leighr in 2004, who brought new life to the facility by introducing new technology, equipment, services, and ideas. We offer comprehensive medical, surgical, and emergency services and are dedicated to providing the upmost care for our clients to ensure all needs are met in a timely fashion. Both Dr. Leighr and the staff regularly attend continuing education seminars, introduce new equipment, and add new services to provide the best care and options for our patients. Our doors at Long Veterinary Clinic are always open to new clients, and we welcome you to check out our facility.

Independence Animal Services

Adopt Rescue Foster

Friends of Parkville Animal Shelter

Founded in 1999 by a group of concerned citizens, FOPAS’s primary mission is to provide care and find permanent homes for the abandoned and stray animals in our care, primarily accomplished through the generosity of volunteers and donors. FOPAS believes our entire community benefits from the compassion and humanity shown in caring for animals who have been discarded. Animals cannot speak for themselves, so FOPAS speaks and acts for them. FOPAS is a 501(c)(3) organization.

Humane Society of Ray County

The Humane Society of Ray County is a volunteer-based, independent animal shelter, helping dogs and cats without homes. We have no affiliation with the Ray County government. All animals accepted at the shelter are fully vaccinated per age and weight, microchipped, and spayed or neutered before being offered for adoption. Before and after spaying or neutering we house, feed, and care for them until they can be adopted. All staff members are volunteers, and we do not have any paid staff. Our incredible volunteers donate countless hours of time and effort each year to keep operations at the shelter running smoothly. The only payments we make to individuals go to the veterinarian who provides spaying, neutering, and medical care for ill animals. Use of Funds We gain funding from donations and adoption fees, and that’s it. We have no other source of income. We do not receive any funding from any government entity, nor do we have any foundation grants. To understand the importance of donations, it’s important to understand how the money is used. Facilities Our facilities occupy the former Ray County jail, provided to us at no cost through the generosity of Ray County, Missouri. We are thankful to occupy our building rent-free, courtesy of the Ray County government, but we are responsible for all operating expenses and ongoing maintenance. All utilities and other expenses, including said maintenance and upkeep, are paid for by the community through donated funds. Animal Care Upon arrival at the shelter, both dogs and cats get a full veterinary workup as soon as possible. They receive a checkup, all necessary shots according to their age and weight, a microchip, and they’re spayed or neutered. If they’re ill, they’re treated for their illness. On average, the adoption fees almost cover the cost of the veterinary services (except in the case of sick animals). So a pet who comes to us, gets the necessary services, and is adopted out almost immediately will usually not incur excessive expense. However, the longer the animals stay with us, the more money they cost to care for over time. Of course, that doesn’t include their share of heat, air conditioning, lights, food, water, bedding, litter, or even laundry expenses. You’d be amazed how much money it takes to operate an animal shelter!

Columbia Second Chance

At Second Chance, we make families. We're a privately-funded animal rescue organization dedicated to rehoming animals and supporting relationships between people and pets. We do this through acts of rescue, adoption and education. We're always striving to increase the number of animals we help every year, and we wouldn't be where we are today without our amazing staff, donors, volunteers and foster families.

Boonville Animal Shelter

Welcome to Boonville Animal Shelter. We strive to offer healthy adoptable pets for adoption. We think an adoption should be a positive experience for both the new owner and the pet. We are a city run shelter and are licensed with the state of Missouri under the ACFA (Animal Care Facility Act) program. If you met our guidelines for adoption we will do our best to help you to find a great companion pet.

Carthage Humane Society

Carthage Humane Society is a not-for-profit animal shelter, serving our community for over 75 years. The Society's mission — to provide a safe haven for animals entrusted to our care —is a joyful one full of challenges and opportunities. We are a 501(c)(3) corporation, and our EIN is 43-6064526.

Central Missouri Humane Society

Our History • 1943: The Columbia Humane Society is formed as a regional animal welfare organization operating out of a small building on Creasy Springs Road. • 1968: Renamed the Central Missouri Humane Society and recognized as a nonprofit. • 1976: New shelter is built at 616 Big Bear Blvd. • 1988: Building addition to house more kennels. • 2009: Won the Zootoo.com Shelter Makeover Competition. On average, CMHS takes in and cares for over 2,000 animals each year! View our intake data on our shelter stats page. Each year our veterinary team performs thousands of free or low cost spay/neuter surgeries. Spaying or neutering your pet is the best way to reduce the unwanted pet population. We expand our limited shelter capacity through the kindness of over 100 foster homes; approximately 300 volunteers augment our shelter staff. We have a contract with the City of Columbia to house and care for animals picked up by animal control. We are not affiliated with any national humane organization and generate our funding primarily through private donations. It costs over $25,000 per week to run the shelter.

Pulaski County Humane Society D.B.A Loving Paws Adoption Center

Pulaski County Humane Society D.B.A Loving Paws Adoption Center is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, licensed by the Missouri Department of Agriculture and incorporated in the state of Missouri. Loving Paws Adoption center, built in 2011, is a physical shelter in Crocker, Missouri. We house up to 12 dogs and 15 cats/kittens at a time. Our mission is to help pets in need through sheltering, adoption, fostering, education, spay/neuter, and community outreach. Our shelter is a safe, comfortable, no kill place for these animals to stay until they find their forever home. We do not receive any public or government funding and rely solely on donations from private individuals and area fundraisers as well as utilizing volunteers to support and manage our adoption center.

Dexter Animal Shelter

The animal shelter is a division within the Dexter Police Department

M'Shoogy's Emergency Animal Rescue

With a strict no-kill policy, several hundred dogs, cats and other animals of all ages and sizes call M'Shoogy's home. It costs approximately $50.00 per month per animal, excluding medicine, and approximately $500.00 per day to open the door. In over 19 years, we have saved more than 15,000 animals from certain death. Gary and Lisa Silverglat started M'Shoogy's and have given and lived a 24 hour commitment to the animals. They have had four days away from the Sanctuary in over 20 years. They have never taken a salary for themselves, only given everything they have with no thought of monetary compensation. There are also other individuals, volunteers, and employees who help provide care and love for the animals. Several acres in the back are also dedicated to wildlife rehabilitation. Many animals are given medical attention and food until they are old enough and/or well enough to be reintroduced into the wild. Summer and spring brings around a large amount of raccoons and possums. Fox, owls, deer, squirrels and ducks have all called M'Shoogy's home for a little while. M'Shoogy's also provides educational tours and talks for groups to teach the importance of treating animals with dignity and respect. Permit laws and legislation against animal abuse have also been passed with M'Shoogy's help.