The Best Oklahoma City, OK Dog Rescues & Shelters in 2025

405 Animal Rescue

405 Animal Rescue is an Oklahoma City, Oklahoma-based 501(c)(3) non-profit organization specializing in major medical cases and adoptions for Dogs and Cats.

Country roads animal rescue in Oklahoma

Country Roads is a non profit 501c3 dedicated to saving the lives of neglected, abandoned and homeless dogs in Oklahoma. We are non breed specific and welcome all sizes, ages and breeds. Our doors are open to all in need.

Norman Animal Welfare

Norman Animal Welfare is focused on encouraging responsible pet ownership by promoting and protecting the health, safety and welfare of the residents and pets of Norman through education, enforcement and community partnership. Finished in 2016, the Norman Animal Welfare Center is a beautiful 13,246 square foot facility that provides a variety of services that support our mission. In addition to spay and neuter surgeries, the state-of-the-art veterinary clinic provides a variety of necessary treatments to the nearly 2000 animals adopted annually. The facility also provides ample holding kennels to provide safe and secure space for lost pets waiting to be reunited with their owners. All animals are spayed or neutered prior to adoption. The adoption fee is $50 and includes all vaccinations, de-worming, a heartworm tests for dogs, as well as the City of Norman Pet License. Norman Animal Welfare provides an excellent level of animal care due to strong community engagement and key partnerships. Humanely addressing the challenges faced by homeless pet populations requires dedicated community leaders and volunteers. These tireless contributors provide the extra resources that allow Norman Animal Welfare to achieve a 90+% live release rate.

Oklahoma City Animal Welfare

OKC Animal Welfare serves more than 24,000 animals each year in the City of OKC, and we also provide animal sheltering services for the cities of Del City, Valley Brook and Tinker Air Force Base. You can adopt and look for lost pets at the Oklahoma City Animal Shelter. We never turn away any homeless, abandoned, injured or sick animals in need, including cats, dogs, rabbits, other small mammals, reptiles, birds, farm animals and wildlife. We're OKC's only organization with this unique responsibility. We also respond to reports of animal cruelty, injured animals, loose dogs, animals that are dangerous or a nuisance and enforce OKC's animal ordinances.

Blanchard Animal Welfare

Animal welfare is enforced by an officer in acordance with city ordinances and is charged with the protection and welfare of animals within the city limits of Blanchard. Blanchard's animal control building is located on SE 7th just east of Tyler.

Oklahoma German Shepherd Rescue, Inc.

Cleveland Area Pound Pals

Empowering our community to care. Cleveland Area Pound Pals is a group of area citizens working together with law enforcement, city entities, and local vets, to make our area a more informed and responsible pet ownership community. CAPP is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization in Cleveland, Oklahoma dedicated to the rescue and care of abused, neglected and homeless pets. Our goal is to help save these animals, put them in temporary foster homes, and place them in loving adoptive homes.

Forever Yours Dog Rescue

Forever Yours Dog Rescue was founded on November 8th, 2011 by three very dedicated and determined women. Between the three of us, we have twenty-five years experience in rescue, volunteering, fostering, and fundraising. We have over a hundred years of love for dogs. We are an Oklahoma city based all-breed dog rescue. We don’t care about a dog’s breed, size, condition, age, or color. If a dog is in need of rescue and we are in a position to help, we will. We care for the unwanted, abandoned, neglected and abused dogs of Oklahoma. We rescue dogs from the streets as well as from local shelters and shelters throughout Oklahoma, especially small rural shelters with no public adoption programs. We do take in owner surrender’s under certain situations. If you have found a dog and are willing to foster the dog until it finds a home, we will cover the cost of vetting and work to find the dog a great forever home, but we need your commitment to foster the dog until we can find the best home possible. We advocate spay/neuter and offer assistance in finding a low-cost option for those that qualify. Spaying/neutering your pet is one of the best things you can do for them to insure they live a healthy and happy life, and are not contributing to the over-population problem that plagues Oklahoma and many other states in the US. We promote adoption as an alternative to buying your pet. Oklahoma is number two in the United States in the number of operating puppy mills. These mills are living hells for the mom and dad dogs that are forced to reproduce for their greedy owners. When you adopt a pet from a shelter or rescue, you can know that you part of the solution and not part of the problem. We provide pet ownership education through materials, counseling, and on-site workshops, at no cost to the public, with an emphasis on preventative care. We are available to come to your school, church, organization, or place of employment and present a program educating the public on the benefits of adopting instead of buying their next family member.

Haven of Hope Rescue Foundation

Since 2009, we have rescued or have been a significant factor in rescuing hundreds of dogs and puppies. Our greatest wish is to have the ability to expand and grow so that we can reach further, act faster, and snatch more lives back from the brink. Our hearts are SO in this. Please be a part of our solution and join us to give them HOPE. We focus our energy on last chance dogs that have no hope, no other options. We do not discriminate based on age, sex, color, breed, length of fur or ability to obey basic commands or stay off the furniture. And slobber doesn't bother us. We are a 501(c)3 organization. In October 2010 we applied for our IRS 501c3 status. Until that point, we had been self funded and continue to self fund many aspects of our organization. We understand that the reality of being able to expand and grow depends on donations and our adoption fees. Sponsorship of our rescues and donations in any form are greatly appreciated and necessary for us to continue our mission, which truly is . .

Homeward Bound Pug Rescue and Adoption of Oklahoma

• Homeward Bound was officially formed in 2003 by Gail Tucker; our director. We are an all volunteer, not for profit organization dedicated to the Pug breed. We want to give every unwanted Pug in Oklahoma and neighboring states a second chance. • We accept surrendered, unwanted, abandoned, ill, injured, elderly, alpha, all ages, all sizes and colors - any Pugs needing a home living in Oklahoma and all neighboring states. We NEVER turn a Pug away. For us, this is the essence of Pug rescue - to truly rescue Pugs. • Upon receiving a Pug, we place them in Foster care with dedicated volunteers. Fosters are essential to any rescue. While our Pugs are in a foster home, they are evaluated for behavior, likes and dislikes, etc. Because many of our Pugs come from shelters, puppy mills and neglectful homes and never receive proper training. Our fosters are diligent to work with them on potty, leash and crate training. Most importantly, fosters help socialize them to other environments, dogs and people. • Many dogs come through Homeward Bound with heartworms, elongated soft palates, eye problems, and many other health issues. Before our Pugs are adopted, they are spayed / neutered, receive all vaccines, heartworm tests and treat any health issues that we discover. • We neither breed nor do we show pugs. Our mission differs from most breeders and show people for whom the primary focus is monetary and on conformation to the breed standard and competition. • At Homeward Bound, we see to it that every Pug in need finds a loving home.

LowRider Dachshund Rescue

LowRider Dachshund Rescue is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to saving dachshunds and dachshund mixes from kill shelters, puppy mills, strays and owner surrenders. In 2008, LDR’s president realized the amount of dachshunds being euthanized in shelters all around Oklahoma. In late 2008, LowRider Dachshund Rescue was founded. We take in 200+ homeless and unwanted doxies a year and find them loving fur-ever homes! We are staffed completely by un-paid volunteers, we do not have a facility and all of our dogs are currently fostered in private foster homes through Newcastle, Chickasha and Moore Oklahoma.

El Reno Animal Shelter

Nexus Pets

Nexus Equine was founded in 2016 to fill a massive void in equine welfare in Oklahoma. The state of Oklahoma is within the top 5 states in the nation for population of horses, yet there are significantly less resources per capita available here than in most other states. In 2023, Nexus Equine recognized similar gaps in services and lifesaving efforts for dogs and cats in Oklahoma and, with the support of the board of directors and donors, made the strategic decision to extend the organization’s mission to include not only horses but also dogs and cats. Nexus Pets operates in alignment with Nexus Equine, functioning as a facet rather than as a separate entity. We aim to bridge the gaps between people and resources for their pets across Oklahoma. Our primary goal is to connect communities with pets by reducing the number of at-risk dogs and cats through education, outreach, and adoption. The growth to our parent name, Nexus Animals, reflects the organization’s evolving commitment to a broader range of animals beyond horses. This transition underscores Nexus Animals’ commitment to becoming a comprehensive resource for all animals in the region, aligning with the organization’s vision for a compassionate and supportive community for both equines and companion animals.

Dogs As Family, Inc.

Dogs As Family, Inc. is a 501(c)3, non-profit, all volunteer organization located in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Our mission - to rescue, provide sanctuary, rehabilitate, and find loving, forever homes for dogs that have been neglected, are stray, abused or just unwanted. Brenda is the founder and President of Dogs As Family, Inc. Prior to forming Dogs As Family, Inc., she personally rescued numerous dogs. Each dog is treated as the individual they are. Young, old, healthy or not regardless of how much time they have on Earth, each is taken care of with the best of medical care and plenty of love. All Dogs As Family, Inc. dogs live in foster homes and are provided with enormous amount of love. All are given any medical attention that may be required to ensure they are in good health before adoption. All are spayed or neutered, brought up-to-date on vaccinations, fecal tested and tested for heartworms, Lyme and Ehrlichia and microchipped before being placed in their new homes. When time permits, they are housetrained and taught basic obedience. In addition, all Dogs As Family, Inc. dogs are evaluated for personality and temperament, helping us to place them in homes that are well suited to their needs and to the needs of their future owners.

Boston Terrier and Short Nose Rescue of Oklahoma

The love of the breed led to adoption, but the love of the dog led to starting a rescue. Sweet Madison was only nine years old when she lost her battle with bladder cancer. Boston Terrier and Short Nose Rescue of Oklahoma was established just one year later because of her. Madison will be remembered for many years through the work we do for other Bostons. We might not have been able to save her life, but we will do our best to save as many others as possible! We are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization comprised of a team of diligent volunteers. The Boston Terrier Rescue of Oklahoma is dedicated to rescuing as many Boston Terriers as possible. No rescue is too small or too large, and while we primarily serve Oklahoma, we have been known to aid in neighboring states as well when we can. Our goal is to bring these sweet babies into rescue long enough to ensure they are healthy and have been behavior tested so that we may place them into a loving, FURever home they fit right into! We are a foster-based rescue, which means our dogs stay in homes with families, not in a central facility. Because our dogs are in foster homes, we can see interactions with other animals and behaviors that a dog might exhibit in a home. While we strive to provide as much information as possible about all our dogs, sometimes we are limited on how much we know about the backgrounds of dogs that come into our care.

Mutt Misfits

Mutt Misfits exists to help unwanted animals in situations that could lead to harm or euthanasia. We primarily focus on animals with major medical illnesses, injuries or advanced age that are often overlooked. By partnering with shelters and the public, we promote responsible pet ownership, spay and neuter, and the adoption of special needs pets. It is our goal to save the un-saveable.

Southern Paws Rescue, Inc

Southern Paws Rescue, Inc was founded in 2021 by Michelle Dusing. Southern Paws is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that rescues and adopts out animals.

Pooch Pals Foundation

Chickasha Animal Shelter

The Animal Control Division and Animal Shelter facility falls under the supervision of the Chickasha Police Department. If you have an issue requiring the assistance of an Animal Control Officer, please contact us. Please do not abandon animals at the shelter. Contact an Animal Control Officer.

The Underdogs Rescue

The Underdogs are passionate individuals dedicated to rescuing and rehoming Oklahoma's unwanted animals since 2013. As our name suggests, we have a special place in our hearts for the "underdogs" of society. Often overlooked in shelters because of old age, breed, behavior, or medical conditions, these animals just need a chance to show their true nature. We believe every animal deserves a chance to find love and happiness, regardless of their background. We are entirely foster-based, meaning compassionate volunteers take animals in need into their homes. Here, they learn what being part of a family means. Once fully recovered, rehabilitated, and vetted, they are ready to find their happily ever after. Advocacy and education are cornerstones of our mission. We believe that the best way to reduce the number of homeless animals is to prevent them from entering shelters in the first place. We offer educational programs and resources to the community, focusing on responsible pet ownership and the importance of spaying and neutering. Our Mission: • Rescue and rehabilitate animals in need: We provide a safe place for abandoned, abused, and neglected animals. • Find loving forever homes: We carefully match animals with compatible families, ensuring a successful transition into their new lives. • Promote responsible pet ownership: We educate the community on the importance of spaying and neutering and provide resources to help pet owners care for their animals properly. • Advocate for animal welfare: We strive to improve the lives of animals by working with shelters, legislators, and other organizations. Our Reach: In 2022, we expanded our reach by establishing our sister organization, The Underdogs of Maine allowing us to transport rescued animals to Maine and other New England states, increasing their chances of adoption. The Underdogs Rescue understands the lifelong commitment that comes with adopting a pet. We are committed to finding the perfect match for your family and will support you every step of the way. When you adopt an Underdog, you are not only giving a homeless pet a new life, but you are also becoming part of our extended family. We rely solely on private donations to continue our vital work. Every dollar we receive goes directly towards the care and support of our rescued animals. You can help us give a homeless pet a second chance by: • Adopting: Open your home and heart to a deserving animal. • Fostering: Provide temporary care and love for an animal in need. • Volunteering: Donate your time and skills to help us care for our rescued animals. • Donating: Make a financial contribution to support our mission. Please join us in our mission to create a brighter future for animals in need. The Underdogs are a registered non-profit. All donations are tax-deductible. Tax IDs: • TUR Maine: 87-3458462 • TUR Oklahoma: 46-3764760

Animal Rescue Center of Shawnee

ARC is not the Shawnee Animal Shelter, ARC is a non-profit organization that works with other rescues to help get the pets adopted from the Shawnee Shelter. If you have questions about a pet at the City Shelter, call the Shawnee Animal Welfare at 405-878-1531.

Pets & People Humane Society

Pets & People Humane Society, Inc. is a 501(c)3 non-profit, no-kill humane society that rescues adoptable cats and dogs from municipal animal control facilities across the state of Oklahoma on the day they are to be euthanized. We provide a safe harbor for our pets until they are adopted into responsible, loving homes. All are spayed or neutered to help end the vicious cycle of homeless pets. History 1990: Pets & People Humane Society, Inc. was formed by Pam Wright, Mel Berger, Donelda Wheatley and Jody Harlan, in February, 1990 as a pet therapy program where volunteers visited nursing centers in Yukon, Oklahoma. Later, Pets & People expanded into a full service humane society, which rescues dog and cats from area animal shelters. To support the pets the shelter was rescuing, Pets and People added a foster home program, community projects, and school education projects emphasizing the importance of spay/neuter. Additionally, a thrift store was added. Pets and People became a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. 1992: Pets and People’s association with PetSmarts Corporation began. Weekly adoption fairs were held in local PetSmarts to place dogs and cats in suitable homes. 1993: The Junior Pets & People Humane Society, Inc. program was implemented to provide valuable education and fundraising. 1994: Pets & People Humane Society, Inc. received the national “Do Something” grant for the school visitation education project. 1996: PetSmarts Pet Supply Corporation awarded Pets & People Humane Society, Inc. the PetSmarts “Humane Award of Excellence” trophy. In part, PetSmart said, “Pets and People exemplifies the spirit of dedication and volunteerism in the area of animal welfare.” 1998: Grand Opening of New Shelter building. 1999: Opened 1st Dog Park in the State of Oklahoma. 2000: New Addition to Shelter was built. 2020: Pets & People Humane Society, Inc. celebrated 30 years of uninterrupted service to pets and people in the state of Oklahoma. 2021: Moved to new location: 9733 NW 4th Street, OKC

Saving Pets At Risk

Saving Pets At Risk, an animal rescue and pet adoption organization, is made up of a small (but mighty) group of passionate, animal-loving volunteers that have been working tirelessly since 2005 to combat the overpopulation crisis of abandoned dogs in and around Shawnee, OK. WE•ARE•Committed Saving those that make up the never-ending numbers of abandoned, homeless dogs is fought with a commitment to first get them to safety, then provide medical attention. Saving Pets At Risk’s volunteers depend solely on donations to pay for all of the care expenses necessary to rescue, vet, rehabilitate then place the dog with a pet foster or into boarding while searching for permanent homes with forever families for hundreds of pets rescued by SPAR each year. WE•ARE•Obligated First, foremost and always our #1 obligation is to the dogs. Once in our program, we ensure all SPAR rescues receive necessary veterinary care. This includes any surgeries needed to repair injuries, any required therapy, and respite care warranted to ensure the pet will thrive. 100% of all donations go straight to the needs of abandoned dogs we rescue. SPAR has no paid staff; we are all volunteers. Occasionally we are able to help those in the community that only need temporary assistance with things like dog food, vet care, etc. through community outreach. Every age-appropriate animal brought into our program, without exception, is spayed/neutered prior to ever being adopted. They also receive all vaccinations, are microchipped, and treated for parasites to include heartworms, fleas, and ticks. Next, they begin heartworm, flea, and tick preventative medications that they should be on for the rest of their lives. Frequently, abandoned dogs require treatment for the following: ear mites, hookworms, roundworms, whipworms, sarcoptic mange, demodectic mange, rocky mountain spotted fever, flu, anemia, and Ehrlichia (bacterial infection). An important part of being ready for adoption is that every pet is cleared by a veterinarian and, if going on a SPAR Transport to be adopted out of state, the dog is placed on a Health Certificate. WE•ARE•Saving Pets At Risk SPAR Board of Directors are residents of Shawnee, Oklahoma who proudly contribute to a local charity that is completely dedicated to animal welfare. SPAR Member Officers are dedicated to fulfilling the goals set forth in the mission statement of Saving Pets At Risk, Inc. Key SPAR volunteers step forward to take on rescue tasks they are passionate about. No effort is too small in the fight to save the lives of abandoned animals in our community. They deserve all we can give to ensure they go on to live with families that will keep them safe, love them, provide for all of their needs, allow them to flourish, and be the entertaining, loyal pets they surely hoped they would get to be.

Street Dog Rescue & Recovery

Rudy's Rescue

Rudy's Rescue is a small, 501(c)(3) Nonprofit, all-breed rescue group founded in Weatherford, TX. We are composed of volunteers who foster dogs in their homes. We hope to save as many abandoned, abused, neglected, unwanted, or medically challenged dogs who would otherwise be euthanized. Your new family member will be up to date on vaccinations, microchipped, spayed/neutered, on heartworm/flea prevention, potty trained, or being potty trained. We want to help you the adopter, have all the tools you need to become a successful pet owner. We will support you every step of the way. Rudy's Rescue was founded in 2019 by Deirdra (Sam) Maraist and named after her beloved dog Rudy. After moving to Weatherford and volunteering with a few rescue groups she decided it was time to start her rescue with a different goal. The goal or focus is to keep a very small group of foster dogs so the best care possible can be given to each dog taken in. Rudy's does its best to keep the total number of dogs fostered at 10-15. Rudy's is an all-breed, all-age, dog rescue with the biggest focus on senior or medically challenged dogs. We take in homeless and abandoned animals from shelters and owner surrenders. We place them in foster homes until they are adopted as we do not have a facility. When medical care beyond regular vetting is necessary like heartworm treatment or other life-threatening conditions, Rudy takes care of these special needs as well. Sometimes an elderly owner is not capable of giving care any longer. It is often common for people to surrender their dogs to a shelter when they become older and sick. No matter the reason, a shelter is no place for a devoted senior pet to spend his final days. Rudy's has a place for those pets as well. If we cannot find a new home for surrendered seniors, they spend the rest of their days with us.

Yukon Animal Control

The Yukon Animal Control Division serves the community (see our boundary map) by locating and acquiring stray domestic animals commonly found on city streets and public areas. Deceased animals are also removed from these areas and disposed of by Animal Control Officers. Yukon Animal Control encourages responsible pet ownership and is tasked with protecting Yukon residents and visitors and the pets in our area. The Yukon Animal Control Facility accepts domestic animal turn-ins with proof of residency by providing a copy of your current City of Yukon Water Bill, your Oklahoma driver's license, or identification with a matching address to the water bill and paying a fee.

Miller's Cause Animal Rescue

Amber, along with her mom Angie, founded Miller's Cause in 2018. Fueled by their passion for animals and the extreme need the Texas Panhandle and Oklahoma has for fosters and adopters, coupled with the number of area animals who need help. FACT: 3.7 million pets’ lives are ended every year - not because they are sick or injured, but because they are homeless. Most of these animals are healthy and adoptable and include newborn puppies and kittens. That’s not ok with us. The good news is, we can change that... We can be heroes and improve the future – to our children, our pets, our friends and community. HOW CAN YOU HELP: Rescue groups like Miller’s Cause are able to find loving forever homes for these pets, they simply need a little time… anywhere from one day to a few weeks or months. Some of these animals just need a foster family for a day or two while transportation is being set up to get them to their permanent foster or adopter or to another rescue partner.

City of Edmond Animal Services

The Edmond Animal Services Unit is a component of the Edmond Police Department’s Special Services Division. The Animal Services Unit is responsible for responding to calls for service within the community for issues involving animals – both wild and domestic. Animal Services is also responsible for the enforcement of municipal and state laws concerning the treatment of animals; the management of the City’s animal shelter; the humane treatment and care of animals in the shelter; as well as striving to reunite lost animals with their families and find new homes for the adoptable animals at the shelter.

Red River Old English Sheepdog Rescue, Inc.

We are a group of individuals who have come together to rescue and adopt out OES. Our adoption and rescue area includes parts of the Southern Plains where the Red River of the South is located. States included are New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas and Kansas. We accept dogs into our program and then foster them individually in loving homes. These dedicated fosters will work with the dog to assess its temperament and social skills that help us determine what type of home is best suited for their specific needs. All dogs will be evaluated by a veterinarian and all known medical needs provided. Routine vaccinations will be administered to ensure they are up-to-date, heartworm tests will be done, and all dogs will be spayed or neutered and microchipped before going to their forever homes.

Tuttle Animal Shelter