The Best Phoenix, AZ Dog Rescues & Shelters in 2025

Sky Sanctuary Rescue

Sky Sanctuary specialize in the humane capture and rescue of stray, fearful and injured animals from the streets of Phoenix, Arizona, the surrounding desert areas and local shelters. We often rescue the abandoned, lost and forgotten animals. Fiercely advocating for the animals in our care. Often our animals have extensive and complex medical needs that require a profound level of specialty medical care. Not only do we invest in our animal's physical health, we utilize a trusted group of trainers to build confidence, empower and improve our animal's mental well-being in order to live peaceful, happy lives in family homes. We are very different from other animal rescue organizations. We are "boots on the ground" in our community while passionately fight for the dogs and animals no one else has the courage to take on. We have a knack for finding ourselves in pretty breathtaking scenarios- some call it divine intervention, others call it luck. We live by the mantra "if not me then who?". We are funded solely by public donations through social media. We are grateful for the opportunity to help these animals. We would go to any length to #SAVETHESTREETDOGS

Almost There: A Mom + Pups Rescue

My name is Geri Hormel and I am the founder of Almost There Rescue. What do we do at ATR? We save bitches. No, we don't go around seeking out malicious, unpleasant women and try to convince them to change their ways (although someone should!). We save dogs. Specifically, homeless, pregnant, large-breed dogs. We scoop those gals up from less than ideal situations and give them a place to birth and raise their pups. We work our tails off to give our pups the medical help, enrichment, socialization, and love that they need on their journeys to finding forever homes.

Puppy Luv Animal Rescue

Foster based, all breed, all size dog rescue.

Valley of the Sun Giant Schnauzer Rescue

Valley of the Sun Giant Schnauzer Rescue began in 2002 with a group of people who connected via the Internet and with the encouragement of the local Miniature Schnauzer Group. Our little group expanded as more Giant Schnauzer owners became involved and gave of their time. We are all interested in educating people about Giant Schnauzers and saving as many Giants as we can. Our dogs are vet checked, micro chipped and fostered to discover their habits. Then we look for suitable homes to match each individual dog. We are very proud of our group, and we volunteer our time out of love of the breed. VSGSR was incorporated in December 2003 and achieved 501(c)(3) status in April of 2004. Many local rescue groups helped us with the information we needed to put together our paperwork. VSGSR networks nationwide with other Giant Schnauzer Rescues. We also partner with Maricopa County Animal Care and Control as a New Hope partner. Fundraising efforts include: annual Giant Schnauzer Fun Day, Pets911 events, Ebay auctions and other sales of our artists’ work, and private donations. We will also educate the public about the Giant Schnauzer breed, the need to spay and neuter dogs and cats, and the proper care, training, and diet for the breed.

Dawgz, Tailz & Wagz

Dawgz, Tailz & Wagz (DTW) is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) volunteer-based animal welfare organization dedicated to providing resources for dogs in need and to support the local animal rescue community. Through a network of caring foster homes, volunteer advocates, veterinarians and trainers, our goal is to ensure that no dog in Maricopa County is left behind by an overburdened system

Stay With Me Animal Rescue

Established In 2022, Stay With Me Animal Rescue Is A No-Kill Non-Profit 501(c)(3) Dog Rescue That Primarily Operates Within The State Of Arizona. We Are A Small, Foster-Based Organization Who Prides Itself On Quality Over Quantity, Educating The Public On Issues Surrounding Dog Ownership/Rescue, And Simply Helping Our Community Of Animal Lovers In Any Way We Can. We Save Canines Regardless Of Their Color/Breed/History, And We Base Our Ability To Intake An Animal Solely On Our Ability To Give That Animal What It Needs To Thrive.

Animals Benefit Club

ABC specializes in the most severe abandonment, neglect and abuse cases. Many animals within our facility were rejected for treatment and rehabilitation by other facilities and arrive severely ill or injured. We give them a chance at a normal life and a happy, forever home. ABC also rescues dogs and cats from the streets of Phoenix, drastically reducing the number of homeless animals and suffering. Since these animals are almost never altered, they would have continued to breed, creating thousands more starving, homeless dogs and cats. All of our funding comes from donations and grants. 100% of every donor dollar is used for animal care and support and our administrative staff is made up entirely of volunteers. We are always looking for people who are passionate about animals, apply to be an animal caregiver or learn how to become an ABC volunteer.

Lucky Dog Rescue

Lucky Dog Rescue is an all-volunteer, non-profit animal rescue organization dedicated to saving the lives of homeless animals and educating the community on responsible pet ownership. Lucky Dog does not have its own facility. Instead, our dogs stay with temporary fosters and boarding partners while they wait to find their forever home. What makes us very different from other rescues is that we are dedicated to training and what happens after the dog is in his new home. We offer basic obedience raining classes to all our adopters. All our dogs are completely checked over and must be cleared by our vet for adoption. All dogs are altered, fully vaccinated, micro chipped, registered with county had a blood test to make sure we are not missing anything. You can be confident you are adopting a healthy, well adjusted dog from Lucky Dog Rescue. We hold adoption events where you can meet our Lucky Dogs and their foster, but more commonly we arrange private meetings for adopters. Our volunteers are more than just volunteers, and our dogs are more than just dogs. We are a family. And we welcome you to become a part! Lucky Dog Rescue came into existence after one individual (Lisa, founder) started saving one dog at a time back in late March of 2004. It began as a Dalmatian rescue, originally named Dalmatian Station. After seeing so many nice, highly adoptable dogs sitting in concrete cells in the county shelters, being put to sleep when no one came to the rescue, it quickly evolved into an all breed commitment, and we began saving several other breeds and mixes too! We are now a growing group of dog lovers who help all breeds and are committed to giving dogs a second chance at finding a forever home. We function solely on donations and volunteer help. If you’d like to be a part of this fun, growing group of dog lovers, please don’t hesitate to call us or email us with any questions! We’d be happy to have you design your own job description based on your talents and areas of interest. We always need volunteer help! Foster homes are always needed and essential to the foundation of the rescue program. Please consider opening your heart and home to save a homeless dog!

Better Days Rescue

We’re a 501(c)3 non-profit organization based in Scottsdale, Arizona, and we are all volunteers. Your donation goes to the care of the dogs, never to employee salaries. It’s about the dogs! We use a detailed application to identify potential adopters, and we place the needs of the dogs above all else. Happy Dogs = Happy Adopters. We strive for lifetime matches. We promote responsible dog ownership by educating the public on the selection, care, and training of dogs. Our dogs live in private foster and boarding accommodations, and are re-homed in the Phoenix metro area via an application process. Requirements vary by dog, and the adoption fee is $400. We help dogs of all ages; many or most are active breeds. We often take on urgent or complex medical cases, as well as dogs who require behavioral help before joining their new families. Our donors, volunteers, foster parents, and adopters, together with our veterinary team and professional trainers, help us to save dogs with confidence that we can provide the help they need.

AZ Husky Rescue

A 501c3 non-profit helping the huskies in Arizona that need it the most. We intake from high-kill shelters within our state and provide medical care, rehabilitation, breed education and successful outcomes.

Sunshine Dog Rescue

Sunshine Dog Rescue became a 501(c)(3) non-profit in May 2015. Long before, our passion for dogs encouraged us to help the dogs in our county shelter, so we did.

The Barking Lot Dog Rescue

We are a newly formed 501(c)(3) dog rescue in Maricopa County, Arizona. We are a group of very determined women with over 60 years of combined experience in the animal rescue community. We came together to start our dog rescue, The Barking Lot Dog Rescue, with the intention of giving unwanted or abandoned dogs and puppies a chance at a forever life by giving hope and filling hearts through rescue, adoption, and community education. Currently, we are a foster based rescue. We depend entirely on volunteer foster homes that graciously and lovingly provide a temporary resting point until permanent homes are found for each canine.

Arizona Border Collie Rescue

The purpose and main function of Arizona Border Collie Rescue (AZBCR) is to promote humane treatment through rescue, rehabilitation, education and the re-homing of neglected, abandoned and unwanted Border Collies. Learn about our functions and activities as a rescue organization. These are all the projects and endeavors that we are presently engaged in and that can and will be expanded on in the future. Rescues & Relinquishments We are contacted by private individuals who are no longer able to retain ownership of their dog(s), and provide availability to take possession of those dogs. We canvas state and local shelters and remove those dogs that are at risk of euthanasia. We are also contacted by other rescue organizations seeking help with placements. We do not limit ourselves solely to Arizona, but are also available for nationwide networking. Health Care AZBCR is very health-oriented and we do our best to verify health status of all our dogs. These dogs are rescues and adopters should understand that a complete and verifiable health history is typically unavailable to us (as in the case of stray dogs or shelter dogs). All dogs adopted from AZBCR will be spayed or neutered, vaccinated, and any dog suffering illness or injury will receive necessary treatment and medication. Our fosters typically provide grooming for the health and comfort of each dog, and necessary treatment is provided for internal and ectopic parasites. Every AZBCR dog wears an ID tag attached to his/her collar while in foster care and we recommend that adopting families keep the tag on the dog. In addition, we microchip every dog and ask that you keep the registration information updated. Transportation Volunteers network to provide means of transport in both emergency and non-emergency situations. This includes retrieval of dogs coming into AZBCR, transport to and from veterinary facilities for medical attention, transport to and from training and socialization activities, and shared travel to meet prospective new families. Foster Homes We advertise and interview for foster homes and guardians for incoming rescues, initiate training programs for new foster families in the appropriate care and handling of the dogs, and arrange meetings between foster care homes and adoption applicants. Counseling and Education We provide counseling on training and behavior to our foster homes, potential homes, new homes and those contacting us regarding placing their dog with us due to problematic behavior. Opening Your Home to a Border Collie If you would like to open your home to a Border Collie rescue, please contact us for information regarding current Border Collies available for Adoption.

West Valley Animal Rescue

West Valley Animal Rescue is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to rescuing, fostering and rehoming the abandoned animals around the valley. With your help, we hope to make a difference in the lives of these wonderful animals. We pull dogs from local shelters and county, as well as owner surrenders and strays. All of our animals are provided with veterinary care including sterilization, vaccination, deworming and microchipping. We help animals in our care find temporary home while being evaluated and eventually place them in their forever home.

Forever Loved Pet Sanctuary

Our sanctuary serves a public need by housing a limited number of senior dogs. This provides relief to local shelters, which are often overcrowded. FLPS works with local animal rescues and shelters to identify senior dogs in need. Unfortunately, euthanizing senior animals at county shelters is common due to lack of space and a focus on younger, “more adoptable” dogs. We provide a variety of services: • Adoption services • ‍Foster homes • Hospice foster program • Education for animal caretakers • Medical/financial assistance for some fosters or adopters • Training for the dogs

Help A Dog Smile

Help A Dog Smile is a 501(c)3 non-profit corporation. We find loving homes for stray dogs and dogs on euthanasia lists at kill shelters throughout the state of Arizona. Have you ever seen a dog running down the street with its tongue hanging out, its body too skinny, and its paws battered? We have too. And we couldn’t turn away. Which is why we started Help A Dog Smile. HADS, as we fondly call it, is a 501(c)3 non-profit corporation. We find loving homes for stray dogs and dogs on euthanasia lists at kill shelters throughout the state. Once we determine that the animal has no owner (if it is a stray) we place the dog in a boarding facility or foster home where the dog can receive the tender loving care he or she desperately needs. This always requires a veterinary check up, vaccinations, and usually a spay or neuter surgery. Once the animal is healthy, we seek a loving home where he or she can live out their life in happiness.

Paws 4 A Cause AZ

Paws 4 A Cause AZ is a 501(c)3 non-profit volunteer-based organization dedicated to rescuing dogs from high-kill shelters, the streets, abusive environments from the surrounding areas of Central Arizona. We operate through a network of foster homes in the area of Phoenix Arizona and surround cities.

Ruby Ranch Pet Rescue and Sanctuary

It all started with one little old dog... While delivering blankets to the East Maricopa County shelter, I walked past what appeared to be an empty kennel. However upon closer inspection, I noticed a tiny, white, shivering little dog huddled in the corner. Her kennel plaque stated “Stray”, although I couldn’t imagine how this little girl could possibly have gotten lost, as I was pretty sure she was around for the Last Supper. When her stray period was up and no one came for her, I adopted her. Through some intense detective work, I discovered this little girl’s owner had passed away, and my senior friend had celebrated EIGHTEEN birthdays. Wow! She came complete with rotten teeth, a grade 5 heart murmur, and failing kidneys. Despite her poor prognosis, I decided to find a vet who would take a chance and remove those painfully abscessed teeth; amazingly enough she survived the surgery, and was the proud owner of 3 whole teeth. This little angel became known as Ruby and was a regular fixture at adoption events, often being carried around in her little wicker basket. All good things must come to an end, and 10 months after coming into our lives, little Ruby’s heart gave out a few days before her 19th birthday. Although with me for just a short period, it was worth the expense, heartache…as I was able to provide a loving home for my little friend in her golden moments, instead of ending her life in a shelter on a cold cement floor. I have had the pleasure over the years of fostering hundreds of animals including many seniors and those with special needs. I have decided to focus primarily on these wonderful animals…so in honor of little Ruby, Ruby Ranch Pet Rescue and Sanctuary was born. Ruby…the little dog who inspired a revolution

Dogue de Bordeaux Rescue

We are a foster based dog rescue for the benefit of the Dogue de Bordeaux in the United States and Canada. Dogue de Bordeaux Rescue was originally founded in 1997 when a female Dogue de Bordeaux, later named Meg was found wandering the streets of New York and taken to a shelter. Since founded, Dogue de Bordeaux Rescue has gone through major changes. We have gone from being a 501(c)7 under the wing of the Dogue de Bordeaux Society of America, to being our own entity registered as Dogue de Bordeaux Rescue, Inc. With 501(c)3 charitable status in 2008. The rescue started as a smaller group of fanciers of the breed and one coordinator that handled a few dozen Dogues a year throughout the United States and Canada, to having hundreds of volunteers and followers who assist on average a hundred Dogues a year. We have grown to have a Board of Directors and Regional Directors each handling their areas of the country. We have established committees to handle different aspects of rescue such as fundraising, events, websites, and social media. Since our conception, we have remained 100% volunteer based and welcome other fanciers to join our team.

Luv of Dogz Fund, Inc

Luv of Dogz Fund Inc. is a 501 C-3 corporation which provides advocacy and resources for rescued/abandoned/homeless dogs and to the people who rescue and care for them. We are all volunteers and have full time jobs; rescuing needy dogs is our passion. We are actively involved in helping people who rescue dogs who are in many sad situations or turned in by their owners and helping unclaimed strays find loving, forever homes. We manage this funding and resource effort solely on DONATIONS to help cover complete medical care and foster care of rescued dogs. Adoptions from Luv of Dogz Fund occur only in Arizona. We are a group of dog lovers, rescuers, and foster home providers who are working together to find safe emergency foster homes and crisis services for homeless/abandoned/rescued dogs. We can assist with spaying, neutering, emergency surgeries and health supplies if we have the resources at the time. It is something that we do without getting paid at all, so please realize that we are all volunteers with full time jobs and families. Therefore, please be patient and allow us the courtesy of 24-48 hours to respond to you.

Living the Dream Rescue

Living The Dream Rescue is created and managed by people who care deeply for animals. We don't just want to save them, we love them, and we want to help them find lifelong happiness. Our staff and fosters give endlessly from their own pockets to ensure that our furry friends are cared for and comfortable up to and even post adoption.

Hoof and Paw Rescue Inc

We are a nonprofit 501c3 horse & dog rescue located in Cave Creek, Arizona.

Stealing Hearts Rescue

Stealing Hearts Rescue was founded with the goal of making a difference in the lives of large breed shelter dogs. It is our mission to save the lives of many stronger breed dogs that are often overlooked and provide them with the opportunity to become loved and cherished companions. Stealing Hearts strives to save dogs from euthanasia, dogs that other shelters are unable to adopt including sick, pregnant, nursing moms and breeds of dogs often ignored by our communities. We feel as we educate people about these amazing breeds not only do we save that dog’s life, the new knowledge acquired by the owner is shared and we are able to reach many more. By saving one, we save many.

Rachel's Rescue

We are a 501(c)(3) non-profit dedidcated to rescuing dogs and puppies as Rachel loved to do Founded June 1, 2023 in her honor

Pets Return Home

Pets Return Home is a nonprofit organization providing canine behavior modification, training and convalescence support to municipal shelters, animal rescue organizations, and the Verde Valley community. Our mission: Save lives, enrich welfare and build adoptability of homeless animals, drives our every action. ​ Our team has extensive knowledge and hands-on experience working with hundreds of dogs with behavior, training or medical needs. ​ We are located near Clarkdale, AZ on a four-acre ranch bordering national forest, a canyon and the Verde River. Many of the dogs “free-range” on the fenced four-acre parcel. We have a 400 square foot (sq. ft.) medical clinic, six fenced play yards totaling over 4000 sq. ft., a 3000 sq. ft. agility/work yard and a 2100 sq. ft. kennel facility with ten 100 sq. ft. luxury kennels. ​ The location and facility layout enable dogs to socialize, exercise, overcome fears, build confidence & trust and earn adoptable status. ​ We welcome adopters, volunteers and visitors by appointment and are supported primarily through donations. ​ Our Behavior Development Philosophy Pets Return Home primarily accepts dogs with behavior or medical issues from reputable animal rescues, municipal shelters and the Verde Valley community as space permits. These dogs usually are saved from the kill-list at shelters, the unadoptable list for rescues or by owner surrenders. Our work involves ‘resetting the behavior’ of a dog using a variety of methods. We verify recognition of audible and/or hand commands, reinforce known commands and expose the dog to unknown commands. One driving philosophy of our work is that the dog’s new family must work with the dog to earn and build the bond, leadership and respect necessary to keep the dog stable, manageable and part of the family. ​ This is why every family adopting a dog from our facility receives post adoption training and instruction tailored for the dog they have just adopted and has been in our care for weeks, months or even years. ​ Every dog that arrives at our facility is placed in a three-day quarantine. During this time, they see, smell, hear and feel the surrounding environment without fear. The routines of the humans, other dogs and external influences are presented to them without their involvement. This initial observation time allows them to determine the rank of each dog in each pack on the property. In addition, they learn which humans are their primary caregivers and leaders. Likewise, the humans and other dogs on the facility have the opportunity to assess the ‘new student’. This introduction period is paramount to the success of our programs. ​ Pets Return Home currently uses three dog-packs that assist in helping behavior challenged dogs learn canine manners, discover trust, build confidence and implement acceptable behavior patterns. The pack members each have their own contribution to help guide the dog through its behavior growth. Our behavior development experts work with each dog individually and with the packs to increase predictable behavior. ​ After the initial assessment, each dog has continuous assessments to customize the behavior development program. There is no “cookie cutter” approach to behavior development at Pets Return Home. Each dog has a unique program customized to its needs. Socialization, exercise and challenge are other key components of our programs. ​ Each dog is taken off property for 1-5 mile hikes and swims (weather permitting) at least three times a week. The dogs are taken as a pack and individually, depending upon their level of development and needs. We have multiple ‘courage’ courses on the river and cliffs. We challenge the dog in pack and solo outings to help build trust and confidence. This by far is the most visible sign of a dog’s improvement. ​ All of the people handling the dogs have a deep understanding of dogs, their nature, behavior, operant conditioning, classical conditioning, punishers, reinforcers, and much more. We use methods to help dogs in the most humane ways possible, taking into account the dog’s psychological needs and natural ways of learning. We work with the dog so she can learn a new and more instinctual way of behaving.

Mayday Pit Bull Rescue & Advocacy

The primary focus of Mayday Pit Bull Rescue is the rescue of dogs from county situations of extreme neglect, cruelty, abuse, hoarding and dogfighting. Our secondary focus is rescuing injured strays. We do not accept owner turn-ins. We are a small organization that is entirely run by volunteers. Due to demand, we often run very full. We unfortunately do not have the capacity or resources to respond to every emergency or injured stray request.

Paw Town Angels Rescue

Paw Town Angels Rescue is a 501(c)(3) non-profit dog rescue organization based in Phoenix, Arizona. Paw Town Angels Rescue saves dogs that are abused, abandoned by their owners, and put on the euthanasia list in Maricopa and other surrounding counties. The Angel Army helps these dogs in need find their perfect forever (or should we say furever) home. We accomplish this goal by placing the dogs in foster homes to help rehabilitate them and get them ready to be a member of some lucky new family. We also believe it is our responsibility as pet owners and rescuers to do our part to ensure the health and safety of all the precious dogs that pass through our doors. All of our dogs are vetted, spayed/neutered, up-to-date on shots, and micro-chipped. Before one of our precious pups can be adopted, a home check and trial adoption period is required. We are a foster based rescue and rely on our volunteers and donations in order to continue to save lives. We are always looking for new fosters to give our dogs a temporary loving home while they wait to find their forever home. Volunteers help at our adoption events and with transportation of the dogs when needed. Donations fund the rescue so we can make sure all of the dogs we save are healthy and ready for their second chance. Paw Town Angels was founded by Callie Maxwell and Donita Willard, who are all avid animal lovers. Our Mission is to provide the highest quality care for our rescue dogs. Our dream is to one day have a facility that will allow us to save a greater number of homeless animals.

Adopt A Dog Rescue

We are a non profit 501c (3) dedicated to rescuing homeless and abandoned animals, primarily dogs from high-kill shelters and owners who can no longer care for them. We put our heart and soul into giving these sweet innocent souls the love and care they deserve until they find their forever homes. We are a volunteer-based non-profit rescue dedicated to dogs and puppies left homeless for whatever reason. Our dogs come from the euthanasia list at MCACC but we accept dogs given up by their owners because of difficult circumstances and those in danger of abuse or neglect. We place dogs in loving, responsible, permanent homes and take considerable care in finding good matches. Animals in our care are spayed or neutered, microchipped, receive all appropriate veterinary care and treatment, and placed in nurturing foster homes while they await placement in their permanent homes. We assist dogs in distress without regard to age, breed or ease of placement.

Alone No More Dog Rescue

Alone No More Dog Rescue was founded in the Fall of 2020 by a group of animal advocates in Maricopa County to assist local shelters inundated with a high volume of stray and surrendered animals. After receiving our 501(c)(3) status in August of 2020, we partnered with MCACC as a New Hope Partner to work with behavioral, medical, and otherwise well-deserving dogs at highest risk of euthanasia. EIN 85-2503276

Kira's K9 Rescue

Kira’s K9 Rescue was founded in 2018 as a foster-based, non-profit organization located in Phoenix, Arizona that provides shelter for stray, abandoned, and surrendered dogs, regardless of age, breed or temperament. We focus on rehabilitation in the preparation of finding them suitable and permanent homes; for however long that may take. In addition, we select particular dogs to be trained in becoming therapy / emotional support dogs for special needs children and adults.