The Best Riverside, CA Dog Rescues & Shelters in 2025

Yucaipa Animal Placement Society (YAPS)

Yucaipa Animal Placement Society (YAPS) is a no-kill nonprofit dog and cat rescue based in Yucaipa, CA. Our mission is to strive to prevent the euthanasia of dogs and cats throughout the region by providing them a temporary safe haven until a permanent and loving home can be found.

Animal Authority Rescue Team

I.C.A.R.E. Dog Rescue

Foster Army Animal Rescue

All Paws K9 Rescue

We started rescuing on a small scale in 2003. We helped with trap and release of abandoned animals in our local desert area. In 2016 we became a 501(C)3 and rescuing those at risk of euthanasia in our California Shelter system. Since then we have been growing and growing. Now in 2023 we are recognized as a 501c3 in the State of Iowa. We are so excited to see what is in store for us this coming year. To date we have rescued over 200 dogs, some moms with pups and several medical dogs needing help. We would not have been able to do so without the support from many of our friends family fosters board member and the donors that have given anything from money to blankets towels and DOG FOOD. Our rescue is in constant need of fosters. We are always in need of fosters for our seniors that need a quiet place to stay comfy, also bottle feeders for the little ones that have had something happen to their momma, Large dogs are always in need of a place to stay especially those that get a bad wrap just because of their breed. All our fosters provide a safe and loving home for those awaiting their furever homes.

Support 4 Paws

Support 4 Paws is a 501c3 nonprofit ​organization supporting animals and their ​guardians through community outreach, ​medical assistance and educational ​programs. Our mission is to keep animals in ​their homes, out of shelters and off the ​streets by providing much needed services ​to their owners. Thereby, we are “rescuing ​before rescue is needed.” If we can keep animals at home with their ​owners then they don’t end up in ​overcrowded shelters at risk of euthanasia

Animal Lives Matter Inc

Animal Lives Matter is a section 501(c)(3) no-kill rescue group, incorporated in March 2017, with years of animal and rescue experience amongst our founders. We are committed to helping the most needy, as well as the readily adoptable, among our community's most vulnerable creatures

Guardian Angel Pet Rescue, Inc

Our Goal is to assist in the Rescue of Dogs and Cats from High Kill Shelters. We also foster and assist in the networking of pets in need of permanent loving homes. We have limited space so we are always looking for volunteers to Foster…. for information on how you can foster please click on the Fostering link above.

The Animal Rescue Center of California

The housing crisis of 2008 created a wave of stray street dogs as owners lost their homes and moved to apartment buildings. With county shelters over-capacitated and animal control inundated, we saw an urgent need for help and stepped in immediately. With the help of private rescue organizations and low-cost spay and neuter programs, we have been able to rescue hundreds of animals off the street and find them loving permanent homes. There is a great deal more to do! Our vision moving forward is to continue helping animals in urgent need with a stronger support network and a greater capacity to rescue. Our ultimate intention is to create an animal campus in the eastern Coachella Valley to house rescued animals while finding suitable adopting families. Until then, we will continue our mission to help animals as we build The Animal Rescue Center of California.

Co-Exist Rescue

Co-Exist Rescue, Headquartered in Orange County, CA, is committed to creating a compassionate and safe environment for animals in need by providing rescue, rehabilitation, and rehoming services that foster a harmonious coexistence between humans and animals. “Animal suffering is one of the biggest issues affecting our society today. From climate change to animal cruelty to pets looking for a home, our hands are full of global and local challenges. Co-Exist Rescue is all about making a difference, day after day, 365 days a year. Since 2023, our Animal Rescue Organization has been dedicated to improving the lives of native animals and pets. We believe every human being’s responsible for taking care of the creatures around us, big or small. There are so many ways to help, so find yours today.” Advocacy With this initiative, our goal is to support the welfare of animals in need. With the support of our dedicated community, our Advocacy efforts go a long way. Learn more about this initiative and how you can help. Rescue With our mission always in mind, we strive to find new strategies to make our Rescue efforts more effective. Contact us to learn more about our team’s hard work and commitment to this cause. Rehabilitation We are dedicated to stepping up our Rehabilitation efforts, which is by no means an easy feat. But through cooperation and community involvement, we believe we can facilitate progress in this area.

One Mutt at a Time Rescue Foundation, Inc.

As a foster-based rescue organization, we are dedicated to making sure each animal is in a safe and loving environment. We fully vet every animal in our care, allowing them to have the best chance at finding a loving home. We are a non-profit organization, relying solely on donations to help us with medical expenses, transport fees and more.​ Our foster families are the backbone of our organization, providing love and care for each animal in our care with a goal of giving them the best possible experience before finding their forever homes. ​ Help us make a difference in the lives of these animals by making a donation, become a monthly donor, or fostering and/or volunteering!

Mary S. Roberts Pet Adoption Center

The Mary S. Roberts Pet Adoption Center (MSRPAC) is a non-profit 501(c)(3) public benefit charitable organization committed to giving homeless cats and dogs another chance for a healthy and happy life by finding them good, loving homes. MSRPAC is supported solely by private donations and fundraising projects. As a limited-entry companion adoption center, the Pet Adoption Center takes in healthy, adoptable cats and dogs from owners who can no longer care for them. As space allows, we also select healthy, adoptable cats and dogs from other local animal welfare agencies. Pets that are accepted into our center must pass health and behavior evaluations. All animals stay in our care until a good, loving home is found. No healthy, adoptable animal is ever destroyed. If space is not available to admit a pet, or if the pet cannot be accepted due to any other reason, owners are referred to other facilities and organizations. All pets while in our care receive food, a comfortable environment, medical attention and loving socialization from both staff and volunteers. Our staff and volunteers monitor the physical, emotional and mental health of the animals daily. A progressive “stress reduction” program helps keep our residents healthy, happy and adoptable. All animals are vaccinated, micro-chipped and spayed or neutered. For animals that are too young to be adopted, volunteers offer temporary homes through our pet foster care program. More on volunteering » Our Adoption Counselors assist in finding the right pet based on personalities and lifestyle. Individuals who adopt our animals go through an extensive adoption process where they are counseled on the medical, physical and emotional needs of the particular dog or cat they are adopting. After the adoption, the staff and volunteers at the center are always available to help with any questions or issues that may arise. Caring for homeless pets is not all the Mary S. Roberts Pet Adoption Center does. MSRPAC is very active in promoting animal welfare and positive human-animal relations through community-service programs which include humane education, pet behavior counseling, and support of pet overpopulation education and programs. More than 100 years of caring The Riverside Humane Society was established in 1897 for the purpose of preventing cruelty to children and animals. The first shelter was dedicated in 1917 and housed dogs, cats, horses, cows, birds, chickens and more. The society was incorporated in 1929 and in 1956 moved to 5791 Fremont Street. RHS provided complete animal control services such as licensing, impounding stray animals, accepting owner turn-ins, and investigating animal cruelty and aggressive-animal reports. Then in 1995, the society relinquished all animal control responsibilities to the County of Riverside Dept. of Animal Services and reorganized as the Riverside Humane Society Pet Adoption Center. In January, 2008 RHSPAC relocated to a newly constructed, 17,000 s.f. facility at 6165 Industrial Avenue. On March 3, 2010 the Riverside Humane Society Pet Adoption Center officially changed their name to the Mary S. Roberts Pet Adoption Center.

The Pet Adoption Center of Orange County

Hope Ranch Animal Sanctuary

Hope Ranch Animal Sanctuary is a non-profit organization; obtained our 501(c)3 in 2011 - ID #27-810495 Located in Anza, CA In 2003 Kathy Haley moved to Anza, California in hope of providing sanctuary for large abused and neglected animals such as donkeys, llamas, alpacas, pigs, and many more. At the time, she was also volunteering for a dog rescue and after learning about the importance of rescue work, Kathy saw an opportunity to help by employing her own ideas about animal welfare, rescue and care taking the whole animal mind, body and spirit into consideration. A few years later, she met Lisa Ashe. Kathy and Lisa had so many ideas, dreams, and goals in common. They instantly clicked and that was when "Hope Ranch Animal Sanctuary", a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, was born in 2011 and have been going strong since. Lisa passed away in 2017 from Cancer but to this day, is still a major inspiration to Hope Ranch and always a part of our team and family. She helped saved countless lives. At Hope Ranch Animal Sanctuary, we are dedicated to taking in abused, neglected, and euthanasia listed animals that deserve a second chance and need us the most.

Loving All Animals

Loving All Animals was incorporated at the end of 2008 to fill a void in the animal welfare community within the Coachella Valley. The agency sought to be the conduit for the welfare of the valley’s animals. Lindi Biggi, founder of Loving All Animals, believed that if all of the shelters and rescue organizations could work cooperatively, the animals would be the ultimate beneficiary. In 2018, the Pet Rescue Center, a 501(c)3 charity, based in Coachella, CA, was gifted to Loving All Animals. The Pet Rescue Center had been founded and continuously managed by Christine Madruga for 21 years. In 2018, the Pet Rescue Center’s Board elected to transfer the entire charity to Loving All Animals, and Christine retired. Loving All Animals provides animal sheltering, adoption, training, support, humane education programs to our community.

A Passion for Paws Rescue, Inc..

A Passion for Paws Rescue, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) certified non-profit dedicated to saving the lives of Akitas and other dogs in need. We rescue and support dogs including veterinary costs, food and temporary housing until the dogs can be adopted into their forever homes. We are a NO KILL rescue organization that survives entirely on donations. We are these shelter dogs' last hope! Since the beginning of A Passion for Paws, we have saved the lives of almost 1000 Akitas and other dogs. In 2006, A Passion for Paws became officially approved as a 501c3 non-profit charity organization. In 2010, established the Akita Ranch facility to provide for the temporary housing and care of dogs. We are the only Akita rescue organization in the Southwest United States that actively takes in dogs on a weekly, if not daily basis. We are a volunteer organization that relies on private donations to continue our mission to save Akitas and other dogs in need. We could not accomplish our mission without the help of our generous supporters, friends and volunteers and we are very grateful to all those who also love and help Akitas and other dogs in need. A Passion for Paws Rescue was founded in 2004 by Cheryl Weatherford to honor the memory of her son, Paxton David Weatherford who passed away unexpectedly from a rare form of cancer. Paxton loved animals and brought Cheryl her first Akita, an extra-large white male Akita named Zeus who had survived a terrible fire at the animal shelter. Zeus had the presence and appearance of a polar bear, the temperament of a lamb unless he or his family was threatened and then he would fight like a tiger, and the intellect of a being wise beyond the short time he was with us. Both of these rare individuals inspired an undying love for Akitas and dogs in need.

Lucky Chi Dog Rescue

We are a Non-Profit 501(c)(3) that helps prevent the suffering and neglect of Chihuahuas which are second-most euthanized breeds in the shelters. Our primary focus is subsidizing Spay and Neuter programs to prevent the needless suffering of unwanted dogs. We also support foster programs by funding medical and dental, along with pain meds for dogs in most need to alleviate suffering. To date, we have fostered hundreds of dogs and spayed and neutered thousands of dogs here and in Mexico over the years. We continue to do spay and neuter events, support fostering to find loving homes, and subsidize medical expenses to relieve extreme suffering of shelter animals. We also promote humane education for the betterment of the lives of companion animals.

Coachella Valley City/County Animal Shelter

Redlands Animal Shelter

Our mission is to maintain the best environment we can offer for the many stray and homeless animals we acquire, as well as providing the public with an inviting and helpful experience.

Your Love Unleashed Dog Rescue

Your Love Unleashed Dog Rescue accepts large breed dogs; specifically Rottweilers and Shepherds. However, we will accept any large breed of dog that needs our help, if we are ABLE to help them. This includes networking out to our connections at other dog rescues & organizations if they are more suited for a particular dog or breed. Being in this industry affords us the opportunity to work with many great rescue organizations in California and neighboring states.

Hesperia Animal Shelter

The fully staffed shelter provides care for animals who are impounded because they have become separated from their owners but will be quickly reunited. The shelter also cares for animals that need to be adopted into a new family and those that must be humanely euthanized. The need for this agency is due mostly to irresponsible pet ownership and pet over-population. While the benefits of pet ownership are many, pets that are not properly cared for can become not only a nuisance, but also a threat to the health and safety of neighbors.

Forever Young K9 Rescue

In July 2013, I walked into North Valley shelter in Los Angeles to adopt a dog named Austin for a wonderful woman Gina Mann Landers. Gina had seen his picture in the shelter and wanted to open her home to him. The shelter advised me against adopting him because they thought he was at least 10 years old, and they did not believe he would live much longer. Austin and I walked out of the shelter that day and he never looked back. After leaving that day with Austin, I could not help but wonder how many other seniors were left behind because someone told adopters they were too old and it was a mistake. That began the journey to start Forever Young. I have learned many things along the way and have been touched and blessed by many experiences. I learned it was not just seniors that were left behind; the sick are treated similarly. In November of 2013, a sweet boy named Pelo was turned in by his owner because he was sick. He was not given treatment and he spent his time lying in his kennel in pain. Many rescues walked by him and did nothing. For me, it was beyond heartbreaking to see him neglected and suffering. But, there was a small community of individuals who resolved to rescue him. With only 30 minutes to closing, Sandy Naples rushed in and adopted him. With the help of the AC officer, Sandy placed him in her car and met me at our vet. Our vet confirmed he was suffering, and had been for some time. We gave him a comfortable bed, a sponge bath, managed his pain, and gave him the affection he deserved. For the first time in a very long time, he had a restful night’s sleep. The next morning, on Thanksgiving Day, we celebrated with the entire staff with a large breakfast consisting of all things that are bad for you. Later that day, surrounded by people and affection, he crossed the rainbow bridge. By giving just a little of our hearts and our time, we were able to provide profound relief to Pelo. Our experience with Pelo stays with us and serves as a strong reminder of our purpose in starting Forever Young. As our rescue has grown over the years we have opened and will continue to open our hearts to all dogs of all ages and circumstances. Whether they are with us for an hour, a day, a week, a year, or a lifetime, they all deserve to cross with love and dignity.

Shadow Husky Rescue, Inc.

Doggie Bonez, Inc.

Doggie Bonez was founded by Jacqueline aka Jackie. She has a passion for dogs that started at an early age. Instead of playing with dolls, she enjoyed playing with all of her animals. Jacqueline’s first rescue was more than 18 years ago. She hasn’t looked back since, except to fondly remember all of her successful adoptions! Doggie Bonez is run by a group of volunteers, who provide their time, effort, and their love of all dogs. Doggie Bonez would not be as successful as it is today without all the help of these special people. If you would like to volunteer to help these great people and care for these great dogs & puppies, please Contact Us. We would be forever grateful for any and all help you could provide.

Apple Valley Animal Services

The Animal Services Department consists of Field Services and Shelter Services, working together to protect public safety and provide humane animal care through sheltering, pet placement programs, education and law enforcement. Our philosophy is to promote responsible pet ownership, compassion toward animals and safe human-animal interactions. We celebrate partnerships with various individuals and rescue organizations that allow us to increase placement of adoptable animals into permanent loving homes. Working together, we all can provide a "Better Way of Life" for the animals in our care - four paws at a time.

New Beginnings For Animals

We’re an all-volunteer, 501c3, non-profit organization based in Mission Viejo, California. Our four Board Members and more than 30 Volunteers are dedicated to saving abandoned dogs and cats in overcrowded shelters throughout California. Many of the animals we rescue have a slim chance of getting out alive due to sickness, injury or lack of kennel space. Owners Who Must Give Up Their Pets — Our rescue efforts focus on shelter animals, particularly adults and seniors in need of medical care with little chance of survival, so we don’t often have the resources to take pets from owners who can no longer keep them. We are always happy to help network a pet in need of re-homing, though the owner will be responsible for fielding inquiries, screening, home checking, and adopting their pet to a good home.

Dream Team Angels Rescue

Dream Team Angels Rescue is a group of women who volunteer 100% of their time to helping homeless, sick, and injured dogs find their forever homes. Our history Dream Team Angels Rescue has been operating as a small federally recognized non profit rescue 501(c)(3) since 2018. Collectively, we have been helping our local pet population for more than 25 years!

Code Red K9 Crew

Redlands Humane Society

The Redlands Humane Society generally has a varied selection of pets available for adoption. Cats and dogs, pure breeds and mixed breeds, large and small, young and old. All waiting for that special person or family to love and be loved by. We operate an “all breeds” pet rescue and adoption program. We do not operate a shelter and never euthanize a healthy animal. All of our animals are in volunteer foster homes until they find good adoptive homes. We have no paid staff, this is an all volunteer organization. While this gives our pets a more caring environment, it also limits the number of pets we can take into our system at a time. If you are interested in more information on becoming a volunteer foster, please see our page for volunteer opportunities. We are the oldest Humane Society operating in California, with over 100 years of history. This history pre-dates the annexation of Redlands as a city. Our historical documents are on display at the Smiley Library in Redlands. Our current program, “Operation Second Chance” has been our focus since the 1990s.

Laguna Beach Animal Shelter

PUP Laguna Beach, a non-profit corporation, is the fundraising arm of Laguna Beach Animal Shelter, dedicated to bridging the gap between City funding and the special needs of our animals. PUP Laguna Beach directs fundraising efforts to ensure that the animals receive the best care possible including medical attention, neutering/spaying and behavioral reinforcement before they are adopted. In addition to fundraising, we are involved in animal issues that are brought to the attention of the City Council, along with working with the Police Department and Animal Control concerning any animal problems within our communities of Laguna Beach and Laguna Woods. PUP Laguna Beach is made up of a small board of directors who are active volunteers and staff members at the Laguna Beach Animal Shelter. Each member can attest to the heartwarming experience of pairing a once-abandoned dog with new loving “parents” and witnessing tears of joy that often follow. There are also many heartbreaking stories about neglected and abused animals who find their way to the shelter. The Board is privileged to experience firsthand how fortunate we are in the City of Laguna Beach to have a quality, clean and humane shelter providing extraordinary services every day.