The Best Salem, OR Dog Rescues & Shelters in 2025

4 All Muttkind

We are a 100% foster based, volunteer run, all breed rescue. Our mission is to provide a stepping stone to the most at-risk pups via a strong foster based network and training support to our fosters, adopters, and community. While we can't adopt ourselves out of our current crisis, we can provide a pawsitive impact to those pups in our care and bridge the training gap in our community. We are a science based, force free rescue, founded by certified dog trainers, with a mission to educate our community on dog behavior and canine learning. We regularly team up with certified trainers and behaviorists, vets, and vet behaviorists to ensure every canine in our care is set up for success.

Golden Bond Rescue of Oregon.

Golden Bond Rescue is a volunteer run, non-profit organization dedicated to improving the lives of retrievers. Our mission is to find caring, adoptive homes for retrievers and retriever mixes in need and to educate the public to prevent the homeless retrievers of the future. Retrievers in need of new homes come from a variety of circumstances. Some come to us due to compelling family situations such as death, divorce, family illness, relocation or economic hardship. Others are released to rescue because of behavior problems due to lack of exercise and poor understanding of the needs of the breed. Since our beginnings in 1991, we have successfully placed over 3,500 dogs with new loving families. We would like to remind anyone interested in adopting a retriever that there is no source (including breeders, kennels, humane societies, rescue organizations) for a guaranteed perfect or pre-trained dog. Like many rescue organizations, we offer the benefits of being able to provide dogs who are already spayed or neutered, who have had a sound fundamental health examination, and whose temperament is fairly well known (since they have all lived with our foster families). Some of our dogs have not had a loving family in the past, but many have. Some may have behavioral problems, but many do not. And some need special medical care, just as most any dog will eventually. Many of our dogs need some level of training. All of our dogs need significant amounts of time, attention, patience, and love to adjust to their forever homes. Golden Bond Rescue is a resource for people who would like to give retrievers or retriever mixes a second chance in life. Golden Bond Rescue identifies a "retriever" as any breed that falls under the American Kennel Club's (AKC) retriever classification: golden retriever, Labrador retriever, Chesapeake Bay retriever, curly-coated retriever, flat-coated retriever, and Nova Scotia duck-tolling retriever. For more information about each of these breeds, please use this link RETRIEVERS.

ARK Pet Rescue

Oregon Pet Project, DBA ARK Pet Rescue is an animal rescue organization located in Newberg, Oregon. Our focus is helping cats and dogs in at-risk situations in our community and beyond. We strongly believe in creating a community environment for animals and people to come to and rest.

One Tail at a Time PDX

COMPASSION for animals and the humans who care for them. We believe in respecting the dignity of all living beings and aim to create a positive, kind, empathetic, and inclusive environment. COMMITMENT to a humane quality of care using science-based welfare standards to consider and address the needs of animals as individuals. COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT by providing education, resources, and support through our programs that aim to foster thoughtful engagement and participation. TRANSPARENCY and ACCOUNTABILITY through clear and open communication that aims to build and sustain our community's trust.

Project Pooch

Joan Dalton founded the program in 1993 while she was vice principal at MacLaren's Lord High School. She started with one dog and one youth. Since that time Project POOCH, Inc. has changed (and saved) the lives of hundreds of dogs and youths.

Shepherds Without Borders

Shepherds Without Borders is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that is foster-based and is 100% volunteer/donation driven. We are based in the Pacific Northwest of the United States; currently active in Oregon, Washington, Idaho and Northern California. We accept owner surrenders of good temperament and our trained volunteers scour shelters in selected areas for the casually discarded, but good dogs who, through no fault of their own, find themselves homeless. All of the German Shepherd Dogs placed through Shepherds Without Borders Rescue have been assessed for temperament before being accepted – we are not a “last chance” rescue and not every dog is accepted. While the assessment is no guarantee of future behavior, it helps us to understand what the dogs’ preferences and what their needs are. Fostering or adopting a rescued German Shepherd with our rescue requires an approved application. To fill out an application, click here: Adoption/foster application . All of our dogs are medically stable, up to date on vaccines, microchipped, spayed/neutered (if medically stable/age allowance), treated for internal parasites and tested for heartworm disease (put on prevention) previous to placing in foster or adopter home. Please keep in mind, we may receive several applications for each dog listed and not everyone is able to meet each dog. We do not place our dogs with “next in line” mentality – our goal is to place each dog in a family/household that “best matches” the dog, creating a WIN-WIN situation for both the adopter and dog – allowing our return rate to be less than 2% <3 These dogs are our mission, our passion and our commitment

Lincoln County Animal Shelter

Your Lincoln County Animal Shelter (LCAS) is the only animal shelter in Lincoln County. Our primary function is to provide a safe and humane facility to house dogs found running at large and animals impounded by law enforcement, as well as to provide Lincoln County pet licensing services. LCAS strives to go above and beyond what is legally required by providing an enriching environment to the animals in our care, pet adoption services, pet surrendering services as space and resources allow, as well as pet retention programs to help pets stay with their families. Our goal is to be a model animal shelter for small, rural communities by providing progressive animal care and promoting responsible pet guardianship through licensing and education.

Senior dog rescue of oregon

Senior Dog Rescue of Oregon is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Our tax ID is 76-0714055. Our mission is to rescue senior dogs aged 6 and older. We are a volunteer-driven, donor-funded organization. We do not have a shelter. All dogs are fostered. Established in 1997 by Susan Faria, Senior Dog Rescue of Oregon is a beacon of hope for senior dogs. Susan was the sole SDRO volunteer until 2001, when two additional volunteers joined to share the workload. In 2003, SDRO gained nonprofit status and continued to add volunteers, rescue more dogs, and receive more financial support through grants and donations. With a deep commitment to providing love, care, and second chances, we continue to support our founding mission of rescuing and rehoming dogs aged 6 and up. We aim to offer senior dogs a new beginning and a forever home. As a volunteer-driven organization, every decision we make is guided by the unwavering belief that every senior dog deserves dignity, comfort, and love in their golden years.

Harmony New Beginnings Animal Rescue

HNBAR was founded in 2006 when a tragic accident took the life of a man who had several horses. His widow was not involved with the animals, so she didn't know what to do. When Joy learned of this she just knew in her heart that it was her calling to step in and help this woman and the animals that were left behind. The calls to help animals didn't stop after that, so on August 3, 2011 HNBAR became an official 501c3 Animal Rescue. HNBAR is run entirely by volunteers, and funding comes from the community or grants. The rescue focuses on taking in horses, livestock or other domestic animals that have been neglected or abused. The animals are provided with veterinary care, proper nutrition and given a chance to have proper socialization with humans so that they can be placed in loving, safe forever homes. At Harmony New Beginnings, we believe that healing can be found through animal therapy. We know that animals can reduce stress, anxiety, and depression, ease loneliness, encourage exercise and playfulness, and even improve your cardiovascular health. Caring for an animal can help children grow up more secure and active. Pets also provide valuable companionship for older adults. Perhaps most importantly, though, a pet can add real joy and unconditional love to your life. Animals come into HNBAR through owner surrender, law enforcement personnel, community referrals and from local auctions. HNBAR also assists animals that have homes, but are in need to find a new one by helping the owners advertise and network. We also help animals find homes that are in kill pens or other shelters/rescues. HNBAR will assist owners in screening prospective homes to help make good matches that will save animals from going to auction or becoming at risk for neglect. HNBAR has helped rescue over 700 animals since being founded and we hope that with your help we can continue to increase that number!

Woods Creek Rescue

Founded officially in 2015, WCR has grown from a small rescue into an agency typically housing up to 20 dogs and puppies at any one time. Run entirely by a small team of dedicated volunteers, WCR pulls dogs and puppies from all over the west coast. We are located near Silverton, Oregon We provide transportation, care, training services, and veterinary care to all of our animals. Our dedication to finding wonderful, loving permanent homes for all dogs is what makes our hearts sing! We are always on the lookout for folks that love dogs and welcome any time, resources or set of hands to help us care for all of the dogs!

Puplandia Dog Rescue

Puplandia Dog Rescue is a volunteer driven Oregon nonprofit organized and operated to facilitate the rescue, rehabilitation and rehoming of dogs while forming partnerships with other local rescues, shelters, veterinarians and businesses.

Agave Dogs Rescue

Agave Dogs Rescue was founded in 2017 after seeing constant pleas on social media from shelters and rescuers in Texas and other Southern states for help with their dog overpopulation crisis. Dogs dumped on the side of the road, dogs minutes from euthanasia unless a rescue tagged them, dogs enduring years of hardship and neglect with owners who didn't or couldn't care for them. We knew the Pacific Northwest had an extensive demographic of amazing dog lovers willing to offer homes and their hearts to dogs in need. So we jumped into action and haven't stopped since.

Northwest Boxer Rescue

Newberg Animal Shelter

Newberg Animal Shelter Friends is a 501 (c)(3) Non-Profit organization operating Newberg Animal Shelter.

Heartland Humane Shelter & Care

Heartland Humane Shelter & Care is a local non-profit animal welfare organization working to make Benton County a safe and healthy place for every pet, and for the people who love them

Indigo Dog Rescue

The fact is that some dogs and cats just don't have a chance at a traditional shelter because they're set up to help the average animal who finds itself without a home. And they do a pretty good job of serving the majority‚ the ones that conform‚ the ones that fit. But what about the ones that don't fit those Square Pegs that will never fit into the round hole of services provided by shelters? Every day, animals at shelters are deemed un-adoptable for many reasons. Sometimes it's a health issue or injury that shelters see as too costly or time-consuming to address. Other times its emotional instability the byproduct of a lifetime of neglect or abuse. It doesn't matter why they don't fit only that the shelter isn't set up to help them. Without someone else stepping in, euthanasia is the inevitable outcome. And that's where Indigo comes in. We believe that everyone deserves a chance, and that the right home is out there for everyone. We take those un-adoptable Square Pegs and we find a place where they can fit. We provide them with the individualized care they need to succeed to allow that non-conforming animal to develop into a one-of-a-kind pet. Whatever it takes whomever it takes to do it.

Homeward Bound Pets Humane Society

Homeward Bound Pets Humane Society is a private, 501(c)(3) non-profit dedicated to providing a safe and loving environment for our shelter animals. As Oregon's first no-kill shelter, we have been serving our community since 1975. Our mission is to Improving the lives of cats and dogs through adoption and community partnerships. Homeward Bound Pets Humane Society is an independent organization, as humane societies are not connected to one another.

Northwest Airedale Terrier Rescue

NORTHWEST AIREDALE TERRIER RESCUE (NWATR) is an all volunteer 501 (c)(3) charitable corporation set up to assist with the welfare of Airedale Terriers in the Northwest region including Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, and Northern California with a focus on helping Airedale Terriers in need find new homes. NWATR operates under the policies and guidelines of the Airedale Terrier Club of America Rescue Committee.

Mastiff Rescue Oregon

While working with other groups over the years it became apparent there were not enough groups out there to help English Mastiffs, so we dedicated ourselves to the rescue of Mastiffs that have been neglected, abused or abandoned, or have lost their owners because of a death, divorce or economic problems. Here at Mastiff Rescue Oregon, we evaluate all dogs, test for heartworm and bring them up to date on their vaccinations. We have them micro-chipped, spayed or neutered prior to being placed in their forever homes. All applications are reviewed carefully, and home visits are done to ensure the safety of the Mastiff before being placed with their new family. We have been involved in Mastiff Rescue for the past three years and have assisted in fostering and/or placing upwards of 80 English Mastiffs, and have traveled to Missouri, Montana and Wyoming to pick up English Mastiffs in distress. We are now concentrating our efforts on English Mastiffs in Oregon and are always in need of donations, be it food, heartworm or flea preventative medicine, or funds to assist with Veterinary expenses. It gives us a great sense of accomplishment when we place a Mastiff in a great forever home as they are a breed who truly deserves the best and they give back love and affection tenfold.