The Best Santa Maria, CA Dog Rescues & Shelters in 2025

A Purposeful Rescue

A PURPOSEFUL RESCUE IS A 501c3 NON-PROFIT THAT SAVES DOGS FROM HIGH-KILL LOS ANGELES AREA SHELTERS. THERE ARE MANY AMAZING DOGS WHO GET OVERLOOKED, OR NEED A LITTLE EXTRA WORK AND CARE, AND WE AIM TO GIVE THOSE DOGS A SECOND CHANCE.

Animals In Need Fund

January 2024, we will be folding into the C.A.R.E.4Paws umbrella of programs and services. A strategic transition to more efficiently care for our community and the animals who need us the most. The origins of AINF... The Animals In Need Fund was founded in 2008 with the commitment to help improve the health and well-being of cats and dogs in our community. It is our mission to reduce animal suffering by: Providing feline spaying & neutering services for just $20 or $40 Rescuing & advocating for homeless cats, kittens & dogs, many of whom need special veterinary care & treatment. Providing food, fostering & adoption services to family-less animals in our program as we search for the perfect home. Provide accessible, affordable veterinary care for families. When we began in 2008, our main mission was to intercept stray cats and dogs brought to us by Good Samaritans and San Luis Obispo County Animal Services. We still provide this service, but have become so much more. We are proud to offer LOW COST ($20-$40) "co-pay" feline spays and neuters to everyone regardless of financial standing. In 2023, AINF increased access to these critical weekly spay/neuter programs by also partnering with VCA South County Veterinary Hospital in Arroyo Grande. Since our inception, we have provided shelter, love and veterinary care to over 3900 homeless animals, many with special medical needs, lifting them up in times of worry and matching them with loving forever homes. We participate in the SLO County Animal Services' Trap/Neuter/Return program, which saves the lives of our unsocial community cats. They are spayed or neutered, vaccinated and then returned safely to the neighborhood they are familiar with while community members provide food and water. In year's past, prior to the TNR initiatives, these cats were euthanized immediately and it has been proven that this method is not successful when it comes to curbing the pet-overpopulation issue we face year in and year out. TNR improves the lives of cats, addresses community concerns, reduces complaints about cats, and stops the breeding cycle. TNR improves the co-existence between outdoor cats and humans in our shared environment.

Saving Shibas Inc.

Shadow's Fund

Shadow’s Fund is a nonprofit organization that is dedicated to helping the most vulnerable shelter dogs. Senior dogs, dogs labelled as “pit bulls” and dogs with a treatable injury or illness are often passed over for adoption. We help these forgotten dogs find hope and 2nd chances. Our 3 core programs tackle the problem from every angle. Bright Beginnings is aimed at early intervention and prevention. The Take Me Home Project provides direct rescue and rehoming for shelter dogs. And, for those dogs that need a little extra help, the Sheltering Oak Sanctuary provides a safety net and safe haven. Whether out in the community, or at the sanctuary, Shadow’s Fund is always working to promote responsible and humane animal stewardship.

Central Coast Herding Dog Rescue

Founded in 2007, CCHDR is a volunteer-run 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to finding forever homes for herding dogs including, but not limited to, Border Collies, Australian Shepherds, Australian Cattle Dogs/Queensland Heelers and other herding breeds and mixes. We are based in Paso Robles, CA but rescue dogs from overcrowded shelters all over the state of California. Our goal is to raise awareness about the often misunderstood herding dog breeds and educate people about the ever-growing pet overpopulation problem.

Del Mar Dog Rescue

We rescue abused, neglected, stray dogs in Mexico & find them forever homes. We are a donation based, volunteer powered 501c3 non-profit (EIN: 86-3054060) Fosters/adopters always needed! Do not hesitate to reach out if you'd like to help.

Meade Canine Rescue & Sanctuary

Since the rescue in 2001 of our first amazing dog from a Jersey City dog pound, we began the task of saving the least adoptable dogs from high kill dog pounds where their fates hung in the balance and began to place them in great homes, one by one. By advocating better education, providing medical care and spaying/neutering as many dogs as possible with the resources available we kept matching pound dogs with families and the dream of being able to help dogs and cats became a reality. We tirelessly saved lives, going from pound to pound and taking in animals who would have been completely overlooked and destroyed. The stories we can tell are often unsettling but many are heartwarming and quite a few are almost miraculous. Once we realized the enormity of unwanted pets, no more born became our mantra and our focus remains in our logo – stamp out sadness, spay and neuter and always adopt. With proper food, shelter, medical care, exercise and love, MCR has rehabilitated thousands of dogs. We have three locations in Connecticut for younger and more adoptable as well as senior dogs and in 2012 incorporated a 12-acre California ranch in Creston as a sanctuary almost entirely for seniors and special needs animals with no where to turn. Please see our video for an glimpse of how our seniors lives change at the ranch. http://www.meadecaninerescue.net/about-us/ In 2015 we began work on a barn project to house younger adoptable dogs at the sanctuary and invite visitors for working ranch holidays in the beautiful hills of the Central Coast. We welcome inquiries 365 days a year and invite people to visit by appointment. Adopters and sponsors are welcome and donations greatly appreciated as MCR depends solely on donations for its operations. Visit us on Facebook Meade Canine Rescue and Meade Canine Rescue New England and view adoptable pets on Petfinder, adopt a pet and other adoption sites.

Shiloh's Animal Rescue

Shiloh’s Animal Rescue Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit certified organization where we strive to do our best to give animals a second chance at life. We work towards rescuing red-listed animals all over the state of California who are about to be euthanized due to overcrowding.

Central Coast SPCA

Shepherd's Paws Animal Rescue, Inc

Shepherd's Paws Animal Rescue was established in 2015 as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization with the specific purpose of operating an all breed animal rescue. We are dedicated to providing rescue to abandoned, abused, neglected and homeless animals. We rescue dogs in the United States from imminent death at animal shelters, humane societies, pounds, and from owners who no longer keep their dogs, and place them into new and permanent adoptive homes. All of our dogs receive vet care, are up to date on their vaccinations, micro-chipped and spayed or neutered.

San Luis Obispo County - Animal Services Division

The Animal Services Division is responsible for providing animal care and control services throughout the County of San Luis Obispo and within each of the seven incorporated communities. Animal Services staff serve the community by helping to identify solutions to animal related problems, enforcing local ordinances and state laws relating to animals, providing humane education programs, and performing rabies control and surveillance. The Division also operates the only open-intake animal shelter in the county.

Volunteers for Inter-Valley Animals

VIVA operates a no-kill, cage free cat shelter in Lompoc that houses between 100 - 150 cats and kittens in open rooms and patios furnished with climbing trees, cuddly beds and cubbies in a warm and loving environment. To offset the expense, the cats can be sponsored for $40 per month. VIVA also operates Sylvester House, a retirement facility for older cats whose owners have either passed away or who can no longer care for their cats. There is a one time donation of $10,000 to place a cat at Sylvester House where the cat will live out its life with full care. VIVA also maintains a Feral Cat Sanctuary in the hills outside of Lompoc. When feral cats have been trapped and neutered, if there is no appropriate feral colony for them to return to, they may be placed at the sanctuary. It is a six-acre secure enclosure that is shaded with oak trees and features many feeding stations. At this time, Intake has been suspended. VIVA runs an outreach dog adoption program with the help of foster homes that house the dogs until they find a permanent home.

Novy's Ark

A lifelong dream is finally a reality! Novy's Ark is rescuing dogs and rehoming them right here on California's Central Coast. We currently bring in two dogs at a time, thus the organization name, and use social media to reach our potential adopters. Novy's Ark's mission is to rescue dogs from high-risk situations and shelter them in a loving home environment as part of our family until they join yours. In partnership with our community, and alongside other rescue groups, we are dedicated to raising awareness of humane treatment and respect for all animals. Please join us on our mission.

Santa Ynez Humane Society/DAWG

The Santa Ynez Valley Humane Society in partnership with Dog Adoption and Welfare Group is a 501(c)(3) private, non-profit organization governed by a Board of Directors composed of volunteers from the community who are dedicated to animal welfare. Donations to the Santa Ynez Valley Humane Society in partnership with Dog Adoption and Welfare Group directly benefit the animals living in our community and are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law. As with most charities, the Santa Ynez Valley Humane Society in partnership with Dog Adoption and Welfare Group cannot continue to operate on operational income alone and relies on financial support from fundraising events and donations from the community to keep our doors open. We appreciate your support. History of Santa Ynez Valley Humane Society The Santa Ynez Valley Humane Society was established in the early 1970s as an informal group of dedicated men and women who were concerned about the care and protection of animals in their local community. In the early years they served as independent individuals without an official entity or organization. Their objective was to rescue lost and unwanted animals and to find homes for them. This was largely accomplished with little or no outside financial support and by using their own homes to care for pets while they networked throughout the community to find homes for as many as possible. They served without any thought of personal gain or reward, motivated simply by their shared love of animals and a desire to serve their dependent friends and their community. Recognizing the overpopulation of dogs and cats needed proactive solutions, they began picking up pets from Valley residents once a week and making the 100 mile round trip to the Santa Barbara Humane Society facility to have the animals spayed and neutered. The following day, they repeated the 100 mile drive to pick them up and return them to their homes. Later, they found a local veterinarian, in Los Olivos, to do the surgery, but these dedicated ladies continued to pick the animals up and return them to their owners. By 1979 they had reached the point where they were able to establish a formal organization, and a non-profit corporation was formed in December of that year. They hoped this entity would provide continuity to carry out their mission and enable them to obtain financial support from the community. The Santa Ynez Valley Humane Society was founded in 1979 and is the oldest animal welfare organization in northern Santa Barbara County. Operating as the Santa Ynez Valley Humane Society, Inc., a private, non-profit California corporation, they continued their established method of using their own homes as havens to house and care for local pets and making regular trips to pick up and deliver animals for their spay and neuter program. In 1984, the volunteers mounted a fund raising effort and, with the generosity of two major donors, a parcel of industrial land was purchased in Buellton. The following year they completed construction of a 3,805 square foot building debt-free. This building continues to this day as the home of our small organization that had such humble beginnings in the homes of its directors and their friends. The facility was expanded in 1998 adding an isolation and recovery area, in 1999 with the addition of a mobile caretaker’s residence, and again in 2002 with the addition of 10 dog kennels. The facility has grown to total of 27 dog kennels and 14 cat cages, along with an outside covered area for cats. In addition to the kennels and cat cages, the shelter has a fully equipped veterinarian surgery and isolation rooms.

Costa Rica Dog Rescue & Adoption

Atlas Animal Rescue

Atlas Animal Rescue is a Paso Robles, California based 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Atlas was founded by Emily Everett-Nelson, who began her rescue journey by volunteering for various animal rescue groups in Southern California. She always wanted to start her own rescue one day and after volunteering for a rescue in China called Slaughterhouse Survivors, she solidified that decision after the life changing experience she had there. Her mission now is to rescue, rehabilitate, and rehome abused and neglected dogs both locally in California, and internationally by partnering with Slaughterhouse Survivors in China, and finding them loving homes in the USA.