The Best Seattle, WA Dog Rescues & Shelters in 2025

Resilient Hearts Animal Sanctuary

Resilient Hearts is a 501(c)3 nonprofit rescue that rescues animals from high risk situations and unites them with their forever families in the Puget Sound area. As a queer led organization, we are committed to accessible and inclusive programs for our entire community, and maintain a community safe space for anyone to share our animals.

Motley Zoo Animal Rescue

Motley Zoo Animal Rescue is the revolution of rescue. As a rock and roll-themed, foster-based, volunteer-powered rescue, we take in animals that have no one else. "Animals" primarily means dogs and cats, but as the name "zoo" implies, we take all kinds (as long as we have a foster home/ resources for that species). We work with shelters and owners who cannot keep their pets and through extensive veterinary care and training, we rehabilitate them and place them in loving, forever homes where the animals will never again be abandoned. More than 30% of the animals we take in are special or medically needy and require more extensive and expensive care. In all we work with all ages, breeds, many species and all different types of humans too- treating each as an individual so they can find the life and love they deserve.

Greyhound Pets, Inc.

John A. Hern Jr. founded Greyhound Pets, Inc. in 1985. John was a Coeur D'Alene, Idaho businessman who built a foundry business and owned Industrial Park real estate. Among John's many and varied interests, he held greyt admiration for ex-racing greyhounds and became committed to their care and welfare. As the greyhound racetrack opened in Coeur D'Alene John started a small side business providing feed and racing equipment to track kennels. He demonstrated his commitment to the dogs by being instrumental in building a track sponsored Greyhound Welfare Committee that reviewed track and kennel policies. John's first greyhounds were Roo and Babe, the two greyhounds featured in the GPI logo. John adopted several greyhounds after Roo and Babe. Ace was one of his favorites and was the subject of many of John's stories. John was the executive director of Greyhound Pets, Inc. for many years and oversaw expansion to include the Pacific Northwest and Southwestern Canada. John's generous bequest to the organization he founded has provided for GPI's continued prominence in the ex-racing greyhound rescue effort. The volunteers who continue in the efforts John began, honor his colorful leadership in finding homes for ex-racers. John is remembered and his love for ex-racing greyhounds honored in the Hern Greyt Works, GPI's kennel facility in Woodinville, WA.

Auburn Valley Humane Society

AVHS is a local, independent 501(c)3 non-profit, which relies on pet licensing fees, vulnerable pet housing agreements with the City of Auburn, shelter services, spay and neuter services, Thrift Store sales, Cat Cafe Sales, and generous donations from the community to fund the shelter, clinic, and educational programs.

Juno's Den

Welfare for Animals Guild (WAG)

Since 2001, WAG has placed dogs into new, loving homes. Our rescues come to us in many ways: owner surrenders due to unplanned life changes, over-populated shelters, and strays found wandering streets and fields. Prior to adoption, all of our rescues are spayed/neutered, receive all vaccines, are micro-chipped, and all other medical needs are addressed.

CHEW Dog Rescue

CHEW Dog Rescue is an all-volunteer organization dedicated to rescuing abandoned dogs, dogs scheduled for euthanasia due to shelter space limitations, and other dogs who need us. We are always looking to find additional foster homes and acquire funding for other essential elements of dog rescue to allow us to help more dogs in need. We strive to place our dogs in safe and loving forever homes. Additionally, we promote responsible dog ownership through the facilitation of educational and recreational activities and events. CHEW (Canine Health Education and Welfare) is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization.

The Pit Bull Pen

We are an all volunteer rescue specializing in bully breeds. We are facility based and prefer our dogs experience the home environment with their foster homes because the care they receive is superior to a shelter environment. Spay/neuter, microchip, vaccinations, training, socialization and lots of love are critical for producing well balanced and well behaved dogs.

The Humane Society of Mason County

The Humane Society of Mason County (HSMC) is a private 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that serves the Mason County area of Washington State. Our organization adheres to a philosophy of a no-kill shelter and animal rescue. We believe in providing second chances for companion animals whether they are abandoned, abused, neglected or homeless. We believe that all animals deserve the chance to live, thrive and be loved in "forever homes!" It is our sincere desire to provide aid when needed and to create opportunities for these needy animals to have a second chance at life.

Seattle Humane

Founded in 1897, Seattle Humane proudly promotes the human-animal bond by saving and serving pets in need. We are one of the region's leaders in animal adoption, education and welfare. Seattle Humane is more than a shelter we are a community resource center, providing adoption services, a pet food bank and support for pet owners, low-cost spay/neuter surgeries and wellness exams, humane education for all ages and more. Our work is made possible by the support of a generous community, and through our outreach, advocacy and services we strive to ensure that animal companionship is accessible to all.

Old Dog Haven

Old Dog Haven is a small nonprofit group using a large network of foster homes to provide loving, safe homes for unadoptable senior dogs in need in western Washington. When we have room and the means, we take these dogs into our homes. We care for them as members of the family in permanent foster homes (what we call ‚Final Refuge‚) and provide all needed veterinary care for as long as they have a good quality of life. In addition, we assist rescues, shelters and owners in finding new homes for senior adoptable dogs through our website, social media and referrals.

Homeward Pet Adoption Center

Homeward Pet's mission is to transform the lives of cats and dogs in need through compassionate medical care, positive behavior training, and successful adoption while building a more humane community.

Save A Mutt

Saving Great Animals

Saving Great Animals is a matchmaking rescue organization focused mainly on dogs in the Greater Seattle area. We work tirelessly to match the best pet to your family based on breed, lifestyle and other factors. With more than 8500 lovingly homed since 2007, we are proud of our dedicated team and foster homes for bringing new life to pets with loving homes to last their lifetime. We adopt out only after a dog has been spayed/neutered, updated on shots, has received proper medical care and chipped. We are dedicated to lowering the dog reproduction population, which leads to millions of lost lives. We use a trial adoption program, which includes training and counsel, and dogs are only adopted after that period. As a result, our return rates are very low. We love every single animal we rescue and we are cradle to grave, staying in touch with adopting families for years, often adding new furry loves to their homes. Adopters must sign a contract, and this is to ensure that if for some unforeseen reason, the dog needs to be rehomed, he/she is returned to Saving Great Animals for rehoming. Our dogs are never to see a high-kill shelter again in their lifetime.

Center Valley Animal Rescue

The Olympic Mountains provide the backdrop to Center Valley Animal Rescue (CVAR), a ranch with 32-acres of pastures, ponds, barns and shelters for large animals. The central building is home to small animals, an office, a medical room and storage. This animal rescue is the vision of Sara Penhallegon who in 2002, formed a 501(3) C Charitable Organization on the Washington State Olympic Peninsula. Sara and a handful of friends created a network of carefully screened foster care families to temporarily care for animals that were being signed over due to abuse or neglect or by people who simply could no longer care for them.

The NOAH Center

In 1988, Northwest Organization for Animal Help first opened its doors at our original shelter location on Camano Island. For more than ten years our staff and volunteers worked diligently to help animals in the community. As the need for help grew in our own community and across Washington state, we knew we had to expand our resources to better serve our mission to save more animals. After years of serving animals in our local community, we expanded our horizon by adopting a new approach to our facility, programs, and services. In 2003 we debuted our current location in Stanwood, WA where we introduced our expanded adoption and brand new transfer and low-cost spay/neuter programs. Since then we have created partnerships with more than 100 different shelters to transfer animals at risk of euthanasia to our facility for the second chance they deserve; we have developed the second-highest volume spay/neuter clinic in Washington state; and we have continued to expand our efforts to ensure healthy, adoptable and treatable animals across Washington state and beyond are given a second chance.

Red Waggin' Rescue

Red Waggin' Rescue is a Washington State dog and cat rescue. We are a foster-based non-profit founded in 2012 in Eastern Washington. Our mission is to rescue, rehabilitate, and find homes for abandoned dogs and cats in need, ensure healthy pets through pet food education, cultivate the younger generation's love of animals, and build a community where animals are valued and celebrated. Every animal deserves to be loved and find a forever home! 100% of your donation will go directly to help animals in need.

Adopt-A-Pet

Adopt-a-Pet is an all-volunteer dog shelter serving Mason County that has been in operation for 44 years. We are an energetic team dedicated to saving the lives of unwanted, abandoned and abused dogs. Our goal is to place all our dogs in safe & loving homes. As a 501(c) 3, non-profit organization, we rely on adoption fees, donations, grants, fundraisers, and estate bequests to continue our good work. It takes a village to save a dog and we are grateful for the support of the community. In 1979, seven Mason County residents - Jan Chunard, Jan Danford, Elivira Fern, Dorothy Hurley, Dr. Doug Larson, Edith Levitt, and Pat Neely - saw the need of finding homes for the unwanted dogs in Shelton, Washington. Calling themselves the "Looking for a Home" team, they built two wooden kennels and a chain link fence in the backyard of a volunteer's home. The number of abandoned dogs needing a home increased by 1980 and "Looking for a Home" expanded, adding four new kennels and became a 501(c) 3 nonprofit organization. In July, 1983, the organization changed its name to ADOPT-A-PET. Our spay/neuter program began in 1985, making it the only one in Mason County at that time. now... ADOPT-A-PET has continued to expand over the years because of the generous financial support of its members, volunteers, and community. ADOPT-A-PET currently has 71 members and 37 active volunteers. The shelter can accommodate 35 dogs and supports Mason County by providing adoptions, a low-cost spay/neuter program and various other needs.

Hearts4Doxies Rescue

We love every single animal we rescue and believe that staying in touch with our adoptive families, contributes to our high success rate. We solely rely on adopt donations and fundraising. As you can imagine, with mounting vet costs, we are always in need of financial gifts. Our dogs are adopted when they are completely vetted – spay/neutered, up-to-date vaccines and other proper medical care such as dentals. Hearts4Doxies Rescue is a matchmaking rescue focused solely on small breed dogs. We work tirelessly to perfectly match the best pet to your family based on breed, lifestyle and other factors. We are proud of our dedicated all-volunteer team and foster homes for bringing new life to pets with loving homes to last their lifetime.

Help Every Little Paw

Hope 4 La Pawz is a Washington State registered 501(c)3 non-profit in the US. We operate in Mexico under the name of Amigos de 4 Patas. Together we seek to end the suffering of stray and abandoned dogs in La Paz. We work with people in the local community who rescue dogs and foster them in their own homes. We provide food, veterinary care, supplies and support while we find permanent homes for these dogs. We are not a shelter or refuge in the traditional sense.

Basset Rescue Of Puget Sound

We are an all volunteer rescue organization dedicated to helping place basset hounds that are in need. We are located in Woodinville, Washington and are here to help the surrounding area. We are a 501(c)3 charitable rescue organization and our tax exempt number is 27-2507477. Your donations are 100% tax deductible in the USA. Thank you for helping the homeless hounds of Western Washington

R.E.D. Rescue Every Dog

People for Animal Care and Kindness - PACK

CL Boston Terrier Rescue Foundation

Seattle Purebred Dog Rescue

Seattle Purebred Dog Rescue “SPDR” is a volunteer-based, nonprofit organization dedicated to placing unwanted and abandoned purebred dogs into new homes. Since 1987, Seattle Purebred Dog Rescue has been working with local area shelters and private individuals to find homes for unwanted or abandoned purebred dogs.

Underdog Pet Rescue and Rehabilitation

Underdog is a foster-based rescue located in North Seattle, servicing the Greater King County area. We prioritize intake for urgent community needs, as well as high-risk shelter animals that may need extra support or time. Our priority is to help full shelters and stressed people find support for their animals in need.​ Underdog is a group founded by rescue professionals who have seen the need first hand for dedicated, experienced rescues to provide support to overburdened communities, rescues, and shelters. Among our board members and volunteers, we have experience in most professional animal industries: shelters, rescues, veterinary hospitals and clinics, day care, dog socializations and training, and more. We want to use our experience to help animals needing that extra time, resources, and love to get the outcome they deserve.

Useless Bay Sanctuary

Founded in 2013, Useless Bay Sanctuary is a team of rescuers passionate about helping lost dogs. We help dogs that other people may have trouble capturing. Our mission is to help those stray dogs that may not fit with the tools and resources of traditional animal shelters and rescues. We have experience and tools specific to hard-to-catch dogs. We also have the flexibility to persist in helping a dog that may fall outside the jurisdiction or skill set of other rescues and shelters. Once we capture a lost dog, we make every reasonable effort to find the original owner. If we can't find that original owner, we place dogs in new homes that have been screened, to give our dogs the best life possible. We are a nonprofit, 501c3 charitable organization.

Washington Alaskan Malamute Adoption League

Washington Alaskan Malamute Adoption League (WAMAL) was formed in 1998 by Cindy Neely to help with Malamute Rescue in Washington State and since then has expanded into Oregon. WAMAL's mission is to rescue, rehabilitate as needed, and find new homes for Malamutes in need. Our mission includes increasing public awareness of the unique characteristics of the breed, promoting responsible ownership, and providing education and support to our community. We strive to ensure that every Malamute we rescue receives the care, love, and attention they deserve and are dedicated to making a positive difference in the lives of these wonderful dogs. Serving the greater Northwest we are also part of a national rescue network, Alaskan Malamute Assistance League (AMAL) that covers other areas of the US. WAMAL provides hope to families that must rehome their malamutes when life has taken a sharp detour; training support to those families desperately working to keep their 4-legged family members; works with shelters and takes into rescue strays and those pups needing an extra level of thoroughness in the adoption process; and, actively recruits adopters and foster homes. We are a 100% volunteer run, 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that is celebrating over 20 years! Our volunteers come from all walks of life and locations and WAMAL is only able to do what we do because of this generous and dedicated team of volunteers. They truly make it possible to save the lives of this gentle, stubborn, and loving working breed. WAMAL has rescued many hundreds of malamutes to date and each holds a place in our hearts.

Puget Sound Rescue

Puget Sound Rescue is a volunteer organization dedicated to finding permanent, responsible and loving homes for dogs in need. We are a nonprofit corporation with 501c3 status with the IRS. All of our proceeds go towards the rescue and care of current and future dogs in need! The organization founder and president, Barbara Wadleigh, has been rescuing dogs in the south King County area for over 20 years. During this time, she has found loving homes for over 4,000 dogs that were at risk for euthanasia. During the year 2009 alone, we found permanent, loving homes for 398 dogs that came through our rescue. We are located between Auburn and Black Diamond, Washington. We are not a shelter and our dogs are available for visiting by appointment only. Please e-mail us at pugetsoundrescue@hotmail.com for further information. Note: We do our best to respond to emails on a timely basis, but as we are a 100% volunteer organization - we often get behind. Please be patient or try us again if you have not heard back! Our dogs live in foster homes where we can get a better idea of their temperament and suitability for particular homes. All our animals are spayed or neutered and up to date on shots. All adopted dogs must be allowed to sleep inside, continue with obedience training, and be loved as part of the family. We only adopt out dogs who have shown no unprovoked aggression towards humans. We feel the dogs we take in are deserving of a second chance at a good life with a committed owner who understands the breed. The majority of our dogs come to us from shelters in southern California, where they have run out of time and are scheduled to be euthanized. We also take dogs from other shelters and rescue groups and local owner surrenders.

Seattle Dogs Homeless Program

It is ironic I started out running theses very Seattle streets in the 80's and was even apart of a documentary about homeless youth called "Streetwise", crazy here I am 30+ years later helping those living in homelessness on the very streets that I began on long ago. Seattle Dogs started in 2014, one bag, one paw at a time we handed out pet food. After losing my own home I was forced given a choice give up my dogs or keep em and live in a tent, I chose my dogs. After living thru homelessness as a pet partner I truly understood the obstacles, needs and necessities of other homeless pet owners We had no idea when we started Seattle Dogs that we would grow and become what we are today and we look forward to learning and growing as we navigate our way thru the needs of our city . Diagnosed with stage 4 liver disease I truly felt the need to continue Seattle Dogs so with a prayer, some hope, a dream, a partners unwavering support and amazing donors we've continued to move forward and help pets in need by providing food, supplies, vet care, boarding and rescue. Together we've made one hell of a difference.