The Best South Carolina Dog Rescues & Shelters in 2025

Dog Squad

Dog Squad is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit shelter-less animal rescue organization established in 2022. We rescue many of our dogs from euthanasia at overcrowded shelters. We also take in sick, injured, abused, and abandoned stray dogs who may not have been given a second chance otherwise. We work with dogs of all breeds, all ages, all sizes, and all medical issues. Dog Squad focuses on rehabilitating these dogs by providing them with proper veterinary care, unconditional love, basic training, and socialization as fosters until they are ready to be adopted into their furever home. Each rescue dog is fully vetted prior to adoption, which includes spay/neuter, microchipping, and vaccinations.

Lucky Pup Rescue SC

Lucky Pup Rescue is a 501c3 non profit, foster based dog rescue in Greenville, SC. We are committed to saving as many homeless dogs as we can through community outreach and matching dogs to the perfect adopter.

The Paw Project

Rescue & rehome

Greenville County Animal care

Bridge Between Animal Rescue

The Bridge Between Animal Rescue is a foster based animal rescue of the Carolinas. Our home base is in Charleston, SC, but we operate out of Charlotte, NC as well. Our purpose is to be the bridge between an animal's past and their future, and to help as many animals in need as we can through not only rescue, but educating and assisting our communities.

Boykin Spaniel Rescue

Boykin Spaniel Rescue, Inc. was founded in 2000. Since that time, our Organization has grown to over 300 volunteers in the US. We have one, part-time, administrator; all other aspects of BSR is done through our network of volunteers. Some foster, some transport, and some lend their talents-- either with the dogs or in various other ways. Our mission is to raise the funds necessary to make sure that every Boykin Spaniel that needs medical or emotional assistance get that help, and then is placed in a forever home. Sometimes, that home is a Permanent Foster Care home, where that dog will remain for the rest of his/her life, with the support of BSR.

Grand strand humane society

Grand Strand Humane Society exists to improve the quality of life for companion animals by providing shelter and care to the lost, homeless, helpless and unwanted animals of our community. We focus on finding adoptive homes for the animals in our shelter, providing low-cost veterinary care to the public, and through community involvement and education further the bond between people and animals. Grand Strand Humane Society is an open admission shelter taking in animals brought in by the City of Myrtle Beach Animal Control officers and from citizens within the Myrtle Beach city limits. Years ago we made the decision to stop euthanizing healthy, adoptable animals for space and it was the right decision and the only option for Grand Strand Humane Society. The decision did increase our financial struggle, but we will continue finding every healthy, adoptable animal a forever family as long as it is financially feasible. Because of these efforts we are now proud to be a part of the No-Kill South Carolina community. Grand Strand Humane Society is further committed to providing excellent customer service to those people visiting our facility in the hopes that all our animals can find caring and loving homes. Grand Strand Humane Society also strives to educate our community about responsible pet ownership and works hard to investigate and prevent animal cruelty of all kinds. We make every effort to provide all communities within our area cost-effective adoption rates as well as low-cost spay & neuter surgeries and preventative healthcare services.

Noah's Arks Rescue

Noah's Arks Rescue is a 501c3 not for profit organization that supplies emergency medical, surgical and rehabilitation to abused animals. We are not a shelter. Our wish and lifelong hope is that our Society becomes educated in the ethical treatment of all animals and to stop the senseless killing of animals that have been tortured and abused.

Halfway There Rescue

Here at Halfway There Rescue we believe that second hand animals, make first class pets! We are a Charlotte area pet rescue organization run by a group of dedicated volunteers. We save dogs and cats from over-crowded shelters and help find them loving, happy homes through temporary foster placements and transportation to rescues in others states. Adoption is the loving option; please give one of our available pets a forever home today!

Hilton Head Humane Association

Over the past year, more than 10,000 abandoned, injured, abused animals and feral cats have been cared for by the Hilton Head Humane Association. We spay/neuter and release feral cats and provide food, shelter, medical, and loving care for the domesticated cats and dogs until adoptive homes are found. Our organization, dedicated to providing a safe haven for the abandoned cats and dogs of the Low Country, is funded entirely by membership dues, private donations, and generous bequests. Enrich your life with a beautiful and healthy new family member. They are waiting for you.

Palmetto Animal League

PAL opened its first Adoption Center on October 30, 2010 after 8 years of managing a network of loving foster families to house and care for our abandoned and homeless animals. The Adoption Center, which includes living space for approximately 150 adoption-ready cats and dogs, serves as headquarters for the League's operations. We offer animals a friendly, comfortable, low-stress environment which encourages humans to visit, adopt, volunteer and get involved. Our 7,700 square foot building is located in Riverwalk Business Park in Okatie, SC.

Canine Rescue of North Augusta

Canine Rescue is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation located in North Augusta, South Carolina. We have no employees and are staffed by 4 volunteers; 2 fulltime, 2 part-time. All puppies/dogs are fostered in 1 of 2 private foster homes. We must limit the number of puppy/dog(s) we can foster due to our limited resources. Our team consists of more than 50 years (combined) of "hands on" pet care and training; pre-adoption counseling and post adoption support. We sincerely want to share the opportunity for others to experience the profound lesson in forgiveness, share the gift of unconditional love, and witness first-hand how truly appreciative these dogs are just to be a part of your life. We are a NO KILL organization.

Eunoia rescue

eunoia rescue is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Charleston, SC, dedicated to saving the lives of animals who find themselves at risk of euthanasia in local shelters. The word eunoia means "beautiful thinking" and we are hopeful that you will help us turn this beautiful thought into reality for animals in need.

Hallie Hill Sanctuary

Hallie Hill Animal Sanctuary is a 501c3 that provides a safe haven for animals with no other home or shelter. We prepare animals for adoption by providing respite, rehabilitation and socialization. For those animals whose chances of adoption are reduced due to age, medical or emotional issues, Hallie Hill provides a loving Forever Home with the proper shelter, nutrition and medical care. We can't change an animal's past, but we can rewrite their future. Hallie Hill helps Charleston to achieve the status of a No-Kill Community by working with local shelters and rescues to take in dogs that might not get adopted due to age, medical or behavioral issues.

Charleston Animal Society

About Charleston Animal Society Since 1874, the mission of Charleston Animal Society has always been the prevention of cruelty to animals. Over 15,000 animals will turn to Charleston Animal Society for caring, compassion and hope this year alone. In addition to caring for homeless animals, adopting them into new homes, and reuniting lost pets with their families, the organization responds to animals in crisis as a result of both man-made and natural disasters. The comprehensive shelter medicine program not only provides direct services for as many as 1,200 animals in our system of care at one time, the shelter veterinarians also spay or neuter upwards of 10,000 dogs and cats each year and they provide emergency medical services to critically ill and injured animals arriving at the shelter daily. For more information, visit www.CharlestonAnimalSociety.org.

Libby and Mace's Place Rescue

We are an all breed, all ages, all species animal rescue from dogs, cats, horses, pigs and even birds and chinchillas.

Carolina Coonhound Rescue

Carolina Coonhound Rescue is a small 501c3 non-profit organization located in Charleston, South Carolina, established in 2010. Our goal is to rescue as many mistreated and abandoned hounds as we can. We provide these dogs with medical care, training, compassion, and love until they find their forever families. We are an all-volunteer organization which relies on foster families and donations to help us in this mission. We aim to save more dogs every single year and work hard to make sure we run our organization with integrity and honesty. We want to educate those who have never owned a hound or experienced the loving and goofy personality that makes them our favorite breed.

Berkeley County Animal Shelter

The Berkeley County Animal Shelter is committed to maintain a fiscally-responsible, healthy, safe and loving environment for rescued, abandoned, abused, or neglected animals of Berkeley County where all animals receive appropriate care and attention at all times and are treated with dignity and respect while pursuing the placement of the animals into safe, lifelong homes.

Dorchester Paws

We strive to instill humane principles into society through the prevention of cruelty to animals by championing responsible pet ownership, ending unnecessary euthanasia, and ending over pet population. We are dedicated to reducing pain and fear in our community's animals and are proud to say that our staff and volunteers are fear free certified!

Fostering Foster

Fostering Foster Animal Rescue was founded by Andrea Walker and a close knit group of devoted animal rescuers that were determined to make a difference in their community. Fostering Foster Animal Rescue is a volunteer based nonprofit. We are dedicated to rescuing animals, primarily dogs, that are in southern kill shelters and that are in desperate need of help. We know that spay and neuter is one way to reduce the number of animals on death row in shelters. We primarily collaborate with northern rescues, shelters and animal leagues to save as many lives as possible. We rely solely on foster homes to help us save lives and donations to keep us funded. The more foster homes and supporters that we have the more lives we can save.

Kershaw County Humane Society

The Kershaw County Humane Society is experiencing an alarming number of dogs being surrendered to our facility. We are currently over capacity, but we are working diligently with foster programs and our rescues to keep our admissions department open. To keep this process flowing smoothly will be open for owner surrenders by appointment only so we can properly care and accommodate each new fur-baby coming in.

Pawmetto Lifeline

Pawmetto Lifeline is the only organization with a comprehensive plan to solve the problem of homelessness, as it relates to our companion pets, through education, legislation, adoptions and an aggressive spay/neuter program. With the success of these programs, citizens are enlightened and motivated to be responsible life-long pet owners. With the success of these programs, millions of dollars can be saved that can be used as investments that improve the quality of life for the Midlands.

Darlington County Humane Society

Darlington County Humane Society is a non-profit organization with the mission of promoting humane care of dogs and cats in Darlington County. Provide humane and compassionate care for the abandoned and neglected dogs and cats brought to the Darlington County Animal Shelter. Place shelter pets in safe homes with responsible owners through reclaim, adoption, and rescue services. This includes the screening of potential adopters with the adoption application process, or the placement of animals with reputable rescue organizations by networking, coordination of placement, and providing transportation. Operate the Bridge Transitional Facility for dogs and cats with confirmed rescue or adoption, or those who need time to heal, and to make space available at the shelter for additional intake. Reduce the rate of euthanasia with a goal of becoming a no-kill shelter. Advance the goal of becoming a no-kill shelter by reducing the number of unwanted dogs and cats in Darlington County through education and spay/neuter outreach. Provide coordination and oversight of volunteers to support all aspects of the organization's operations.

Freedom Fences

Anderson, Oconee and Pickens Counties in South Carolina euthanize tens of thousands of dogs every year. Freedom Fences was co-founded in 2010 to try to reduce those numbers. We find ways to educate owners and help them provide better homes and living conditions for their pets. Today we are a 501C(3), tax free, not for profit charity run by volunteers who: Identify dogs living outside on short or encumbered chains, often with inadequate shelter and/or nutrition Offer kennels to owners at no cost, enabling the dog to benefit from freedom of movement within a generous safe space Pre-screen and then follow up to ensure the services we provide are being used according to our agreements with the pet's owners Advocate for strong anti-tethering laws, enforcement of responsible pet ownership and accountability of local civic leaders responsible for animal welfare

Greenville Humane Society

At the Greenville Humane Society, we love and care for each pet as if they were our own. We work hard every day to provide homeless pets with more than just the basics of food and shelter our pets receive daily enrichment, loving attention, and medical care. Beyond adoption, we offer a wide variety of preventative services like vaccinations and spay/neuter to make proper pet care affordable for our community so that all pets can be pets for life.