where to start

You want to rescue, GREAT! We thank you :)

Please keep in mind that adding a dog to your family is a time and patience commitment and there will be an adjustment period.

Below is information that can be useful when starting the process of adopting a dog since there are so many places you can start looking for your new family member. In the dropdown menu above, you can access the Local Rescues and Shelters page with direct links.

What's the difference between a shelter and a rescue?

Shelters are physical places that house homeless animals and are typically funded by local governments. Rescue groups are run by volunteers who find temporary homes for animals, many of whom are from shelters, until they are adopted. They operate solely on donations. During a dog's time in their foster home, rescues provide medical care and often times connect dogs and their foster homes with services like training.

The adoption process will be very similar, with an interview, references, and other documentation required. Shelter adoption fees can sometimes be lower since most shelters partner with local governments, and some also offer discounted fees on older or other hard-to-adopt pets. Shelters are also typically able to process adoptions more quickly because they have paid staff and the dogs are already on-site ready to go to their new homes. Since rescues are volunteer run, the process may take a little longer since it will include the volunteer who processes your application as well as the foster family who is hosting the dog. Luckily, that also means the foster family has given the dog some practice being in a home, and the foster family can also provide extra details on the dog's personality and preferences. But in both scenarios, the dog will be up to date on medical care and will have had basic behavioral assessments completed, so it's fine to focus on finding a dog you love over which type of adoption you go through!

Can I rescue a specific breed?

Yes! We've included breed specific rescues on our Local Rescues and Shelters page, but all dogs are individuals, and rescuing a specific breed will not guarantee that dog will possess specific stereotyped characteristics.

My child/partner/mother-in-law is allergic to dogs,

are there ever hypoallergenic dogs available for adoption?

The promise that hypoallergenic dogs exist is exciting, but they aren't real. There are, however, certain breeds of dogs that are less likely to shed and trigger allergies. You can read more here.