The Best Arkansas Dog Rescues & Shelters in 2026

Union County Animal Protection Society

UCAPS provides temporary humane care, food, shelter and medical attentions for Union County, Arkansas stray, homeless, abandoned and abused animals.

Rescue Road

Rescue Road is a 100% volunteer-run, foster-based, 501(c)3 nonprofit in Central Arkansas. Shelters across our state have high euthanasia rates, and we aim to relieve pressure on rural, high-intake areas to help lower those rates. We are dedicated to saving abandoned and neglected dogs from our core shelter partners: Pine Bluff, West Memphis, Hazen, Carlisle, Dewitt, and Stuttgart. We also assist law enforcement with special cases as needed. In 2023, Rescue Road sent 580 dogs to safety. Since the rescue's inception in 2012, we have saved more than 8,500 dogs and counting.

Friends of the animal village

Friends of the Animal Village (FAV), is a nonprofit organization in Little Rock, Arkansas. We provide supplemental support to our city's shelter, the Little Rock Animal Village. FAV accepts donations and hosts fundraisers throughout the year, and we are dedicated to raising awareness about the Village, increasing adoptions, and improving the quality of life for the animals in LRAV's loving care.

NovaStar Rescue

NovaStar Rescue is a small, predominantly foster-based, rescue in Dover, Arkansas. We are not breed specific but our main focus has always been to save, educate, and advocate for the pitties. Whether our dogs are rescued from the streets or saved from a shelter, we firmly believe that every dog deserves a chance to have a good home where they can be a loved and cherished member of the family.

Last chance Arkansas

In 2005 Last Chance Arkansas was founded as a 100% volunteer based 501(c)3 nonprofit organization based out of Central Arkansas. Last Chance AR believes in advocating for the abused, abandoned, and neglected animals across the state that cannot speak for themselves. Working in conjunction with various clinics, Last Chance AR travels statewide to urban and rural communities to provide comfort, safety, and love to animals in need. Hundreds of lives have been saved through our efforts, which include a spay and neuter program for impoverished pet owners, frequent visits to rescue animals from shelters suffering from a desperate lack of funding, and the complete inability for any of our patient and dedicated volunteers to turn down a creature in need. We serve as a resource to our community and local pet owners by providing education and information on responsible pet ownership including the importance of spay/neuter, positive behavior training and good nutrition. We work with committed volunteers, veterinarians, fosters, and trainers to provide health care and temporary homes to animals deserving of another chance. Our number one priority is ensuring the health of all of our dogs and carefully screening and well matching ‚furever homes.

Fort Smith Animal Haven

Established in 2019 and rebranded in 2022, Fort Smith Animal Haven began with the primary goal of meeting the needs of an ever-growing, unwanted pet population in our area. Our founders were compelled to create a place offering comfort and refuge with high-quality medical treatment to prepare animals for adoption. This would be a place that extended far beyond what a standard shelter or pound could provide a true solution for the long haul. Our Achievements Since opening our doors, Fort Smith Animal Haven has aided and facilitated the adoption of nearly 8,000 animals and counting. Thousands of animals are no longer at risk, no longer on the street, and now have a forever home because of our organization. Full of passionate people working together towards a shared mission, Fort Smith Animal Haven is creating a brighter future for the animals of Fort Smith. Our Future Serving as the designated facility for animals picked up by Fort Smith Animal Services, our demand is at an all-time high. A recent, generous land donation from the Arkansas Colleges of Health Education has created the opportunity for expansion, with enough to build Fort Smith Animal Haven its own forever home. With plans for indoor/outdoor access for dogs, in-house surgery, separate buildings to house cats and dogs, greeting rooms for pets and their adoptive families to meet, and music throughout the kennels, these new headquarters will increase current capacity considerably.

Bella Vista Animal Shelter

City of Springdale Animal Services

Rogers Animal Services

Since 2010, Rogers Animal Services has had a major impact on the community. By putting into practice a form of progressive animal control that is focused on reuniting lost pets with their families, Rogers Animal Services, has greatly reduced the number of animals that have been brought to the shelter every year since 2010. This has led to the shelter being able to maintain a 100% Lives Saved rate. This means that any dog or cat that we have come into contact with has either been reunited with its home, been adopted, sent to rescue or is still at the shelter waiting to find it’s forever home.

Washington County Animal Shelter

Arkansas Weimaraner Rescue

Recycled Rovers Rescue at Southwest Pet Hospital

Dr. Wendell founded Recycled Rovers Rescue in 2011. She is honored to say Southwest Pet Hospital is the home to Recycled Rovers Rescue. Recycled Rovers rescues dogs in need from high kill shelters and brings them to safety until they can be adopted into their forever homes.

Decatur Animal Shelter

Animal League of Washington County

The Animal League of Washington County was founded in 2011. The League is dedicated to promoting animal welfare in Washington County. Our programs include: Medical Rehabilitation, Rescue/Transport, Animal Cruelty/Neglect Investigations, Low Cost Spay/Neuter, Hungry Hearts Pet Food Bank, and Capital Improvement & Equipment Fund. The Animal League of Washington County is dedicated to improving the lives of pets and their people in Washington County, as well as serving the community as a resource for animal-related questions and issues.

Humane Society for Animals Inc.

Humane Society of the Ozarks

Since 1946 The Humane Society of the Ozarks (HSO) has been serving the people and animals of Northwest Arkansas. Outreach & Community Our Outreach Program provides financial assistance to individuals who would otherwise be unable to provide veterinary care for their pets in emergency situations. Adopting pets Our cruelty investigations & removal of animals from abusive, neglectful & hoarding situations allows us to rescue animals who have been subjected to horrific conditions, provide them with the necessary veterinary care & rehabilitate them physically, socially & emotionally with the sole goal of having them move into safe, secure & loving forever homes.

Big Dog Rescue Project

Big Dog Rescue Project, or BDRP, is a small close knit group of independent dog rescuers that came together to form an organization devoted to saving dogs from the multitudes of high kill shelters in the DFW area. We specialize in saving large breed types and re-homing in the North East where there is less overflow and a high volume of qualified adopters. We are all volunteers, each with our own strengths, and all devoted to the cause of improving the quality of life for those dogs discarded and forgotten. We are a 501c3 organization so all contributions are tax deductible .

Good Shepherd Humane Society

Since 1974 Good Shepherd Humane Society has proudly served the needs of local strays in Eureka Springs, AR. Whether educating the community on spaying and neutering their pets or caring for homeless animals in our animal shelter, we do all we can to help. As the only no-kill shelter in Carroll County, we’re solely supported by the caring donations and funding provided by our community. Good Shepherd has come a long way from its founding 50 years ago. It has had its up and downs and sometimes struggled to find its way, but we could not be prouder of the good it has done or the effective, professional organization that it has become. We owe this success to every person who has supported us over the years and with the continued support of our community we will reach even greater heights The work we do here at Good Shepherd is NOT taxpayer funded.

Siloam Springs Animal Shelter

The Siloam Springs Animal Shelter is a dedicated facility that offers temporary care and protection for animals in need, including dogs, cats, and other pets. By addressing pet abandonment and overpopulation issues, the Siloam Springs Animal Shelter plays a vital role in the community. Through education about responsible pet ownership and careful screening processes, the shelter facilitates adoptions and strives to find permanent homes for its residents.

The Humane Society of Saline County

The Humane Society of Saline County was founded on June 19, 1975, and received its charter from the state of Arkansas in August of that year. The organization's objectives are: * To provide a temporary refuge for stray, homeless and deserted animals and to place such animals in good homes wherever practical. * To receive and care for suffering animals. * To prevent all forms of cruelty to animals by every legitimate means. * To carry humane education, in all possible ways, into schools and homes of Saline County. * To return lost pets to their rightful owners upon reasonable proof of ownership within a reasonable period of time and upon payment of a reasonable fee, as established by the society's board of directors, with such fee to be based on costs of maintenance and care. * To end suffering, in a humane manner, of any animals for which it is not possible to cure its infirmities. Decisions of this nature are made with the advice of a qualified Doctor of Veterinary Medicine. * To meet the moral obligations of disease control and population control through humane methods--spaying and neutering. * To not allow anything in the management of the society to interfere with receiving the full support of all persons, regardless of race, religion or political persuasion. The Humane Society of Saline County is a (501)(c)(3) non-profit organization. It is located at 7600 Highway 183 in Bauxite, Arkansas. You can reach the shelter by calling 501-557-5518. Please mail any correspondence or donations to P.O. Box 305, Benton, AR, 72018-0305.

Dogs Adoption Network

We are an organization committed to funding spaying & neutering procedures and finding homes for dogs while working closely with shelters and rescues. Our priority is to combat the large-scale problem of overpopulation & euthanasia by educating, advocating, funding, and getting shelter & rescue dogs exposure within the community. If you are a business and would like to open up your facility for us to host an adoption event, please reach out! If you are an individual needing assistance finding a home for a dog, visit our "Resources" page for more information.

Paws & Claws Pet Shelter

Our History: The effort to provide a shelter for abandoned pets in Madison County began in the late 1980s from a grassroots effort of several citizens who were concerned about stray cats and dogs in the county. In 1997, the group registered as a non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation. In 1998, the county gave the MCPS permission to build a shelter on the county-owned land south of the Recycling Center. The shelter building became a reality because of so many in Madison County. Because of money donations, materials and lots of labor put in by skilled craftsmen the shelter was created. The fall of 2014 the Madison County Pet Shelter, Inc. board voted for our name change and that is when Paws and Claws Pet Shelter became about.

Heber Springs Humane Society

The Artemis Project

The Artemis Project Inc 501c3 is dedicated to the rescue and rehab of all homeless animals in the River Valley. Our community’s support has inspired our mission and we are excited to serve the River Valley and its animals!

Boone County Animal Services

Boone County Animal Services is a government owned and operated animal control facility, certified and inspected by the State of Illinois. It is funded by dog registrations, fines and fees.

My Zouy Rescue/NEA Veterinary Clinic

MyZouy Rescue is a safe place for animals in need, we take care of all their needs until they are ready to be adopted out. While here, we feed them, give them a cool or warm place to stay, give them their vaccinations, and we spay or neuter them.

McCrory Animal Rescue

Tails Of The Forgotten Paws Inc.

TOTFP/AR visits are by scheduled appointment only. TOTFP/IL We are solely foster dependent. Meet and greet must be scheduled by appointment or you may visit us every other SAT at Pet Supply Plus in Algonquin. You MUST first have an approved application on file to schedule. Tails of the Forgotten Paws Inc is a 501c3 no kill, non profit sanctuary/rescue dedicated to saving lives and providing forever homes for unwanted and unloved dogs and cats. We are also a sanctuary for troubled unadoptable dogs. Those misunderstood and given up on by society. We see their worth and their desire to LIVE as well as their RIGHT to live. We also have a senior and hospice area where we take them in and give them comfort and love until its time to say goodbye. Tails is ONE rescue with two locations, Ar and IL. Together we make a whole. Our sanctuary and intake/rescue facility is in Arkansas. Our adoption and foster program is in Illinois where there, we are solely foster based. We do not actively adopt out dogs in Ar. Arkansas is where we rescue, rehabilitate medically and mentally if needed, get them healthy, vetted and ready for homes. Those that are adoptable, we then place them up for adoption or foster commitment in Illinois. We have two pickups/transports per month, every other weekend, usually at PetSmart in Hoffman Estates where fosters and adopters meet us to pick up the fur kiddos. We also have two adoption events per month at Pet Supply Plus in Lake in the Hills for our fur kiddos in our foster program in Illinois. We are a jack of all trades in the rescue world and try to help any and all we can in every way we are able. We have a beautiful small team of dedicated members who work tirelessly, day in and day out, saving lives. If we are able to do it, and there is any way possible, WE DO!!! . :)

Humane Society of North Central Arkansas

NEA Humane Society

We are a 501c non-profit animal shelter helping to place surrendered or abandoned animals into loving homes across NEA. Just as our motto states, we encourage you to help us help them through many ways of giving. Adopting a sheltered animal is such a beautiful way to not only save a pet's life but add a loving member to your family. Founded in 1971, Northeast Arkansas Humane Society is a 501c non-profit animal shelter devoted to placing surrendered or abandoned pets into loving homes. For years, our commitment has been to ensure that every animal has food, shelter and comfort as we transition them into new homes. We're so proud of the work we do in giving a voice to animals. We believe that adoption is one of the noblest ways to become a pet parent. Without our facility, many cats and dogs would go without the help they need. It is through donations, volunteers and the open-hearts of NEA residents that we give these furbabies the chance they deserve.