The Best Cedar Rapids, IA Dog Rescues & Shelters in 2026

Dogs Forever of Iowa (DBA DOGS FOREVER)

Dogs Forever is dedicated to rescuing homeless, abused, and neglected dogs of all breeds, sizes, and ages with a special emphasis on those deemed ‚hard-to-place. As an Adoption Guarantee shelter, all dogs will stay in our care until we have found their forever homes.

Critter Crusaders of Cedar Rapids

Critter Crusaders of Cedar Rapids is a 501c3, all volunteer non-profit organization that has been in operation since 2008 and is made up of a Board of Directors and volunteers. Critter Crusaders provides advanced medical and surgical treatment with life and limb saving procedures to restore health and adoptability for the local homeless animals. We also work with rescues and shelters to facilitate placements for homeless animals as an alternative to euthanasia.

Cedar Valley Humane Society

The CVHS has spent more than 100 years working to be at the forefront of animal sheltering and welfare. It is also a regional leader in helping at-risk families with pets stay together. In the last two years, the shelter has helped over 8,000 animals that might otherwise be surrendered to a shelter through its low-cost vaccine clinics and free pet food bank. It also provides many unique services such as the Humane Education Program. This program provides staff and volunteers the ability to educate students both in and out of the classroom and engage the leaders of tomorrow about the humane treatment of animals. ​ The CVHS provides animal control services to cities and towns in Linn, Johnson and Benton Counties as well as the unincorporated areas of Linn County. Bypassing the traditional “dog catcher” model of other shelters, the CVHS instead works closely with the communities it serves to quickly reunite lost pets with their families at a more economical cost than city or county-run animal control services. HISTORY The Cedar Valley Humane Society (CVHS) was established in 1901 as the Humane Society of the City of Cedar Rapids. The original shelter was located on Griffith Farm, and early cases involved cruelty and abuse of women, children, the elderly, horses, cattle, dogs, and cats. Investigations involving women, children, and the elderly were eventually dropped from society’s list of objectives, and in 1921, the organization changed its name to the Linn County Humane Society.​ By 1923, the need for a permanent shelter became apparent, and a fundraising campaign began. In 1928, a property was purchased at 700 C Avenue NE for $3,000. This served as headquarters for the society until 1968, when the organization built its current facility at 7411 Mt. Vernon Rd SE. In 1991, the organization changed its name again, this time to the Cedar Valley Humane Society.

Cedar Rapids Animal Care & Control

Cedar Rapids Animal Care & Control is an "open admission" shelter with a small staff and corps of volunteers who help care for more than 3,000 animals per year. The shelter accepts all animals brought to us from the city of Cedar Rapids. We work collaboratively with foster and rescue teams to ensure that our animals are either reunited with their owners or are placed in new, loving homes. You can view a list of the many wonderful pets we have available for adoption by visiting our PetFinder website at http://www.petfinder.com/shelters/IA125.html. Cedar Rapids Animal Care & Control has partnered with Hill's!!! We are pleased to announce that Cedar Rapids Animal Care & Control has partnered with Hill's Science Diet and their Food, Shelter, Love Program. Cedar Rapids Animal Care & Control will now be able to provide high quality Science Diet food to all of our animals at an affordable cost! Please read more about this exciting program and Science Diet foods by clicking on the logos in the upper right.

Dogs Forever of Iowa

Dogs Forever is a great organization, run entirely by volunteers. We are passionate about our dogs and work tirelessly to take great care of them, and also to make sure their next home is their forever home. When we take a dog in, we take care of them as long as is necessary to find them the right match in terms of family and environment. Dogs Forever is dedicated to rescuing homeless, abused, and neglected dogs of all breeds, sizes, and ages with a special emphasis on those deemed “hard-to-place”. As an Adoption Guarantee shelter, all dogs will stay in our care until we have found their forever homes. At Dogs Forever we need your support so we can: • Find homes for great dogs. • Raise enough money to cover the expenses for the shelter (vet care, food, rent and electric bills). • Grow our programs and events and expand our role in the pet rescue community.