The Best Georgia Dog Rescues & Shelters in 2026

Southern Style Great Dane rescue

SSGDR is a 501c3 nonprofit organization incorporated under the laws of the State of Tennessee. SSGDR is owned and operated by a Board of Directors and a dedicated group of volunteers. We are a foster home based rescue. We do not have an actual brick and mortar building. Foster homes are located in Alabama, Georgia and Tennessee.

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Madison Oglethorpe animal shelter

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Jasper County Humane Society

We created JCHS in hopes of helping the voiceless in Jasper County, Georgia. Jasper County is a rural town, with an abundance of unaltered pets, with very little community support. Our mission is to not only support our local shelter, with getting the unwanted animals out of our community and into loving homes so euthanizing isn't an option, but to also educate the community on the importance of spay and neutering their pets. The struggle is real as we have no local veterinarians. We try to help citizens with transport and financial burden with those seeking help. Bringing awareness to everyone about the crisis we face, not only as a rural county, but all counties state wide. Laws MUST change AND quickly as the overpopulation of the unwanted is greater than rescues can handle. We are a 501c3 nonprofit organization. ALL proceeds go towards the medical needs of our shelter animals.

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Adopt a Golden Atlanta

Adopt a Golden Atlanta [AGA] is a volunteer, nonprofit organization dedicated to finding warm, loving permanent homes for Golden Retrievers [both purebred and high golden mixes] in order to prevent them from becoming strays or adding to the shelter overpopulation. If a non-golden is best friends with a golden who is surrendered to us, non golden will not be left behind and will accompany the golden into our program and placed with the golden to live together in their new home. Golden Retrievers, regardless of medical needs or age, will receive comprehensive evaluation, spay/neutering services, veterinary care, behavioral training if required, and safe passage into a permanent loving home. In addition to providing those services, Adopt a Golden Atlanta is intent on treating dog owners who are faced with surrendering their dogs with the utmost respect, understanding and compassion. It is also our obligation to educate and assist the metropolitan Atlanta general public, and dog owners specifically, regarding issues such as responsible pet ownership, spay/neutering, obedience training, and veterinary/specialists referrals. Our goal is to reduce the number of Golden Retrievers sent to shelters. AGA will never allow a golden to die in a shelter. AGA relies solely on donations and has a 501(c)(3) classification with the IRS. Your donation is tax deductible. We also meet the requirements for corporate matching, employee giving and volunteer grant programs.

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Fulton County Animal Services

LifeLine Animal Project, a nonprofit ending the shelter euthanasia of healthy and treatable animals, has been managing the Fulton County Animal Services (FCAS) shelter since 2013. FCAS provides humane care for the animals at the shelter, veterinary care including spay/neuters, pet adoptions, animal reclaims, volunteer and foster opportunities and rescue group coordination. Also, we provide field enforcement services through our Animal Services Officers.

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Southeast GSP Rescue

We are a close-knit group of volunteers in AL, FL, GA, MS, NC, SC & TN. We find loving homes for GSPs in need, promote animal welfare & responsible breeding, and educate the public about this incredible breed that has brought us together.

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Tails of Hope

Tails of Hope was founded in 2020 as a 501(c)3 organization but the genesis began long before that. In 2013, their sister organization, Coco’s Cupboard, began partnering with a local group whose mission was to assist military service members and veterans to lead healthy, productive lives. We loved connecting those who are wounded or suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder or Traumatic Brain Injury with ADA-compliant service dogs. Overtime, as our program grew, so began the start of the Tails of Hope journey. As our reputation in the local community grew, it brought many non-veterans in need to their door. Anxious to serve them as well, Tails of Hope Service Dogs was formed. We are now an all-inclusive organization serving anyone who could benefit from a service dog. Tails of Hope dogs do everything from monitoring a diabetic child’s blood sugar, “sweeping a room” for a veteran for PTSD, to helping a young autistic girl cope with bullying in her school.

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Atlanta Humane Society

The Atlanta Humane Society is a no-kill shelter providing sheltering and adoption, veterinary care, and community outreach to the Atlanta Metro. As one of the oldest charities in Atlanta, Georgia, we have been caring for our community and animals for more than 148 years.

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Thomasville Humane

Thomasville Humane is a charitable organization committed to promoting the humane treatment of animals through a variety of means, including adoption programs, foster care programs, spay and neuter services, and community education projects with the long-term goal of eliminating unwarranted euthanasia.

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bullpenrescue

Located in the green rolling hills of Northeast Georgia, The Bullpen provides assistance and sanctuary for giant breed dogs and other vulnerable companion animals. We believe that by integrating grassroots community education and outreach, coalition building, support for existing animal welfare efforts, and our own independent rescue operations, we can eliminate needless euthanasia and improve the overall health and well-being of our four-legged friends.

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Hands to Paws Rescue

We are a grassroots organization that begin with incorporation in 2015. Organized initially by Kathryn Ellis with friends and family that were concerned about the animal situation in the CSRA. The group received initial Non-profit status in September 2016 and have been GA Dept of Agriculture licensed since 2016. We have NO PHYSICAL FACILITY as we are a foster home rescue! To this day the rescue continues to be an All-volunteer, non-paid Board of Directors. All activities are volunteer-based and the rescue is an All-donation (or grant) based funding rescue!

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Project Freedom RIde

Providing a much-needed service to dogs in need is the driving force behind PFR. We are their trusted companions in this life-changing journey from danger to safety. We are 100% donation driven and make anywhere from 1 - 2 transport trips per month thanks to everyone's support.

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PAWS Humane Society

Paws Humane is a private 501(c)3 nonprofit organization whose mission is to keep pets out of the shelter system and in loving homes. Our vision is to serve as an Animal Resource Center uniting people and pets, building partnerships, and creating solutions to become a no-kill community. Established in 2009, Paws Humane Society stands as a private 501(c)3 nonprofit organization with a profound commitment to enhancing the well-being of both animals and humans. Our unwavering dedication to providing vital animal services makes us a cornerstone of our community, tracing our origins back to 1969 when Colonel Syd Sacerdote laid the foundation for the first animal shelter in Muscogee County known as the Muscogee County Humane Society. In 1999, a passionate group of animal advocates came together to form PAWS Columbus. A decade later, the merger of these two dedicated groups gave rise to Paws Humane, Inc., also known as Paws Humane Society. Paws Humane is an independent organization and does not receive support from United Way. Instead, we rely wholeheartedly on the generous contributions from local foundations and individuals in our community.

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Friends to the Forlorn Pitbull Rescue, Inc

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Dekalb County Animal Services

The animal shelter of DeKalb County Animal Services (DCAS) is managed by LifeLine Animal Project, a nonprofit organization working to end shelter euthanasia. LifeLine provides humane care for the animals at the shelter, veterinary care including spay/neuters, pet adoptions, animal reclaims, volunteers, foster homes and rescue group coordination.

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German Shepherd Dog of Georgia

It all began in 2004. We started this rescue effort in an effort to help German Shepherds find better homes. Since then, we have helped hundreds of German Shepherds find loving companions. Using the homes of other volunteers, we have continued our mission to find homes for German Shepherds in Metro Atlanta and North Georgia

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Friends to the Forlorn

Friends to the Forlorn Pitbull Rescue, Inc. is a volunteer-based 501(c)3 rescue and community outreach organization. Our mission is to promote responsible pitbull ownership, provide breed education, combat pet overpopulation, fight unfair legislation, find qualified homes for sound pitbull-type dogs and other dogs in need in Georgia, and help people and animals within our community.

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Angels Among Us Pet Rescue

Angels Among Us Pet Rescue (Angels Rescue) was founded in February 2009 by a small group of individuals committed to saving the growing numbers of unwanted, abandoned, abused, and stray dogs and cats in animal control facilities and other at-risk situations across Georgia. With the help of donors, fosters, and other volunteers, in just ten years, this organization has saved the lives of over 20,000 dogs, cats, puppies, and kittens. Our efforts are funded by tax-deductible contributions from compassionate people and organizations who care. The mission of Angels Among Us Pet Rescue is to 'Rescue One Until There Are None' and dog by dog, and cat by cat, we strive to live this philosophy every day. To achieve the ultimate goal of our mission, we focus on: (1) saving as many animals as we can from shelters and through owner surrenders, seeing each animal through every step of the process from the actual rescue freedom ride to the loving foster home and ultimately to the 'forever' home they were meant to have. (2) raising awareness to educate the public on the plight of animals that have found themselves in Georgia's shelters or have suffered neglect or abuse in order to underscore the responsibilities of pet ownership and to advocate to be the voices of these animals, some of whom have suffered unimaginable cruelty and abuse.

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Pulled From Wreckage Ranch & Rescue

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North Georgia animal alliance

North Georgia Animal Alliance, Inc., is a 501(c)(3) organization comprised of volunteers. We operate on the financial support of donations, grants and corporate sponsors.

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Best Friends Humane Society

Best Friends Humane Society is a private, non-profit organization. Our goals include providing shelt

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South Georgia Equine Rescue Inc

We are a small rescue in South Ga taking in all animals from cats and dogs to horses and sheep. We try to spay and neuter community dogs as people will allow and educate to help prevent these issues from continuing for years to come.

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Renegade Paws Rescue

Renegade Paws Rescue is a 501(c)(3) volunteer based organization dedicated to providing the highest level of care for unwanted, abused, or injured dogs in the Coastal Empire and surrounding areas.

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Southern Comfort Animal Rescue, Inc.

outhern Comfort Animal Rescue, Inc. (SoCo Rescue) is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization that rescues and re-homes abused, unwanted, and abandoned companion animals. We primarily house dogs of all breeds, ages, shapes and sizes, and occasionally offer cats for adoption as well. We are a small rescue and the only resource for homeless dogs in a rural county of Georgia.

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TMMA Farms & Sanctuary

Rescuing for years and mainly livestock animals, we have now become a 501C3 non profit sanctuary along with our farm. With this side, we can continue our efforts to rescue mainly special needs livestock or that special second chance animal. Some may have special medical needs, some may need some basic training or many just need a safe haven to live out the rest of their lives. As we grow and continue to maintain our current rescues, care is 24/7 and requires everyday upkeep, feeding, haying, hoof care, medical supplies and everyday special care for our special needs kids. We also have vet care when a special rescue comes in with major issues or problems. We continue our efforts with advancing our pastures and structures as we can. Our sanctuary section of the farm is home to llamas, alpacas, donkeys, sheep, goats, pigs, cows, chickens and even all our family dogs have found us. 100% of all our donations are 100% tax deductible and go directly for the continuing care of our rescue animals and any future ones that we feel we can add if there is enough space, time and funds available.

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