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The Best Houston, TX Dog Rescues & Shelters in 2024

David Adams

June 25, 2024

Dog Rescues & Shelters

This list showcases the top dog rescues & shelters in Houston, TX. These remarkable organizations have been recognized for their unwavering dedication to the well-being of countless dogs. We've compiled this list by gathering heartfelt testimonials from both the Sniffspot community and the wider public, ensuring a comprehensive perspective on these exceptional shelters.

Friends For Life Animal Shelter
#30 in United States, #2 in Texas
Houston
We're here for the undercat and underdog, regardless of their breed, age or condition. Houston-grown, we're here to help our neighbors care for the pets they love. We're not done until every animal has a safe home. Until then, we'll be innovating, improving and tracking results to find the most effective ways to save lives.
"We adopted our dog Rocket - FKA Wyatt - from friends for life mid-covid and loved the experience. We were..."
— lauren r.
Adoptee, Supporter, Fan
"They had a plan in place to help animals stay with their people at our big convention center after Hurricane..."
— jennifer t.
Adoptee, Supporter

THREE LITTLE PITTIES RESCUE
#33 in United States, #4 in Texas
Houston
Three Little Pitties Rescue is a non-profit, 501c3 all-breed dog and cat rescue dedicated to saving animals out of desperate situations, primarily in the Houston, Texas area. From 2018 to 2024 the rescue has saved 13,000+ animals and delivered them to better lives up north.
"We have fostered with many different agencies and three little pitties has been the absolute best in terms of support..."
— sara t.
Volunteer / foster
"The care 3LP to make sure their rescues are placed in the perfect home is outstanding. I am amazed at..."
— theresa c.
Adoptee

Donna's love pet rescue
#43 in United States, #5 in Texas
Houston
Our charitable, tax-exempt mission is to save as many lives as possible by giving homeless and lost animals a warm and special touch to show them that they are loved so they can trust again and return that love. I served in the military (Navy) from 1989 till 1993. My passion in life has always been to work with and care for animals. I have 7 dogs of my own (Palen, Rocsco, BK, Chico, Beau, Star and Annie). All of my dogs, except Palen, were found and taken in by my facility, The Dog House Pet Salon. If I could take every rescue home with me, I would. We have taken in over 290 homeless and lost animals since we opened our doors for business at The Dog house Pet Salon in 2009. We have re-homed 289 of them. Dash has been with us for one year. Dash needs a little more training to become confident and trust humans again. If I cannot re-home one of my loved ones, they will stay with me and live a good life. We believe that every lost animal with a microchip, rabies id/vet tag number or a name tag should be able to be identified and the parents contacted in a matter of seconds. We created the innovative My Pet Credentials mobile app for that very reason ‚an easy to use digital platform to empower the parents of lost pets with a means to find their lost pet quickly and efficiently without the need of calling, faxing or emailing. Pet owners, pet salons, rescue shelters and veterinarians can download the MPC app or register at www.mypetcredentials.com. The cost to pet owners is $16.99 annually. The platform is free for pet salons, rescue shelters and veterinarians. I am most proud of the lost and found function that is part of the MPC pet service platform. Pet owners enter the microchip number or rabies id/vet tag number in their pet's profile. If someone finds the pet, they can use the MPC mobile app or go to www.mpclost.com to identify the lost pet by entering any one of three tracking numbers. The MPC platform will immediately display: A picture of the pet (front, left and right Image) The pet's name, age, gender, breed, color and markings The pet's most current vaccinations A button to contact the owner who will receive a text, email and mobile app notification with the good Samaritan‚ name, phone number, email and message When someone finds a pet, MPC‚ lost and found function assists in reuniting the lost pet with their family, quickly and efficiently, by giving the Samaritan the ability to enter the lost pet's name, age, gender, breed, color and any markings along with any microchip, rabies id or vet tag number (tracking numbers) and upload an image of the lost pet. Once the tracking information has been entered by the Samaritan the family of the lost pet will be able to go to our universal lost and found website, www.mpclost.com, to input their pet's tracking information and our platform will display to the family an image of their pet, the pet's name as reported by the good Samaritan, age, gender, breed, color and any markings and the name, address and phone number where the pet can be reunited with their family. This innovative process reunites lost pets found with a microchip or rabies id or vet tag number with their families quickly and efficiently by eliminating the need to post lost and found flyers or waste time calling animal shelters, city pounds or veterinarians to locate their lost pet. I could go on about all the features of the MPC platform such as transfer of ownership, vaccination records storage, vaccination reminders and scheduling appointments with your pet salon. We created Donna's Love Pet Rescue for people who want to help end homelessness for animals and provide an easy to use digital platform to help identify pets, contact owners of lost pets quickly and efficiently and allow owners of lost pets with a microchip or rabies id or vet tag number to be registered with MPC for a quick and joyous reunion! The donation we receive from you helps with. Vetting Food Training Fostering Transportation Spay and neuter Our goal is also to educate the community on the importance of spay and neutering, having dogs vetted and properly trained and provided with appropriate identification markers. Animals are family too. To make a tax-deductible donation by mail: Donna's Love Pet Rescue 5917 Richmond Ave. Houston, TX 77057
"I started the animal programs at the local fire department and Donna’s Love has been part of it all from..."
— tracee e.
Supporter
"Donnas Love Rescue is rescuing dogs from the mean and overcrowded streets of Houston every day. Teresa is a tireless..."
— julie e.
Volunteer / foster

Texas Sled Dog Rescue
#79 in United States, #6 in Texas
Husky
Houston
Texas Sled Dog Rescue is a small rescue focusing on finding fur-ever homes for sled dog types (Siberian huskies and Alaskan Malamutes, and mixes). While in rescue, we will place them in foster homes, provide basic training as needed, and vetting which includes vaccinations, spay or neuter, microchip and other medical services as needed. Our volunteers are involved in all facets of rescue including but not limited to fundraising, transporting, evaluating dogs, respresenting the rescue at local dog events, fostering, etc.
"They really care about the dogs in their care and try their best to find the great homes."
— wendy j.
Supporter
"Two years ago the end of this month my Rowdy popped up on my Facebook feed as having less than..."
— paul g.
Supporter, Fan

Caitie's Foster Fam Rescue
#218 in United States, #18 in Texas
Houston
Founded in May 2021, we are a non-profit 501(c)3 rescue made up of animal-loving individuals. Our team consists of animal rescuers who have been making a difference in the lives of homeless pets for over a decade. We each started as volunteers and fosters, specializing in medical needs cases. Because of the high demand for more medical fosters and rescuers, we decided to join together and start our own non-profit rescue. We are an entirely foster-based organization, so we do not have a physical shelter. All animals are kept in loving foster homes. Our founder, Caitie, has been fostering medical cases in the Houston area for over ten years.
"Love this organization"
— alexandra s.
Supporter
"Working full time and spending all the extra time rescuing."
— blair l.
Supporter

What's the Sniffspot Houston Top Dog Rescue & Shelter List About?

Welcome to the 2024 Houston, TX Sniffspot Top Dog Rescue & Shelter List, highlighting the top rescues and shelters in Houston, TX chosen by the Sniffspot community and the public.

This list is sponsored by Sniffspot, the largest global network of private dog parks. Sniffspot offers 16 private dog parks in the Houston area, including fenced, water, indoor, and beach parks. As a hub for rescue dogs, our sponsorship underscores our dedication to supporting shelters and rescues. Explore Houston dog parks on Sniffspot's platform.

Get safe exercise for your dog by renting a private dog park near you

See The Best Dog Rescues & Shelters In Other Cities Near Houston

See The Best Dog Rescues & Shelters In Other States Near Texas

Ordered alphabetically, only included states where there is enough data to compile a list

See The Best Dog Rescues & Shelters By Type In Houston

Sniffspot Houston Dog Rescues & Shelters Frequently Asked Questions

How many dog rescues and shelters operate in Houston?

There are 16 in Houston. Outside of Houston, there are 55 located in Texas.

What are the most reputable dog rescues and shelters in Houston?

There are many reputable rescues in Houston, the top 3 on our list are: Friends For Life Animal Shelter, THREE LITTLE PITTIES RESCUE, Donna's love pet rescue.

What specialized services do dog rescues and shelters in Houston offer?

The most common specialization for dog rescues and shelters in Houston is German Shepherd with 1 focusing on it. The second most common specialization is Husky with 1 focusing on it.

How can I adopt a rescue dog in Houston?

Using our list of the top dog rescues and shelters, you can find a reputable shelter in Houston. The adoption policies of each shelter varies and you can find information on the shelter profile page. Here is an example adoption policy:
To adopt a pet from Friends For Life, you must:Be 21+ years of ageHave a legal form of photo IDBe able to spend the time and resources necessary to provide the training, medical treatment, and proper care for your petBe allowed to have a pet of the breed and size where you currently live

Are there any breed-specific dog rescues and shelters in Houston?

Yes! Houston has the following types of breed-specific dog rescues and shelters: German Shepherd Husky

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David Adams

June 25, 2024

Dog Rescues & Shelters

David Adams

About the author

David Adams is a man of many passions, but his love for dogs stands above all. He is not only a dog lover, but also the founder of an innovative platform called Sniffspot. This unique platform connects dog owners with private property owners who are willing to rent out their space for off-leash playtime. While the idea of Sniffspot was initially conceived by his wife, Rebecca, David has been the driving force behind its remarkable success, tirelessly overseeing its growth and development. David's dedication to providing safe and enjoyable spaces for dogs to play, explore, and socialize is evident in his unwavering commitment to Sniffspot. He strongly believes that dogs need ample space and opportunities to stretch their legs and have fun. As a result, he has worked tirelessly to build a network of private property owners across the country who share his vision and are willing to offer their space for the benefit of dogs and their owners. Despite his busy schedule, David always finds time to indulge in his passion for the great outdoors. He loves nothing more than exploring new hiking trails and embarking on thrilling outdoor adventures. Whenever he is not working on Sniffspot, he can often be found hiking or visiting multi-acre fenced sniffspots with his two beloved dogs, Soba and Toshii. He is an avid outdoorsman who enjoys the fresh air, breathtaking scenery, and the sense of freedom that comes with being in nature. David is based in Salem, MA.

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About Sniffspot

Sniffspot provides the best experiences and fun for you and your dog. Our dog parks are designed for the ultimate dog exercise. Our private spaces help you minimize distractions or triggers and maximize time with your dog. We provide off leash enrichment - exploration and activities you can't get anywhere else; wear your dog out for days. We make it easy to have playdates. Socialize your pup in a controlled, private spot - it's great exercise and it's fun for you and your dog.

The Best Houston, TX Dog Rescues & Shelters in 2024

Friends For Life Animal Shelter

THREE LITTLE PITTIES RESCUE

Donna's love pet rescue

Texas Sled Dog Rescue

Caitie's Foster Fam Rescue

What's the Sniffspot Houston Top Dog Rescue & Shelter List About?

See The Best Dog Rescues & Shelters In Other Cities Near Houston

See The Best Dog Rescues & Shelters In Other States Near Texas

See The Best Dog Rescues & Shelters By Type In Houston

Sniffspot Houston Dog Rescues & Shelters Frequently Asked Questions

How many dog rescues and shelters operate in Houston?

What are the most reputable dog rescues and shelters in Houston?

What specialized services do dog rescues and shelters in Houston offer?

How can I adopt a rescue dog in Houston?

Are there any breed-specific dog rescues and shelters in Houston?

David Adams

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