The Best Los Angeles, CA Dog Rescues & Shelters in 2026

Tofu's Dream World

Tofu’s Dream World is a foster-based dog rescue located in Los AngeleS, CA. We rescue dogs from high-kill shelters throughout California and place them in loving, qualified foster homes until a perfect, forever home is found. All medical care is provided and every dog is vaccinated, rehabilitated, and spayed or neutered before leaving our rescue. Tofu’s Dream World was founded by JEN DODARO, a freelance ART DIRECTOR and animal advocate. After years of volunteering with local rescues and regularly visiting and networking dogs at high-kill shelters, it became evident that the shelter crisis in california is far from over. with tofu’s dream world we will do everything in our power to bring awareness to this crisis, while helping as many dogs as we can in the process.

LaBelle Foundation

A beacon of hope in the realm of animal welfare. Our foundation is dedicated to transforming lives through responsible pet ownership education, spaying, and neutering initiatives, vaccination advocacy, and comprehensive dog training. We confront the challenges within the rescue community head-on, driven by a resolute mission to put an end to dog homelessness. Aligned with our mission, we champion accessible veterinary care. Our support has extended to sponsoring spay and neuter clinics across California and Mexico, with ongoing plans to broaden our reach. Our unwavering commitment includes partnering with affordable specialty veterinary clinics and addressing the critical need for accessible and affordable care through advocacy and legislation. As we continue to evolve, our unwavering focus remains on the core tenets that define us. Our journey is built upon the principles of rescuing, rehabilitating, and advocating for dogs, particularly with neonatal orphans needing intensive care, medical/special needs animals, and nursing mother-and-babies. Our foundation stands upon pillars that encompass rescuing animals in need, educating the community on responsible pet care, facilitating forever homes, fostering a supportive community, and prioritizing the overall well-being of animals.

Paws For Life K9 Rescue

Paws For Life K9 Rescue saves and transforms the lives of animals and people through innovative canine-centered programs that provide purpose, support, and opportunity through the Prison/Re-Entry, People & Pet Innovation Center, First Responder and PTSD Support, Adoptions, Transports, and Vet Tech Program.

Angel City Pit Bulls

Angel City Pit Bulls is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to creating a better future for pit bulls by promoting their positive image as loving family companions through education, public advocacy, adoptions, and owner support.

Wags & Walks

Wags and Walks is focused on advocating for wrongfully stereotyped bully breeds, medical dogs, and mamas + puppies that are often overlooked and at-risk due to overcrowding. We do not select dogs based on their size, age, or breed. We select our dogs on a case-by-case basis, factoring in our ability to help and their likelihood of thriving when placed in the right home. We know that, like amazing dogs, loving families come in all shapes and sizes. Our goal is to find every pup an adopter whose home, family, and lifestyle are a perfect fit for a lifetime of love and happiness.

Pasadena Humane

Pasadena Humane is more than an animal shelter; we are a community-supported animal resource center providing compassion and care for all animals. Since 1903, Pasadena Humane has offered lifesaving programs and services for animals and the people who love them in the Greater Los Angeles Area. At our Pasadena campus, we provide shelter, dedicated care and new beginnings for thousands of our community's most vulnerable animals every year. In addition to pet adoptions and foster, we focus on programs and services aimed at helping people care for and keep their pets, such as free and low-cost spay/neuter and vaccines, a pet food pantry, and an animal support call center. In 2022, Pasadena Humane helped nearly 40,000 animals through adoptions, wildlife rehabilitation, lost & found, veterinary services, and surrender prevention assistance.

German Shepherd Rescue of Orange County

German Shepherd Rescue of Orange County (GSROC) is a non-profit 501(c)3 charity organization dedicated to rescuing, rehabilitating and re-homing purebred German Shepherd Dogs that have no where else to turn.

Halfway To Home Dog Rescue

Halfway to Home was started in 2001 by Suzanne Poth, a retired social worker for Los Angeles County Department of Children's Services Emergency Response Unit. A long-time advocate for dogs, she hoped to address the extreme quantity of homeless and displaced dogs in the Antelope Valley. And plus, she was pretty good at rescuing the helpless. Suzanne started the rescue in her home, picking up stray dogs, getting them spayed or neutered and then placing them in homes via ads she ran in the Penny Saver. She continued to do this successfully, eventually forming a 501c3 non profit and in 2003 Halfway To Home was officially born. For several years Suzanne would load up her station wagon and drive a bunch of happy dogs near and far to participate in various adoptions. She landed at Petco for a few years before finding a spot at the West Palmdale Petsmart, which she maintained with much success from 2007 to 2018, adopting out 5,927 dogs in those 11 years. Suzanne found a large amount of property to house the increasing number of dogs she and her volunteers were rescuing. Over the years the five acre property has been developed to accommodate 75 dogs. Through donations and fund raising she has been able to create climate controlled environments where up to 50 dogs can find shelter from the heat and cold characteristic of the Antelope Valley. The remaining outdoor kennels are outfitted with permanent shade covers, sand, concrete, a mist system, doggy doors, doggy pools and Igloo dog houses.

American Bullmastiff Rescue

The American Bullmastiff Association is the AKC recognized breed club for the bullmastiff. ABA members are dedicated to the education, training, care and overall well-being of the bullmastiff. The membership community includes experts with decades of experience and new members with their first bullmastiff all with the common goal of protecting and preserving the breed.

Rescue Me Incorporated

Joy and Craig Nadel are the CEO/COO and Founders of Rescue Me Incorporated. Born out of their LOVE for animals and in memory of their first rescued family member together, Candy "The Wonder Dog" they wanted to share the love they felt with a rescued pet with other people. Candy was adopted from a local shelter by Craig's dad as a family pet. She was a year old when he got her and was given her birthdate as Christmas Eve. {Special day as Joy's grandparents were married on Christmas Eve} When Craig and I got married we asked if we could keep Candy and Craig's dad agreed as he knew how much we loved her. We were blessed to have this amazing, sweet little dog in our lives for 20 of her 21 years. She died in my arms at age 21 years old. It was time for her to go, she was ready. We knew we wanted to have Candy's name live on so we started Rescue Me Incorporated in her memory. Now with every orphan we rescue we know her memory lives on. We wanted to share with other people the love of a rescued animal and help promote animal rescue and education.

Pug Nation Rescue of Los Angeles

Pug Nation Rescue of Los Angeles is a registered 501c3 non-profit organization dedicated to the rescue, care, and placement of abandoned, neglected, unwanted, displaced, and abused pugs. Every year Pug Nation saves and adopts out hundreds of loving Pugs from the streets of Southern California – thanks to the support of individuals like you. Our goal is to find every homeless pug a forever home; if we cannot do that, we pledge to provide a comfortable and loving place for sick or unwanted pugs to live out their lives.

Infinite Love Animal Rescue

Infinite Love Animal Rescue is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit animal rescue based in Los Angeles. We are dedicated to finding forever homes for abandoned and displaced dogs while educating the public to be more responsible pet owners. Our goal is to help them in every way we can... emotionally, socially, and physically so that the transition into their forever homes will be as smooth as possible.

Our Underdog Rescue Squad

Live Love Animal Rescue

Live Love Animal Rescue’s mission is to save homeless animals by providing them a lifelong commitment to their well-being. We take in dogs from all situations and often find ourselves rescuing the most extreme behavior and medical cases. Live Love Animal Rescue is dedicated to ensuring these dogs are healed and brought to the greatest possible quality of life and placed in loving, responsible, committed foster and then permanent homes. While in the care of foster homes, all dogs are healed, spayed or neutered, fully vaccinated, and receive behavioral training as needed prior to adoption. The ultimate goal is to find our rescued dogs a forever home of their own and for those that are too ill, they will remain in our rescue family as Forever Fosters and be cherished for all of their days. We partner with local rescues, the shelter and city government to develop a network of volunteers and supporters that can transform Long Beach into a no-kill city for all animals. Live Love acts with fiscal responsibility to ensure that we meet our commitments to our rescue dogs. We act with gratitude and respect to our network of volunteers, fosters and supporters that provide countless hours of work, support, and donations. Our rescue board, officers, volunteers and fosters act with courtesy, kindness, and respect as a member of the Long Beach community and greater rescue network.

Heart and Home Animal Rescue Foundation

At Heart and Home Animal Rescue Foundation we believe in helping all animals in need in whatever way possible. Whether that means rescuing dogs and finding them homes, helping with animals in need of medical attention, or focusing attention on animals in danger, Heart and Home wants to help heal their hearts and make them ready for their permanent home. ​Heart and Home is a non profit, 501c3 focused on at risk dogs and cats. We provide medical attention, spay/neuter, vaccinations, microchips and place them with a loving family and new home. We are committed to working with fellow rescue groups as needed to team up in helping where we can. We are a foster and volunteer based group, supported by sponsors and donations to help with our vision of improving the lives of animals in need and giving them a chance at a better life.

Lori's Angels Animal Rescue

Lori’s Angels animal rescue is a 501c3 non-profit that saves HOMELESS, ABUSED, SICK, AND INJURED ANIMALS from the streets, abusive situations, and high-kill los angeles area shelters. We work to rehabilitate them with proper care and plenty of love. There are many animals in socal that need love, medical attention, and a warm place to sleep at night. Our aim is to help as many of them as possible. Registered 501 c3 with the state of California Franchise Tax Board

Peanut Butter Paws Rescue, Inc.

Peanut Butter Paws was born out of love for a rescue dog named Stanley (the white Chihuahua pictured in the photo) who was pulled by an incredible rescue in Simi Valley, CA called Tiny Loving Canines, run by director Linda Nelson. With over 30 years of rescue under her belt, Linda took us and many other volunteers into the folds of TLC and together we were able to save over 3,000 lives in the span of almost 10 years. Linda essentially 'wrote the book' on how rescues could be run, pioneering such programs as "Foster to Adopt" and spearheading the No Kill Movement in Ventura County. Linda gave so much to her community and completed many happy families. When she eventually retired and moved out of state, TLC closed its doors. We continued to network shelter dogs, donate to reputable rescues, and even rescued a few dogs independently. Once the surge of post-Covid dogs being dumped in the shelters reared its ugly head, we realized we had to do more. It was finally time to honor Stanley's legacy and Peanut Butter Paws was born. Linda continues to support us from afar by providing her years of expertise and sharing TLC resources. Although Peanut Butter Paws is much smaller than TLC and will remain a foster based rescue, much of the way it has been set up has been inspired by ''The Little Rescue that Could", Tiny Loving Canines, Inc.

Italian Greyhound Rescue Foundation - Northern California/Northern Nevada

Italian Greyhound Rescue Foundation Inc. is a national club sponsored re-homing service provided for Italian Greyhounds that have been abandoned at animal shelters, taken from abusive homes or surrendered to Rescue due to the death or divorce of the former owner. Occasionally, dogs are turned over to Rescue because the owner can no longer keep the dog and the dog was acquired from a source to which it cannot be returned. Italian Greyhound Rescue Foundation Inc. is an 501c3 nonprofit organization, we are an all- volunteer organization that foster these dogs in our homes, we are not a kennel or shelter. Our foster dogs are health and temperament evaluated the dogs are loved and treated as our own dogs. All dogs are taken for a veterinary check-up and when necessary, vaccinations are updated, neutered/spayed and its teeth are cleaned. Each Italian Greyhound is evaluated so that it can be placed in a home suitable to both the dog and the new owner.

Gunter's Legacy Animal Rescue, Inc.

H.E.L.P. A Home For Every Living Pet

H.E.L.P. is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization dedicated to saving the lives of sick, injured and elderly animals in the Los Angeles City Shelters. We love saving animals – those that remain behind in their cages while others find homes, those with little chance of rescue or adoption. We assist those who choose to adopt these pets in need, knowing that there are medical challenges, by paying an agreed upon percentage of the veterinary costs necessary to care for their new family members. In cases where there is no other option and the dog or cat would be euthanized at the shelter, H.E.L.P. rescues the animal and arranges for medical treatment and foster care. We also have an intervention/outreach program which offers guidance and services to the public when they have nowhere else to turn. Before establishing H.E.L.P. in the late 1990s, our volunteers co-founded the City’s groundbreaking Mobile Adoption Program in 1995 and it was at subsequent MPA’s that we became aware of the serious need for assisting the city’s medical dogs. Responding to that heart-breaking situation, H.E.L.P. became a reality and, in 2001 H.E.L.P. was granted 501c3 non-profit status. We are an all-volunteer organization, and 100% of all donations received will go toward helping animals. Our Community Outreach Program assists pet owners experiencing financial hardship with food and medical assistance so that the pet can stay in the home and out of the shelter.

Rescue Bae

Animals do not have a voice, so I am here to speak up for them. I take in the unwanted, the abandoned, the sick, the injured, the old, and the young, making a promise to each and every one of them that I will find the life they deserve. A life full of unconditional and forever love and care. A life that so many animals haven’t gotten the chance to experience. It is my top priority to find that family that each animal is meant to be with. I do not care how long it takes to find their forever home. I never settle for anything less than the best. I rescue to make a difference in not only animals’ lives, but for those that adopt them. ”Saving one animal will not change the world, but surely for that one animal, their world will change forever.” I am set to change many worlds, one animal at a time.

Rover Ranger Rescue

We will assist owners with unplanned litters of puppies, spay their mother dogs for them, and when possible, the daddy dogs as well. We hope that by promoting awareness to human animal companions, they in turn can help to educate others as to the health and benefits of spaying, neutering, vaccinating, and chipping their pets. We will assist as much as we possibly can in ending the cruelty of people dumping and abandoning thier dogs. Our promise to those dogs: "We will find you, we will help you."

Pedro Pet Pals

Pedro Pet Pals was founded in 2009 by Theresa Sardisco to support homeless animals through the programs of the City of Los Angeles Harbor Animal Shelter and the SPCA. Donations were received to add a misting system at the Harbor Shelter to keep the dogs cool. When the City announced it would be funding the misting system, donors wanted their money to be used for other efforts to help animals. And so, Pedro Pet Pals was born. We are a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, run by a team of volunteers. Pedro Pet Pals actively raises funds to supports our local animal shelters with supplies, medical equipment, and other items that the city cannot afford. Pedro Pet Pals is also committed to the community by providing spay/neuter programs, and community educational outreach to pet owners. Pedro Pet Pals is not a rescue organization, but we are committed to providing comfort and support to wayward animals in the Los Angeles area. Money raised by Pedro Pet Pals has been used to fund the following: • blood machine • anesthesia machine • kennel beds • leashes and harnesses • dog pools and canopies • dog and cat toys • grooming table and supplies • cat room improvements • cat/kitten health supplies • adoption fee vouchers • spayed and neutered over 900 pit bulls from Watts to San Pedro In addition, Pedro Pet Pals has: • organized a volunteer dog walking program • provided community outreach and education

Pet Rescue Solutions

Pet Rescue Solutions was founded in 2012 and is located in South El Monte, California. We originally sold affordable pet tags to communities in need of identification tags for their pets. Since our name included the word "Rescue," many people believed the idea that we were a rescue for cats and dogs. Adam Melendez, the president of P.R.S., made the decision to turn the pet tag business into a non-profit organization. We received our 501(c)(3) letter on July, 2014 but decided to keep the name Pet Rescue Solutions. Since then, we have saved over 1,500 cats and dogs and found them forever homes. With a productive and dedicated P.R.S. team, we are able tomake a difference in our furry friends' lives.

TREAT Pet Rescue

Lovebugs Rescue

Woof Gang Rehab & Rescue

We are a boutique-style working breed rescue run by professional dog trainers. Trust someone with experience and extensive canine knowledge to match you with your perfect pup! Working breeds have not been breed to be pets. Often times these dogs end up in the shelter because they have not been given a job to do as was intended for their creation. We are here to save dogs who have been subject to this situation and educate dog lovers and pet owners of working breeds on how to live with, handle, and train these magnificent creatures!

I Dream of Home Rescue, Inc.

Beach Dog Rescue

Canine Rescue Connection

One Beagle started the whole ball rolling. Gizmo was a challenge that led to a very fullfilling “career” in rescue. He was my first dog and a great teacher on how to approach dogs and rescue. It is indeed because of my experiences with him that led me on this path. All stages of his life brought more challenges. Puppyhood…Housetraining…Obedience Classes… Behavior Modification…Learning to deal with how smart this dog was…Landing us on the TV show “The Dog Whisperer”…Getting older and more accepting of another dog…Losing a dog to cancer…Learning to accept even more dogs in the pack…and getting even older and succumbing to cancer himself. 14 years worth of trials and tests. I will never forget all the lessons he taught me along the way and have integrated all this experience into every dog that passes through. Everything I do is all in honor of my greatest teacher Gizmo. Out of this “hobby”… a full fledged non-profit organization, Canine Rescue Connection was born. Years of work behind the scenes learning how everything about rescue works have gone into this project. I didn’t wake up one day and say hey I’m a dog rescue! No, it is a continuing learning experience that benefits all parties. The dogs, the rescues, the shelters and people that want to adopt a rescue dog. Each animal brings a new experience and sheds light on the behavior of others. It is why I do what I do…the ultimate goal of saving a life by connecting dogs to rescue and people to rescue dogs.