The Best New Jersey Dog Rescues & Shelters in 2026

MatchDog Rescue

MatchDog Rescue MatchDog is a personal foster-based canine rescue community in South Jersey with a vision to save abandoned dogs of all ages from unwarranted euthanasia. We rescue, match, and rehome these loving souls as companion animals in an effort to end overpopulation and abuse.

Save the Satos - jefferson, NJ

There are an estimated 500,000 stray dogs in Puerto Rico, a US Commonwealth about the size of Connecticut. Back in October of 2018 four team members went to the island to see if they could help. Throughout the week, the team saved over 30 dogs. Within the next 8 months, the team visited the island 3 more times and continued to save another 50 Satos and placed them in loving homes. They volunteered at The Spayathon for Puerto Rico, doing everything they could to make a difference, but it still was not enough. This is when Save the Satos was formed. We have made it our life's mission to not stop until we make a difference in the stray population on this beautiful little island.

Sammy's Hope

Placing homeless animals in loving, forever homes while providing shelter, socialization, medical care and enrichment, since 2010

Pitties & Pals

Pitties and Pals Rescue, Inc. is a 501c3 non-profit animal rescue group. Our mission is to rescue dogs and educate the public. Although our main focus is the bully breed, we are committed to all dogs in need. We believe RESCUE involves a multitude of approaches that includes liberating dogs from at risk situations, whether in a shelter or with an owner in need of assistance. While adoption is always the ultimate goal, we believe transitioning into foster care allows for socialization and training that are key components to a successful placement.

Jersey Pit Rescue

Jersey Pits Rescue, Inc. is a foster based animal rescue group located in New Jersey.

German Shorthair Pointer Rescue of NJ/NY

German Shorthaired Pointers (GSPs) are an energetic, loving, stubborn, but fiercely loyal breed of dogs often given up or abandoned for just these qualities. In many cases, people do not understand a GSP's energy level or need for companionship before getting the dog. This can lead to surrender or abandonment. nySNOW8rm6Luckily, we are an energetic, loving, stubborn, but fiercely loyal bunch of volunteers dedicated to finding forever homes for abandoned, neglected, abused and unwanted purebred GSPs. As part of our mission, we also educate the public about the breed and requirements of dog ownership in general. We also assist GSP owners as needed in order to prevent abandonment or surrender. Most members are current or past GSP owners; all share a love of this magnificent breed. The collective knowledge and dog experience in our group is a tremendous asset that differentiates us from many other rescue groups. It also enables our record of success. Our deep understanding of the breed helps us to match the right dog to the right

Southern Paws Inc.

Southern Paws Inc. is a 501(c)3 non-profit dog rescue based in Northern New Jersey. We collaborate with fellow rescues to rehome dogs facing euthanasia due to overpopulation. Additionally, we offer education, training, networking, disaster relief response, and shelter crisis management to support other animal organizations in their rescue endeavors. Our mission is to advocate for the voiceless and offer hope to the hopeless, guided by our motto: "Teamwork makes the Dreamwork".

Monmouth County SPCA

The Monmouth County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals was founded in 1945 to care for the community's homeless, neglected and abused animals. The MCSPCA is not affiliated with any other shelter or welfare organization. We are not affiliated with, nor do we receive our funding from the Humane Society of the United States, the ASPCA, or the Associated Humane Societies, Inc.

Mt. Pleasant Animal Shelter

For more than 50 years, Mt. Pleasant Animal Shelter has been providing exceptional care for homeless animals, working tirelessly to find a permanent, loving home for every cat and dog we serve. Our priority is to save abandoned animals within our community; however, our efforts don't end there. We also partner with shelters around the country to save at risk animals from being euthanized. Mt. Pleasant Animal Shelter never euthanizes any animal for time or space reasons. Adoptable animals reside with us until they find their forever home. We become their loving family until they become a part of yours. Mt. Pleasant animal shelter is a registered 501(c)(3) organization that is solely funded by contributions, grants and bequests.

New Jersey Boxer Rescue, Inc

NJBR is a non profit, 501 C3 organization that provides complete surrender and adoption services. We provide a full range of rescue services including the intake of boxers from shelters or owners, a thorough interview and adoption process and continuous follow-up with our adoptive homes, as well as providing assistance to any boxer home or other rescue that reaches out to us.

Wise Animal Rescue

WISE is a foster-based rescue in New Jersey dedicated to rescuing animals of all ages and breeds from places where they are no longer wanted or are not being properly cared for. By partnering with veterinary practices that support our work, we are able to save animals lives and restore them back to health.

Saint Hubert's Animal Welfare Center

For more than 80 years, St. Hubert's Animal Welfare Center has been dedicated to helping animals in need, regardless of species, size, or temperament. With a people-focused, community-based approach, we treat every animal as an individual and emphasize specialized care for both animals and their families.

NJSH Pet Rescue

NJSH Pet Rescue is a foster based 501(c)(3) dog and cat rescue located in Chester, New Jersey. We provide our dogs and cats an abundance of love and patience, the highest level of veterinary care and positive reinforcement training. We believe these principles give our adoptable dogs and cats the best opportunity to have a smooth and successful transition to their forever home. We promote our belief that a healthy, well-trained dog and educated adopter has the greatest chance of successful adoption. We primarily rescue New Jersey dogs and place them ONLY within 90 minutes of our home base in Chester New Jersey. We do this so we can continue to be a resource for our adopters well after the adoption happens.

Homeward Bound

Founded by the Camden County Board of Chosen Commissioners in 1997, the Camden County Animal Shelter (CCAS) is operated by Homeward Bound Pet Adoption Center, a non-profit organization originally founded as Animal Welfare Society of Camden County (AWSCC).

Randolph Regional Animal Shelter

Friends of Randolph Animal Pound, Inc. is an all-volunteer non-profit organization dedicated to saving the lives of orphaned pets. Your donations go directly to the welfare of the animals.

Friends of the Burlington County Animal Shelter

The Burlington County Animal Shelter serves as the rabies control point for the 40 municipalities of Burlington County, operating within the Disease Prevention and Control Division of the Burlington County Health Department. Our Shelter is a county facility supported by animal control contracts with local municipalities and the county taxpayers. It is used as a shelter for stray dogs, cats and other small animals for a short term stay in accordance with Title 8, Chapter 23. It is also a place where county residents can take stray and unwanted animals.

The Last Resort Rescue

The Last Resort Wildlife Refuge is a NJ state licensed wildlife rehabilitation facility in West Milford NJ. Our rescue facility sits on 86 acres of preserved and protected forest, an ideal environment for all the stages of rehabilitation in a supportive natural environment. We rescue and rehabilitate orphaned and injured wildlife, provide medical attention, veterinary care, neonatal care and often round the clock nursing care to our more ccritical patients. Our team of dedicated volunteers works as a team, to ensure we meet all of their needs through every stage of rehabilitation and provides medical attention, daily care, proper nutrition, and carefully apply developmentally appropriate enrichment to equip all of our wild patients with the skills, experiences and tools needed to flourish in the wild so they can be successfully released or reintroduced back into their native environment.

Edison Animal Shelter

Edison Animal Shelter/Animal Control serves Metuchen, Dunellen, Highland Park, and Edison. If you have lost a pet or are looking for a new pet, please call or visit the shelter. Please note that the selection of dogs and cats available for adoption change on a daily basis. Call the shelter to confirm availability of the pet you are interested in.

EASEL Animal Rescue League & Pet Adoptions

organization with the mission of reducing the number of unwanted dogs and cats killed in Mercer County, NJ. Our key goal is to build a new, larger no-kill adoption center in order to achieve more. A no-kill shelter is an animal shelter that does not kill healthy or treatable animals even when the shelter is full, reserving euthanasia for terminally ill animals or those considered dangerous to public safety

J and Co Dog Rescue

J & Co is a small non-profit rescue making a big difference in the lives of the dogs we save. Our program is foster based with pet lovers across the east coast aiding our mission. Our mission is to not only save, but to educate people along the way; overcrowded shelters, puppy mills, recognizing/reporting neglect & abuse and the importance of spay & neuter. Additionally we help low income families by providing resources and references for low cost basic vetting, prescriptions, spay/neuter surgery, etc.

Dr Dolittle's Rescue Ranch Inc

A Tradition of Excellence Our company was founded on a tradition of pride and excellence. While much has changed about us over the years, that legacy remains with us at every turn. It’s what governs our business practices—and what lets our services shine. We are committed to meeting the highest of industry standards. Up-to-date training, regular professional development, continual organizational improvements: We spare no expense in upholding our reputation and staying at the peak of our craft. Our clients have come to expect the very best from us, and we think you should be able to as well Leaders in Our Field Years of training, years of experience, and a commitment to excellence have earned us a leading position in our field. We are a skilled team of experts, possessing an impeccable record of success and a reputation that precedes us. Diligence, persistence, and the highest standards for professional conduct are what we bring to the table. It’s those qualities that make us such a tour de force in our field. It’s those qualities that let us stand head and shoulders above the competition. Dr Dolittle's Rescue Ranch Inc. It’s a name that means excellence. It’s a name you can trust Honesty and Integrity Honesty and integrity define our business model. It is at the very core of our operations. We maintain a strong company ethos based on transparency and respect for our clients. As a service provider, we take our responsibilities to you seriously. Everything that we do, we do it with pride, passion, and the utmost care. We know our clients have come to appreciate our no-nonsense, unbiased professional opinion. Rest assured when you work with us you’ll get to appreciate it too. Dr Dolittle's Rescue Ranch Inc: Founded on a culture of professionalism, dedication, and excellence. Founded on honesty, integrity, and respect.

Brendan's Meadows Rescue

Welcome to our new website Brendan's Meadows Rescue is an all volunteer 501(c)3 non-profit, no kill dog rescue and placement organization incorporated in 2009. We are comprised of a small group of devoted volunteers who are committed to giving dogs a second chance in life. Our mission is to find an optimal forever home for all the dogs that cross our paths.

Wag On Inn

Wag On Inn Rescue is a 501(c)(3) non-profit animal rescue that was founded in 1998. We are a foster-based rescue, and primarily care for dogs, cats, bunnies, guinea pigs, and rats in foster homes with love and care from our amazing volunteers. We pair with sister rescue groups in Louisiana, Texas, South Carolina and North Carolina to save animals victim to pet overpopulation in the South. We also take local owner surrenders and assist shelters in NY, NJ and PA. Each animal is fully vetted prior to adoption, and all animals, with the exception of guinea pigs, are spayed/neutered prior to adoption in an effort to curb the pet overpopulation crisis. In recent years, through the efforts of an amazing group of volunteers, we have grown our team allowing us to save even more animals! In 2018 we had a total of 225 adoptions. In 2019 we doubled that number to 458 adoptions. In 2020, the year of the pandemic, we celebrated 941 adoptions, an amazing accomplishment.

Shore saves

While Shore Saves only began in 2021, our volunteers and Board members have been working with animals for decades. We saw the need for compassionate volunteers to save animals around the country - and so began the story of Shore Saves!

Peyton's Safe Haven, Inc.

Peyton's Safe Haven is a 501(c)(3) all-volunteer organization. We have a dedicated team of fosters, vets, and volunteers that care for each animal as their own until they find a forever home. We started in 2018 in hopes of creating a family of fosters, adopters, donors, and volunteers and bringing everyone together for animals in need in NYC and surrounding counties. To date, Peyton's Safe Haven has rescued over 1,000 animals.

Good Karma Dog Rescue

Good Karma Dog Rescue, Inc. began with a vision of education, support and love with a strong belief that what goes around, comes around. We are a community of animal lovers with a focus on doing what is right and making a difference!

Hounds in Pounds

Hounds in Pounds was founded in 2015 by a small-town girl expecting to save a few dogs. Since our inception, we have saved countless lives and have become a lifeline for shelters all over the southeast. We do not discriminate against ANY breed; that's because we are a real rescue, and we will help as many dogs as we can. Our primary goal is to get them into loving homes. We hope that someday all of them make it out, but we will never forget the ones who do not. If we can help save a life, we will. If we save a litter of puppies, we save the moms; mama dogs are often bred for their puppies and left behind with a grim future ahead of them; if we save a male, we save a female. If we rescue a puppy, we save a senior; if we rescue a purebred, we save a mix. We do not discriminate- no life, no matter what, is unworthy of love and a second chance. Each dog we pull to safety is a family member treated with the utmost love and respect. Many dogs we rescue are cases no one else will take; our motto at HIP is to never say never. We take on cases that others have deemed hopeless and help rewrite their futures. To be clear, we are working for them. These dogs are our heroes, and we look to them for hope, inspiration, and sometimes the strength to keep going. We also consider our followers, donors, adopters, rescue partners, and the rescue community a direct extension of our team. Without these moving parts, Hounds in Pounds wouldn't be able to do what we do.

Puppies and More Rescue Adoption

We are a non-profit group of volunteers dedicated to rescuing dogs, puppies and other animals that are doomed due to overcrowding in shelters, abandonment, or unwanted pets. We provide immediate medical attention as well as loving foster homes. Each animal is socialized and evaluated in a family setting.

Peace4Paws

Through our foster - adoption program we provide food, medical, transport, toys, leashes and love to animals in need. Our animals are retired research animals, shelter dogs or owner surrendered dogs. Initially we focused exclusively on research animals. When the labs are not releasing to us these beautiful animals, we work diligently to help those kill shelter and owner surrender dogs. The scope of our reach is dependent on available foster homes, as all our dogs are in foster homes.

Voorhees Animal Orphanage

The Voorhees Animal Orphanage is a 501-c-3, non-profit Municipal Animal Shelter dedicated to providing shelter, food and medical care to stray and unwanted animals until permanent homes can be found. We are an open-intake animal shelter serving 25 municipalities in Southern New Jersey, 21 of which are in Camden County. Although the Voorhees Animal Orphanage serves more than half of Camden County, NJ, we do not receive any operational or financial support from the County. The only income we receive are the monthly fees we receive from the municipalities that we serve, and adoption fees. Otherwise, we rely very heavily upon the generosity of charitable donations to help us meet our budget. We are also an Adoption Center. That means when space allows, we are able to rescue cats & dogs from over-crowded, high-kill shelters and rescues. We work with local, regional and national shelters and rescue groups, saving lives wherever and whenever we can. In 2023 we were able to save the lives of over 2,100 cats and dogs that made their way to our shelter. We have saved over 40,000 lives since our inception in 1988. We do not discriminate against any breed, nor do we turn an animal away due to medical conditions or age. Each and every animal in our shelter receives individual consideration and attention, regardless of the number of animals we may have in our care. We believe that every animal has the right home and family waiting for them. Our goal is to operate to meet or exceed a 90% live release rate (a.k.a., No-kill). In 2023, our live release rate was 94.3%! We strive to be an exemplary shelter and adoption center through collaborative partnerships, responsible business practices, and exceptional customer service. It is our firm belief that working together, we can save more lives!