The Best San Francisco, CA Dog Rescues & Shelters in 2026

Muttville

dogs in good health with wonderful personalities are euthanized. Why? Because they're older, and not considered adoptable. A dog is brought in because he can't jog with his guardian anymore. Or he needs a little time to get up the stairs. Or he's simply not a puppy. In some cases, dogs are moved from loving homes to concrete cages because their guardians have died or simply can't care for them anymore. We reach out to senior dogs at risk, give them the care they need, and find them loving forever homes. If we had our way, no dog would spend their last days in a shelter. There is so much love and joy in these dogs!

Rocket Dog Rescue

Rocket Dog Rescue saves dogs from abuse, neglect, and death at overcrowded shelters and places them in loving homes. We support pet owners in need in our community, and serve as first responders in emergency animal situations and natural disasters. Funded entirely by donations, we are a volunteer-run, 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. Learn about what we do or apply to adopt a dog in the San Francisco Bay Area

Hara adoptions

Happiness Animal Rescue Alliance - Tails up! Happiness is here to stay Bay Area adoptions, local and international rescues. We are a non-profit organization run entirely by a dedicated team of volunteers (no paid staff, no wasted donations - we do everything with heart!) with a love for not only animals, but humans too! At HARA we do everything we can to make the adoption process enjoyable for you - What a rarity these days right? We go beyond just "adoption" and provide the knowledge necessary to ensure the happiness of both owners and pets, from first contact, to post adoption. We are there for you every step of the way.

Love's Legacy Rescue

St. Francis Animal Protection Society

In 1971, our founder Helen Galantiere walked away from a successful corporate career to help animals. Inspired by her days screening potential foster families for kids, she hatched St. Francis Animal Protection Society. We received charitable nonprofit status in March of 1972. Helen built a rescue organization without a physical facility, instead placing at-risk cats and dogs in foster homes to receive treatment, training, and TLC. She made sure unfixed animals were spayed or neutered, and educated her community about proper care of companion animals through "Animal World," a weekly column in the Marin Independent Journal. While times have changed, our commitment to at-risk animals remains the same. We bring help, hope, and healing to animals and the people love them. A volunteer-run, foster-based animal rescue and advocacy group, we serve the Greater Bay Area. We approach rescue with an open heart, an open mind, and an innovative spirit. Together, we engage, educate, and empower our community in the fight for our most vulnerable cats and dogs.

Mutt Luv Rescue

SF SPCA

The SF SPCA is an independent nonprofit supported entirely by our community. We exist to ensure every companion animal has access to quality medical care, compassionate shelter, and a loving home.

Contra Costa Humane Society

Contra Costa Humane Society was established in 1991 as the result of the merging of two former longstanding Contra Costa County animal welfare groups — Stop Pets’ Annual Yield (SPAY) and Animal Protection Bureau (APB). Since its formation, CCHS has been in a few locations around the East Bay and in Fall 2023, we expanded our office space to accommodate our growing programs. Kitty Corner, our free-roam space for cats and kittens in our program, doubled in size in 2023, enabling us to rescue more animals! Our space can house up to 25 adult cats in our “big room”, plus a dozen kittens between two smaller rooms. We have a quiet room to provide isolation if needed or use for acclimating a cat or kitten not quite ready to join the others in Kitty Corner. A special space is also available for hospice cats and kittens where we can provide the comfort of home and give special medical attention while in our care.

Tailchaser Rescue

Tailchaser Rescue is a 501(c)3 non-profit, no-kill, animal rescue organization based out of the Bay Area, CA, dedicated to rescuing cats and dogs (and sometimes more) from shelters where they are in danger. We believe in removing barriers to adoption and educating pet owners and potential adopters about responsible pet ownership and the importance of spay / neuter. We are a foster-home-based organization and we do not have a shelter or physical location that adopters can visit. All of our rescued animals are cared for by volunteer foster families in their homes. This allows us to get to know the animals better, and helps us assess what type of home environment they will do best in. Tailchaser Rescue was founded in 2008.

Friends of the Alameda Animal Shelter

Friends of the Alameda Animal Shelter (FAAS) shelters and cares for the lost and abandoned companion animals of Alameda, Calif., reuniting lost pets with their owners and finding new families for the homeless. FAAS is a 501(c)(3) organization. Our tax ID number is 27-0864431. Eight-time winner "Best Nonprofit Group" (Alameda Magazine, 2014-2021) Six-time winner Best Charitable Event (Alameda Magazine 2016-2021).

Woof Animal Rescue

WOOF Animal Rescue is a 100% volunteer-based non-profit organization dedicated to rescuing animals in Northern California. With the help of our volunteers, WOOF has rescued numerous dogs from high-kill shelters, trained them as necessary and found wonderful forever homes for them. We believe in… • Saving animal’s lives • Adoption of animals rather than purchasing from those breeding for profit and/or irresponsibly • Responsibly placing these animals in loving permanent homes • Finding the perfect match for both human and animal, rather than placing animals in any homes • Educating people and spreading the word about the importance of pet sterilization to control overpopulation of animals • Educating people about responsible pet ownership, positive behavior training, good nutrition and the humane treatment of animals If you are interested in adopting one of our animals or becoming an animal foster parent, click here to apply. If you are interested in Volunteering and/or Donating, visit our Donate page for more instructions, or fill out our contact form to reach one of our dedicated volunteers! We want to thank you in advance for your support and compassion for the animals. It is people like you who make up our circle of friends, helping those who cannot ask for help themselves. Without your support and compassion, our mission would not be possible.

Golden Gate Labrador Retriever Rescue, Inc.

GGLRR is an all-volunteer, nonprofit tax-exempt organization in the greater San Francisco Bay Area of Northern California. We've been placing unwanted Labs in loving homes since 1986! Our Lab Rescue team saves purebred Labrador Retrievers and Lab mixes from shelters, as well as assists people giving up their dogs for adoption. We provide foster homes, veterinary care, and rehabilitation when needed, and place them with loving, forever families. While GGLRR focuses on rescuing and rehoming Labrador Retrievers, some of our dogs are Lab mixes. Sometimes we know what they are mixed with; most times we do not. We may even have a dog up for adoption that has some physical resemblance of a Lab but turns out not to be a Lab at all (per a DNA analysis performed by the adopter). We endeavor to rescue/rehome Lab mixes that look mostly like a Lab and have the personality/temperament of a Lab. The younger a dog is, the more difficult it is to tell how Labby a dog will be when it is fully grown. We realize that people come to us to adopt a Lab. GGLRR cherishes the opportunity to provide new forever homes for all of the dogs that come into our program.

Contra Costa Animal Services

The Animal Services Department has a long history in Contra Costa County. In 1959 Animal Control (as it was called then), consisting of five employees, was re-assigned from the Sheriff's Office authority to the County Agriculture Department. Animal Services became its own County department in 1985. The original shelter was located one block from where we are now on the eastern edge of Martinez. In May 2005, a beautiful two-acre state-of-the-art shelter complex and six-stall barn with open corral area, totaling more than 38,000 square feet, was dedicated by the Board of Supervisors and local dignitaries. Our 75 employees and over 150 volunteers take great pride in serving our community, work very hard to care for the animals, and are eager to show you what we have to offer. We invite you to visit us soon. Who knows, you may find your new best friend at the Animal Services Shelter!

Friends of Berkeley Animal Care Services

Friends of Berkeley Animal Care Services (FoBACS) is a volunteer-run 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to assisting Berkeley Animal Care Services (BACS), the municipal open-admission animal shelter that serves the communities of Albany, Berkeley, Emeryville, and Piedmont, CA.

Bull Terrier Rescue, Inc.

Bull Terrier Rescue, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) organization managed wholly by volunteer board members and officers. We are active in California, Nevada, Oregon and Washington. Our TIN/FEIN is 68-0272385.

Paddington Station

Paddington Station rescues at-risk animals from municipal shelters that are overseen by local Animal Control. These animals are surrendered to the shelter, are brought in as strays, or occasionally are confiscated from poor living situations. They are kept at the shelter for any mandatory periods ("holds"). Shelters vary widely in resources and in population of animals served, but virtually no shelter can care for and place every animal it takes in. Many U.S. shelters euthanize a horrifying number of animals, sometimes for health or behavioral problems, often for simple lack of space. Many shelters too are striving to earn the "no kill" designation. The shelter system coordinates with private, non-profit public charities such as ours, corporations devoted to animal rescue. We accept transfer of ownership for a limited number of animals, and those animals become our responsibility. We make an initial assessment and determine what medical care or behavioral assistance the animal requires. We then place the animal in an appropriate foster home. We do not have a kennel or other boarding facility - all our foster animals are cared for as family members until placement. We run a small, closely coordinated, all-volunteer rescue, with a limited number of foster homes. Throughout their foster period, we continue to evaluate our animals carefully, and rehabilitate them as needed. We post these animals as "available" when they are ready to leave their foster homes. At the human end, we work with potential adopters to ensure the best possible match of animal and new family. After placement, we keep in touch with and continue to support our adopters. Although we take in many different dogs and cats, we intend to focus on livestock guarding dogs, such as Great Pyrenees, Kuvasz, Maremmas, and Akbash. These gentle giants have been bred for centuries to work and think independently, rather than responding to cues from humans. They are bred to perform a critical job, guarding flocks of sheep, goats, and other livestock from predation by lions, bears, and so on. They must be fiercely protective of their flock, yet exquisitely gentle with, for example, baby lambs and goat kids. These exceptional dogs make wonderful family companions as well as life-protecting ranch guardians. All breeds have their own peculiarities and special skills; livestock guardians are perhaps more different than most others. Their people must have an understanding of the dogs' unique skills and instincts. Our careful placement process ensures that these dogs will be granted that understanding, as well as awed appreciation of their powerful graceful bodies, courageous temperaments, and loyal hearts.

CalPaws K9 Rescue

CalPaws K9 Rescue was established in October 2019. We are an all-volunteer non-profit dog rescue focused on saving dogs of all ages and breeds. Our volunteers consist of experienced animal rescuers located across the San Francisco Bay area and beyond.

Ozzies Pound Puppies

Ozzies Pound Puppies was established in 2012. It is named after our founders beloved dog, Ozzie, who died in 2011 due to spleen cancer. When Ozzie died, she adopted two puppies from Stanislaus shelter and they promptly got parvo. They both survived and a rescue was born. We focus on saving parvo puppies from the shelters and the public. We also focus on orphaned puppies whose mothers have passed away, these puppies would not survive without round the clock care. We do not have a shelter, all our dogs are in foster homes mostly in Alameda and Conta Costa County (close to our vets). We are 100% volunteer based, we all have regular jobs and save dogs because we love them. Please be patient with us as we communicate by email only.

Asians for Humans, Animals & Nature

We are changing our organization's name from Asians for Humans, Animals & Nature to Angel's Love. The abbreviation and the website will remain the same as www.ahan.org. AHAN Accomplishments and The Future of AHAN First, I would like to express my gratitude to all of the people whom adopted dogs and cats from us and all of the people, including the staff, volunteers, donors and friends of AHAN, whom were involved with our organization to find so many good homes for these animals. AHAN will be a program under Angel's Love and will continue to help animals, but decreasing the number of hands-on adoptions. We will still post a few new dogs but the majority of the requests will be forwarded to other reliable organizations to help with dog adoptions. Angel's Love will be more involved with setting up a foundation to help other rescuers and organizations once we verify all the information and the background of those organizations. A quick look at AHAN's 30+ years of accomplishments • - We were the first organization that came up with a strategy with an international organization's help to get Taiwan pass the Animal Protection Law. • - We have helped more than 60 international and local rescuers find homes for their rescued dogs • - We have adopted out more than ten thousand dogs and cats and even some goats. • - We were heavily involved in stopping the unnecessary killing of feral cats in the Bay Area. • - We came up with a successful strategy of how to help animals locally and internationally without owning a shelter by working together with rescuers from all over the world. We will continue helping to save dogs and cats by supporting other organizations!

A Girl's Best Friend Rescue

A Girl’s Best Friend Rescue is a registered 501(C)3 non-profit organization that pulls dogs from kill shelters, rescues them from the streets, provides them with their necessary medical care, and works tirelessly to help each dog find forever loving homes. Are you ready to meet your best friend?

Pound Puppy Rescue

Pound Puppy Rescue is a 501(c)3 nonprofit founded in 2001. We rescue approximately 400 puppies every year. We are a completely volunteer run organization whose purpose is to keep puppies out of overcrowded shelters where they are at risk for disease and euthanasia. Puppies are fostered in volunteer foster homes where we can keep the puppies healthy, socialized, and in their litter until they are old enough to be placed in permanent, loving homes. All of the puppies we rescue come to us looking for love and a "forever" home. Our hope is that all puppies placed through our organization will never experience being homeless or unloved again.

Bay Area Animal Rescue Crew

Bay Area Animal Rescue Crew (BAARC) was born August 2015 from a group of friends with a passion and love for saving animals. We provide loving foster homes to homeless dogs until we find them their new FURever family. At BAARC, we are dedicated to finding the right fit for all of our ADOPTables. Our animals come from a variety of California shelters or from owners who can no longer take care for their pets. If you are interested in owner-surrendering a pet, please know that while we are committed to saving as many animals as possible, we are bound by the number of foster homes we have to house and love the animal. If we cannot take in the animal due to a lack of space, we can provide referrals to other rescues who may be able to help keep your animal out of the shelter system. ADOPTable dogs are spayed/neutered (fixed), microchipped, up to date on vaccinations. We will not adopt out dogs for breeding purposes, and as such, each dog that is eligible for spay/neuter will be desexed.

NorCal Poodle Rescue

We are a group of volunteers who rescue, rehabilitate and find loving homes for more than 140 poodles and poodle mixes each year. Serving Northern California, we rescue and adopt standard, miniature and toy poodles, as well as poodle mixes. We respond to county shelters, humane societies, and individuals via our website and phone hotline. Each poodle is spayed or neutered, vaccinated, micro-chipped and groomed before adoption. In addition, we provide extensive medical care, fostering, boarding and training if needed before placement. We have a return policy in the event that a poodle adoption doesn't work out. We are always grateful for your donations; 97% of all donations are dedicated to our poodles. As we are an all-volunteer organization we incur only 3% administrative cost. The generous gift of time by our volunteers, support and services by pet care businesses, and your tax-deductible donations make this work possible. NorCal Poodle Rescue is an Adoption Guarantee Organization: We rehabilitate and re-home all healthy and treatable animals in our care and reserve euthanasia only for unhealthy and untreatable animals in extreme cases, such as those who bite or with unmanageable medical conditions. NCPR honors the definitions of healthy and treatable as described by the Asilomar Accords.

Bay Area Alliance for Animals

Bay Area Alliance for Animals (A4A) is a 501c3 non-profit officially started in 2012 by Alexandra Kay and Adriana Ludé. After years of taking in, neutering, fostering and adopting homeless cats and dogs, Alexandra and Adriana were looking for a way to make a bigger difference in the lives of these animals. They came to the realization that the most vital impact could be made by starting an organization that would form a bridge between local non-profits and the county animal shelters. With the help of awesome volunteers with so many varying areas of expertise, we believe that that a No Kill Bay Area can be achieved! Check out our programs for more specific information!

Transform A Street Dog

Transform a Street Dog has been on the ground in Ukraine supporting independent animal rescuers and rescuing homeless animals since 2018. After the war began, we switched gears, and started to organize mass evacuations of animals to enable them to escape the war and be adopted. Please help us to support pet owners, abandoned pets, neglected shelter dogs and suffering street dogs in Ukraine that have all been affected by the senseless Russian invasion of Ukraine and its people.

Northern California Sled Dog Rescue

Established in 1997 as a 501(c)(3) organization, NorSled's mission is to rescue, rehabilitate, foster, and find homes for unwanted, abandoned, and abused Northern breed dogs. Our strategy involves extensive community engagement, fundraising, and collaboration with partners like Pet Food Express. We focus on increasing awareness about the specific needs of these breeds and providing support to adopters, ensuring long-term care and reducing return rates.

Companion Animal Community Center

The Center was founded in 2021 by a group of animal advocates on the San Mateo Peninsula, with the goal of rescuing animals in need of loving homes by engaging community members in our lifesaving efforts. Our Team has over 50 years experience that includes foster and adoption programs, behavior and training, fundraising, medical and veterinary care.

Hella Dam Bitches n Queens Rescue Inc

We are dedicated to saving, protecting and caring for cats and dogs while helping end euthanasia due to overcrowding. As an independent nonprofit that receives no federal, state or local funding, nor funding from national organizations, we rely on donations from our supporters to provide our care and services.

Hayward Animal Shelter

Hayward Animal Services (HASB) is an “open admissions” shelter: We accept Hayward’s homeless, injured, orphaned, unwanted, lost, abandoned and mistreated animals, regardless of age, breed, temperament or medical condition. Our staff provides critical services to our community, sheltering thousands of Hayward's stray animals each year and responding to animal-related calls for service. We are a division of the Hayward Police Department and proudly provides public safety and animal welfare services. We are here to serve our community’s residents, and promote responsible pet ownership and humane care.

Peninsula Humane Society & SPCA

The Peninsula Humane Society & SPCA (PHS/SPCA) is a local, private, non-profit charitable organization dedicated to animal welfare. Among our major programs, PHS/SPCA adopts fully 100% of the healthy, adoptable dogs and cats in our care and also, through our charitably funded Hope Program, make well and find homes for thousands of animals who come to us sick, injured, or too young to survive without supportive care. PHS/SPCA is truly an open admission shelter, not only accepting many pet animals who might be refused at other shelters, but also taking care of injured and orphaned native wildlife. Our work means almost 5,000 lives saved each year. PHS/SPCA has received a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator, and we’re a Platinum-level GuideStar Exchange participant