The Best Vermont Dog Rescues & Shelters in 2026

Vermont English Bulldog Rescue

The Vermont English Bulldog Rescue is dedicated to the physical and mental rehabilitation of former puppy mills and disadvantaged dogs through education, fostering, and rehabilitation.

Passion 4 Paws

Robin has invested many years learning best practices to rescue dogs primarily from death row at high kill shelters through working with other rescues where Robin met fellow dog rescue advocate and friend, Tamara, and decided the most effective way to save even more dogs was to establish a new entity in Chittenden County and surrounding areas. Many people who personally know Robin and Tamara recognize their passion and dedication to the dogs. Today, we have an amazing team of professional, highly-dedicated volunteers who help us rescue from high kill shelters, provide safe environments with foster families/adopters, educate the community and advocate for animal rights. Our group is staffed entirely by volunteers and served by a board of directors. Our efforts are supported through donations, charity events, corporate/employee benefit tax deductible donation programs, and the generosity of animal lovers from within the community. Our rescue focus is exclusive to dogs. 100% of all funds received go directly towards saving dogs and are used strictly for this purpose to include shelter fees, boarding fees, medical bills, transport fees, food, supplies, all in support of our mission.

Long trail canine rescue

Long Trail Canine Rescue's (LTCR) mission is to support overcrowded shelters by helping to minimize the need to euthanize adoptable dogs. Through the rescue, rehabilitation, and placement of abandoned pets into permanent, suitable homes throughout the northeast, LTCR offers these deserving animals a new chance for long, happy life with a loving family. Click the images below to find out how you can adopt or foster a dog, and how you can help support Long Trail Canine Rescue.

Humane Society of Chittenden County

HSCC is an independent, 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization that receives no city, state or federal funding. We are not affiliated with any national organizations, such as the Humane Society of the United States. We rely solely on the limited revenue generated by our programs and fees, and on the tremendous generosity of our community. In fact, the majority of our annual revenue comes from charitable giving! We serve Vermont's most populated county, Chittenden, as well as Grand Isle County.

Pope Memorial Frontier Animal Shelter

PMFAS is a non-profit organization where we are happy to help the community by caring for and rehoming pets. Our mission is to improve the welfare of the animals of Orleans and Essex Counties by sheltering and caring for lost and unwanted animals, spaying and neutering, placing animals in humane environments, and implementing programs to provide services for the promotion of responsible pet ownership. Pope Memorial Frontier Animal Shelter relies on the support of its community through donations, volunteering, fostering, and of course adoptions!