The Best Denver, CO Dog Rescues & Shelters in 2026

Summit Dog Rescue / Pod To The Rescue

We are a small volume rescue with a huge focus on humane education. We rescue dogs and cats and work with our adopters/fosters and the general public to educate about how to best support our companion animals so that their placements can be successful. Unwanted pets is at epidemic levels, and without education we won't make progress. Our rescue is unique in that we are run by multiple certified dog trainers and behavior professionals. We have a podcast called Pod To The Rescue, which is produced with the goal of providing evidence based behavioral support to adopters and fosters.

Jailbreak husky rescue

Jailbreak Husky Rescue is a 501(C)(3) and PACFA licensed organization based out of Colorado that aims to rescue, rehabilitate, transport, rehome and advocate for Siberian Huskies and other northern breeds that are at risk of being euthanized, abandoned, or in neglectful or abusive situations. Our mission has a specialized focus on pregnant or nursing northern breeds, including pre-natal and postpartum care, whelping, bottle, syringe and tube feeding, and breed-focused litter care and development.

Ho-Bo Care Boxer Rescue

Ho-Bo Care Boxer Rescue is a non-profit, all volunteer group in Colorado. We have been active and engaged in our community since 1972.

My Fairy Dawg Mother Rescue LLC

The Fairy Dawg Mother works with trusted partners in Colorado and nearby states to bring dawgs to the Denver Metro area, where they will have a better chance at adoption. We do our best to select dogs that will be highly successful candidates for placement with a new furever family, but change can be stressful for even the most easy-going dawg. Because of this, we work with foster families to start getting them stabilized, learn about each dawg's individual temperament, and provide training and guidance to the dawg.

PawsCo

PawsCo is a 501(c)3 animal welfare organization based in Denver, Colorado. PawsCo is dedicated to reducing pet homelessness by partnering with animal shelters and other rescues in order to help the most in-need animals ‚ those animals not thriving in a shelter setting.

Soul Dog Rescue

Soul Dog is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit animal rescue organization founded with the mission to spay/neuter and protect animals. Soul Dog is proactive in animal welfare, advancing the need for spaying and neutering our pets to reduce overpopulation. We travel to rural communities on Native American reservations, where spaying and neutering will only happen if it is nearly free or very convenient. Soul Dog works with volunteer veterinarians to provide the spaying and neutering service at no cost to the public. Donations are used to defray the costs associated with medications, supplies, and the operating cost for clinics.

Colorado Saint Bernard Rescue

Colorado Saint Bernard Rescue is a 501(c)3 non-profit that was founded in 1997, all volunteer organization dedicated to the rehoming of unwanted, abandoned, and abused Saint Bernards and Saint Bernard mixes.

Harley's Dream

Harley's Dream was established in 2016 in honor of Harley, a senior one-eyed puppy mill survivor who became the face and voice of the puppy mill dogs, earning the distinction of being the 2015 American Hero Dog for his work. Our mission is to create awareness and educate the public about the cruel commercial dog breeding industry (also known as puppy mills) and to rescue and rehome senior dogs in need.

NOCO Humane

Welcome to NOCO Humane, your community partner for comprehensive animal welfare services in Larimer and Weld counties. We have expanded our reach and our impact, taking on the sheltering and care of animals in Weld County in light of the dissolution of the Humane Society of Weld County. Join us as we heal, nature, and protect more than 10,000 animals in the year to come!

A Friend of Jack Rescue

A Friend of Jack Rescue is a Colorado, foster-based 501(c)3 non-profit rescue dedicated to finding loving, lasting homes for unwanted dogs and puppies.

Dumb Friends League

One of the ways the Dumb Friends League can fulfill its mission to end pet homelessness and animal suffering is to influence the laws and policies that protect animals and enhance their welfare. Our Advocacy team works with policymakers, animal welfare agencies, law enforcement and the community to drive the policies that make Colorado a leader in protecting our furry family members. We hope to help you stay informed on issues in Colorado and across the country that impact animal sheltering and welfare and continue to make systemic changes that benefit animals and the humans that love them, now and in the future

Taysia Blue Rescue | Siberian Huskies & Alaskan Malamutes

Taysia Blue Rescue is a 501c3 nonprofit organization. We are a family of volunteers and advocates dedicated to helping local Siberian Huskies, Alaskan Malamutes, and their guardians. We are funded solely and supported by, the generosity of individuals and corporations in our communities. All our dogs are located in approved foster homes in the metro areas of Omaha, Lincoln, Kansas City, Des Moines and Denver. Taysia Blue does not have a physical building and does not have set hours of operation.

Colorado Corgis and Friends

Colorado Corgis and Friends is a 501c3 Dog Rescue specializing in Corgis and other lowrider breeds. Established in late 2019 by a group of Corgi-loving people who love and understand the Corgi breed and love all other dogs as well. The founding members have over 100+ years of experience owning Corgis and 50+ years in Rescue. It is our pleasure and passion to help homeless dogs in need, help struggling owners rehome their pets, and offer advice on training issues typical of this herding breed.

Mamco rescue dogs

Our mission is to ensure that all rescued animals are treated as valuable members of society through quality veterinary care, regular grooming, and excellent nutrition. We are a foster based, 501c3 non-profit rescue, dedicated to the health and wellbeing of mother dogs and cats and their litters. We see our rescue dogs and cats through pregnancy, birth (whelping), nursing, weaning, and adoption. In addition to providing necessary care, we also work to socialize, train, and evaluate each animal to ensure that they find permanent forever homes. This involves establishing close and trusting relationships with our volunteers, adopters, and the community.

RezDawg Rescue

RezDawg Rescue collaborates with several rescues in NM, AZ and CO to ensure the safe and comfortable transport of unwanted animals to rescues, shelters and fosters where they will have a chance at a forever home. We relocate dogs and cats from high-intake shelters, animal control facilities, and reservations in the Four Corners area to animal rescue partners and forever homes in Colorado. We provide transportation to foster homes and other partner organizations, offer medical care and low/no cost spay and neuter services, manage a network of foster homes for temporary shelter, and run adoption events so that these animals can find forever homes.

Foothills Animal Shelter

Foothills Animal Shelter is an open admission facility serving Jefferson County in the state of Colorado and is a member of the Metro Denver Animal Welfare Alliance. We are driven to make lives better for animals and people in our community. We are a Socially Conscious Animal Welfare Organization, creating the best outcomes for all animals that enter our care. We place every healthy and safe animal for adoption. We assess the medical and behavioral needs of homeless animals and ensure these needs are thoughtfully addressed. And, we alleviate suffering through thoughtful euthanasia.

Evergreen Animal Protective League (EAPL)

The Evergreen Animal Protective League (EAPL) was organized in April, 1981 to aid lost, abandoned, and suffering animals through rescue, shelter, and education. Since that time, the League has provided a better life for thousands of cats, dogs, and other pets.

Mother Gaia Animal Rescue

Rocky Mountain Puppy Rescue

Since 2010 RMPR has successfully rescued, vetted and re-homed over 11,000 animals and we are still going strong! Rocky Mountain Puppy Rescue is a licensed non-profit animal welfare organization whose mission is to save unwanted puppies, adult dogs, and cats from being euthanized in overcrowded kill shelters. We transfer, spay, neuter, and place these animals in our Colorado foster network until they are ready for adoption to their forever homes. The benefits of a foster home are tremendous, we provide the socialization that these animals cannot experience in a traditional shelter setting, enabling them to grow into balanced animals that will thrive in their forever homes. ​We promote our animal welfare organization through our public adoption events, and benefit New Mexico communities with our SPAY IT FORWARD program that provides life saving vaccines and spay and neuter services. Since 2012 we have spayed/neutered over 4,000 dogs and cats in our public Spay Program. In addition to these programs, we provide donated food to areas in need through our food network connections and educate the public about the need for spaying and neutering of their pets, proper exercise, feeding, grooming, and training.

Fureverdog Rescue and Boarding

We are a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization focused on helping stray, abandoned, homeless or owner surrender dogs to have a better life. We provide medical, spay/neuter, microchipping, vaccinations, food, water, a warm place to stay and lots of love. These pups are waiting for a second chance with a loving family.

Mountain Pet Rescue

Mountain Pet Rescue is a Colorado nonprofit organization dedicated to finding forever homes for pets in need. We focus on active dogs that face euthanization or are considered unadoptable in other areas of the country, but are in high demand in Colorado’s mountain communities. Pets come into our lives and touch our hearts. Sometimes they change us forever. For Sybil Miller, that pet was Boris – a Bernese mountain dog who would have continued to swelter under Florida’s sun if Sybil hadn’t flown from Colorado to rescue him. Sybil had been looking for a Bernese but couldn’t find one in a Colorado shelter; the breed was so popular there, no one had one available. When she contacted the Florida shelter, they were thrilled that Boris had finally found a loving home and could be the mountain dog he was meant to be. The experience taught Sybil that certain dogs that are in high demand in Colorado mountain communities, such as Labradors, Newfoundlands, Huskies, and Heelers are often considered unadoptable in other states. With the help of a group of dedicated volunteers, Sybil decided to start a local rescue dedicated to finding homes for these types of dogs. And so Mountain Pet Rescue was born. We are a foster-based rescue in Grand County, CO that focuses on rescuing active, energetic “mountain” dogs by working with overcrowded shelters in and outside of Colorado. Our Board of Directors strives to match each dog with its perfect home by assessing its temperament, evaluating the potential foster and adoption home, and following up with the pet owner to ensure a healthy and enjoyable relationship.

Thunder Puppy K9 Rehabilitation and Rehoming

Thunder Puppy K9 Rehabilitation and Rehoming is a nonprofit (501c3) organization in located in Colorado that is focused on bringing (mostly) Siberian Huskies back to balance and finding them loving homes where they can live in safety with an enriched quality of life. OUR PURPOSE A. To bring at-risk dogs in our community and the surrounding area to safety. B. To help educate dog guardians what it means to be a responsible, loving pet owner. C. To provide an environmentally enriched sanctuary for dogs while helping them navigate the rehoming process. D. To rehabilitate said dogs through behavior modification, Pack Therapy, Canine Psychology, and Human Education E. To find only the best and most suitable forever homes for each animal based on his or her needs and the capabilities of their potential custodians.

Mile High German Shorthaired Pointer Rescue

We provide a second chance for German Shorthaired Pointers (GSPs) who have been abandoned, neglected, abused, surrendered or otherwise displaced and adopt them into permanent, loving homes that will nurture and appreciate their energetic, affectionate and loyal personalities.

Colorado puppy rescue

A licensed, no-kill, non-profit puppy rescue specializing in very young puppies and their mothers.

Do Over Dogs - A Second Chance At Life

Do Over Dogs is a foster-based, 501(c)(3) organization that gives at-risk dogs from the shelter environment a second chance at life. We focus our rescue efforts on dogs and puppies that are at high risk of euthanasia.

Retriever Rescue of Colorado

RROC was created in 2006 by people who had volunteered for years with single-breed rescues and recognized the need for a group that could take any of the retriever breeds. With a shoestring budget and a handful of volunteers, the expectation was that RROC would save about thirty dogs a year. That estimate was shattered within a few months and RROC has saved well over 2000 retrievers and continues to welcome over 200 dogs in need annually.

Polaris Alaskan Malamute Rescue

Polaris (or the North Star) Siberan Husky Rescue (PSHR) was founded in 1987 by Ingrid Simpson, when a very large husky named Kodi came to her house. Through the years PSHR has grown, helping more and more dogs find forever-families. Beginning in summer 2004, PSHR partnered with the national Alaskan Malamute Assistance League (AMAL) to provide adoption and rescue for Alaskan malamutes as well. Thus the Polaris Alaskan Malamute Rescue (PAMR) was born. PAMR provides education on, take in and adoption of malamutes. Our dogs come from a variety of __cpLocations around Colorado and bordering states, including shelters, strays, and private surrenders. Our motto is "We place dogs with families, not families with dogs." We place dogs of all ages, but there is a prevalence of one to three year malamutes that come into rescue. PAMR has a number of foster homes for care and placements, but we are always looking for volunteers to help.

Trevor's Animal Rescue

We are a nonprofit charitable organization located in Parker, Colorado. We are dedicated to finding homes for dogs, cats, and other animals. Animals we receive are from various shelter euthanasia lists and at risk situations. We advocate for the most vulnerable animal populations. We believe that each and every life is precious, deserving to be treated humanely with a chance to live happily and cruelty-free. This rescue was founded in loving memory of Trevor Power, a true animal lover.

Lifeline Puppy Rescue

Lifeline Puppy Rescue is a non-profit, no-kill shelter that rescues puppies and mom dogs from 5 states in the Rocky Mountain Region. We rescue from a network of 33 shelters and rescue groups to prevent euthanasia and have saved over 44,000 lives. The Lifeline connection to small towns and rural areas is crucial. When we work together, we can save lives and build families in our community. Since our 1993 inception, Lifeline Puppy Rescue has saved over 44,000 puppies in the west and midwestern United States from euthanasia at city and county kill-shelters. We are a 501(c)3 non-profit and the largest and longest running no-kill puppy rescue of our kind in Colorado. We are an all-breed rescue which accepts puppies and pregnant moms from 5 states and a network of 33 shelters and affiliated rescue organizations. We vet our puppies, treat for anything they may be suffering from. Once healthy, we place them for adoption to find a forever loving home. Lifeline Puppy Rescue was founded as a no-kill rescue to save puppies that would otherwise have to be put down because of overpopulation problems in kill-shelters. By working together, we can save lives and build families in our community.

Safe Harbor Lab Rescue

Safe Harbor Lab Rescue was co-founded by Leslie Brown and Lauren Immel to honor the memory of Les’ first Lab, Tess. Part of the vision was to help senior Labs, Labs that may need hospice care, and special needs Labs all of whom have little hope of placement while in shelters. Leslie had many special needs Labs, including Owen who was born hydrocephalic and given no more than a year to live. Owen lived to the ripe old age of 11! Chocolate, a blind dwarf Lab, and Gypsy, a deaf and blind Lab mix were some of the others that followed Owen and began Safe Harbor’s legacy. After 30 years with Jefferson County Courts, Les retired to focus on Safe Harbor Lab Rescue. At the same time she went to work part time at Arvada West Veterinary Hospital, Safe Harbor’s first veterinary care provider and continues to provide care for our Labs.