The Animal Rescue League of Iowa, Inc
#99 in United States, #3 in Iowa, #1 in Des Moines
The ARL serves people and pets from across the state of Iowa through its programs, which include pet adoption, humane education, pet behavior training, spay/neuter, animal cruelty intervention and much more. The Animal Rescue League is dependent on individual and corporate contributions to care for its animals.
AHeinz57 Pet Rescue and Transport
#99 in United States, #3 in Iowa, #1 in Des Moines
AHeinz57 Pet Rescue & Transport, Inc. is a 501(c)3, non-profit, foster-based animal rescue organization, headquartered in De Soto, IA. Our main purpose is to care for the homeless companion animals in our community and surrounding areas. We also provide much needed services to the pet owners in our area thru food assistance, low cost spay/neuter clinics, and TNR services. In addition to our own community, we strive to bridge the gap between traditional animal shelters and no-kill rescues throughout the central United States in 2 different ways: 1) By pulling dogs out of traditional shelters that are on death row and placing them in foster homes and forever homes through our organization; and 2) By providing free transportation for dogs from traditional shelters to other no-kill rescues all over the Midwest and Canada
Poweshiek Animal League Shelter (PALS)
#100 in United States, #4 in Iowa, #2 in Des Moines
At PALS, a no-kill animal shelter located just south of Grinnell, IA, we change lives. We provide a safe haven and veterinary care to homeless cats and dogs, and we match them with individuals and families who benefit from the companionship, spontaneity, and joy they bring to a home.
PALS relies entirely on donations and is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.
PALS works hard to provide our county with a shelter for animals in need. We care for our cats and dogs 365 days a year. Prior to our opening, the only option for stray animals picked up by city police and sheriff’s departments in Poweshiek County was a 7-day stay at local veterinary clinics. If owners or an adopting family were not found in that short period of time, the animals were then euthanized.
PALS has stepped in not only to provide a safe haven for these homeless animals, but to also ensure they receive responsible vet care including spay/neuters, shots, deworming, and flea/tick control, as well as addressing any emergency medical concerns. We began with a network of foster homes in 2004, and we began our licensed shelter in 2007 after a generous donation from an anonymous source. We purchased 7 acres south of Grinnell, which is the animals' current home.
We are happy to report that we have helped over 3000 cats and dogs find loving homes! Read more about our life-saving statistics.
We rely entirely on donations. Unlike most animal shelters in Iowa, PALS receives no public funding of any kind.
PALS is a 501(c)(3) non-profit. We are licensed by the Iowa Department of Agriculture.
Paws-N-Claws Iowa
#100 in United States, #4 in Iowa, #2 in Des Moines
Paws-N-Claws Iowa was founded in Summer of 2020 by three very dedicated volunteers. Together these individuals have more than two decades of experience in the animal welfare industry and came together to provide the most progressive rescue practices while working to save the lives of those who need us most. We are a 100% foster based organization - meaning every one of the pets in our program resides in a volunteer's home. These volunteers are the backbone of our organization, providing loving, in-home care until our pets are ready for their forever home.
Boone Area Humane Society
#100 in United States, #4 in Iowa, #2 in Des Moines
The Boone Area Humane Society was founded in 1977. We believe that because people domesticated animals, we have a responsibility to ensure their welfare. To ensure humane treatment, we respond to animal neglect and abuse calls, provide animal control for the Boone area, operate an animal shelter for lost, found and unwanted pets and provide humane education.
We provide animal control services for Boone County and the cities and towns within. We also provide a safe place for people to bring in their unwanted pets. “Unwanted pets” come to the shelter for a variety of reasons. Some owners have exhausted their efforts to find homes for litters. Some owners may need our help due to health problems or when relocating. Some pets are abandoned. We ask for a nominal fee when relinquishing your pet to us. This is to help cover the cost of care- food, vaccinations, medical assessment, loving care, etc. while they are in our facility.
We have a volunteer program and an orientation once a month for those who are interested in giving a little of the free time to the homeless animals. We also take donations of money, and high-quality food.
Marion County Humane Society
#100 in United States, #4 in Iowa, #2 in Des Moines
The Marion County Humane Society is an animal shelter located in Knoxville that serves the entire Marion County area. The purpose of MCHS is to give shelter to stray, lost or abandoned dogs and cats until either their owners are found or they are adopted to new homes. Since being founded in 1986 the MCHS has always required their adoptees to be altered to help the pet overpopulation. Part of the goal of the MCHS is to educate the public on the importance of spaying and neutering their pets.
Raccoon River Pet Rescue
#100 in United States, #4 in Iowa, #2 in Des Moines
Raccoon River Pet Rescue (RRPR) was created with the vision of providing a safe and humane shelter for dogs and cats in Perry and the surrounding communities, activities for volunteers and opportunities for pet adoption. Through contributions from generous individuals and organizations, RRPR will build a pet rescue facility that will:
Provide safe shelter for pets in Perry and the surrounding communities
Strengthen the human-animal bond through volunteerism, fostering, and adoption opportunities
Heartland Pet Hospital & Mobile Practice, P.C.
#100 in United States, #4 in Iowa, #2 in Des Moines
The Heartland Pet Hospital location has been a veterinary office for more than 40 years. Drs. Bright and McClatchey purchased the practice in 1998 and added Dr. Bright's house-call service to the business at that time. In 2007, the building was enlarged and remodeled to better serve our clientele. High quality in-house lab and x-ray provide results right away so treatment can be started immediately.
In January of 2015, Dr. Bright became the sole owner of Heartland Pet Hospital.
Animal Rescue of Carroll
#100 in United States, #4 in Iowa, #2 in Des Moines
Animal Rescue of Carroll (ARC) is a group of volunteers who began working together in 2006 to help improve the welfare for domestic animals in Carroll County.
Since its start, Animal Rescue of Carroll has:
- Grown to more than 100 active volunteers who help with the day to day operations including fostering, processing applications, grant writing, caring for dogs in the shelter, and much, much more.
- On January 27th, 2009, ARC officially became a 501c3 Non-Profit organization allowing the public to make tax-deductible donations.
- On February 3rd, 2011, ARC received its shelter license from the Iowa Department of Agriculture. Volunteers worked to convert a small hog confinement building into a full operational dog shelter.
- Since achieving its shelter license, ARC now assists Carroll County's local pounds with animals facing euthanasia.
- ARC is operating solely on generous volunteers who dedicate time to pets needing help as well spending time with their families, personal pets, and working their paying jobs. We would not be where we are today without our volunteers.
- ARC receives no government funding. It operates from donations from the public, grants, fundraisers, and adoptions fees. Many times the adoption fees for an animal do not cover the cost of its care while awaiting for adoption. Without the generous support from our community and beyond, ARC would not be able to assist the 200+ animals that come into our care every year.
Oh My Dog Rescue
#100 in United States, #4 in Iowa, #2 in Des Moines
My. Dog. Rescue, based in Madrid and Des Moines, Iowa. You’re in for a real treat. Dog rescue simplified. It should be fun and rewarding to rescue, foster, volunteer and adopt! Our mission is to make that a reality with every life we save.
We are Holly Kilstrom and Kara Berhow and fate slapped us together simply because the universe knew that two type A pawsonalities with a mutual love for sad-sack pups in need, were meant to join forces and change the world! We met when we both adopted dogs from the same rescue, and got drafted to be foster moms. Kara and her family spent just shy of 10 years fostering, and Holly has been part of the foster and rescue pack for 5 years. Together, we have found homes for hundreds of dogs.
For many years we dreamt of creating a very special dog rescue to help area pups in need, and now it is a reality! Our joint experience in rehabilitating, fostering, rescuing, transporting, all the -ings that go into saving dogs, equals the perfect combination for a specialized rescue. Our hope is to help dogs that need a second, third, even a fourth chance to land in their furever homes (with a clean bill of health from the dogtor). Oh My Dog Rescue was officially established in November of 2022, taking in our first rescue in January of 2023! In our first year we rescued 200 dogs from overfull shelters, retiring breeders and owner releases. We are a foster-based rescue which means that no dogs in our care spend any time in a shelter. They learn “how to dog” in knowledgeable and loving homes.
Animal Rescue League of Marshalltown
#100 in United States, #4 in Iowa, #2 in Des Moines
Animal rescue League of Marshalltown is a no-kill animal shelter dedicated to rescuing and rehabilitating animals in need.
The Animal Rescue League of Marshalltown is dedicated to rescuing and rehoming lost, homeless, and abused companion animals. Our mission is to reunite pets with their families, find new loving homes for adoptable animals, and strengthen the bond between humans and their animal companions.
Animal Lifeline of Iowa
#100 in United States, #4 in Iowa, #2 in Des Moines
Animal Lifeline of Iowa (ALI), founded in 1986 outside of Carlisle, Iowa, is Central Iowa’s only special needs, no-kill animal shelter, celebrating nearly 40 years of serving the Des Moines area and all of Iowa. We rescue cats and dogs that are injured, handicapped, have a serious medical condition, are abused, are pregnant, are nursing moms, or are orphans that require bottle feeding. We rehabilitate the animals, who run a higher risk of euthanasia in a traditional shelter setting and then adopt them into loving forever homes. Animals are not euthanized because they have been at the shelter for a certain length of time.
Story County Animal Shelter
#100 in United States, #4 in Iowa, #2 in Des Moines
Story County Animal Control & Shelter is responsible for overseeing and addressing animal control issues and concerns in rural Story County, as well as 12 cities that have agreements with the county for animal control and/or sheltering services. These services include, but are not limited to:
o Enforcing ordinances related to the treatment and control of animals.
o Responding to and handling complaints about animals.
o Reports of animal bites.
o Limited wildlife management.
o Providing shelter and care while facilitating the process of reuniting animals with their owners and adoptions for animals in need of a new home.
The team at the Story County Animal Shelter is comprised of committed individuals who share the mission of serving the public and safeguarding the well-being of animals both within the county and under their care.
Heartland Greyhound Adoption
#100 in United States, #4 in Iowa, #2 in Des Moines
Heartland Greyhound Adoption is a volunteer, not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization, formed and operating in central Iowa to promote the adoption of retired racing greyhounds.
Safe Paws
#100 in United States, #4 in Iowa, #2 in Des Moines
Safe Paws is an independent 501(c)(3) non-profit animal rescue dedicated to finding safe, permanent homes for animals who have set dates to be euthanized.
Kiya Koda Humane Society
#100 in United States, #4 in Iowa, #2 in Des Moines
We are a state recognized non-profit 501(c)3 animal shelter. Our goal is to find loving, safe homes for these precious pets.
Furry Friends Refuge
#100 in United States, #4 in Iowa, #2 in Des Moines
Furry Friends Refuge is a nonprofit humane organization serving the animals of central Iowa. Furry Friends is a 501(c)3 tax-deductible organization and has created the first no-kill community in the Des Moines metro area. Until July 1, 2023, Furry Friends provided open admission services to pets in need for West Des Moines, Clive, and Urbandale. Furry Friends continues to serve all animal welfare needs for animals in Clive and Urbandale. We are currently assisting area shelters who are open admission and at or beyond capacity due to the current sheltering crisis being seen in Iowa and nationwide. Once we are able to provide sufficient support to stabilize those populations, we will expand our target jurisdictions to other neighboring communities who share our vision of building humane communities with a safety net for all animals in need. West Des Moines decided to terminate its partnership with Furry Friends as of July 2023 against the wishes of many citizens. Please contact the city manager Tom Hadden at tom.hadden@wdm.iowa.gov if you have a pet in West Des Moines who no longer has anywhere to go because of the city’s decision or if you are left waiting for hours or days with a stray animal due to the appointment only system for accepting stray animals the city has implemented in its new city run and taxpayer funded program.
Furry Friends seeks to assist all area animals in need through a variety of programs including adoptions, spay and neuter, community outreach, and humane education. Additionally, the organization has partnered with Polk County Animal Control to provide housing, reunification, and adoption programs for stray animals in Clive and Urbandale.
Furry Friends relies heavily on volunteers, and all donations go directly to the programs that serve the animals.