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The Best Albany, NY Dog Rescues & Shelters in 2024

David Adams

June 25, 2024

Dog Rescues & Shelters

This list showcases the top dog rescues & shelters in Albany, NY. These remarkable organizations have been recognized for their unwavering dedication to the well-being of countless dogs. We've compiled this list by gathering heartfelt testimonials from both the Sniffspot community and the wider public, ensuring a comprehensive perspective on these exceptional shelters.

Homeward Bound Dog Rescue of New York
#100 in United States, #11 in New York, #1 in Albany
Albany
Homeward Bound is a not for profit volunteer organization. We are not a shelter and we do not have a facility - all the dogs in our program live in foster homes; We take our dogs into our homes and care for them as if they were our own until they go to their forever homes. The time we spend with them helps us to learn more about them, which allows us to be able to provide applicants with an accurate assessment and the dog's individual strengths and needs.

Companion Animal Placement Program
#100 in United States, #11 in New York, #1 in Albany
#26 in pit Bull
Pit Bull
Albany
Villalobos Rescue Center(VRC) first began as a wolf/wolf hybrid rescue in the 90's back in California long before there was a TV show. Tia Torres was the contracted dog trainer for the City of Los Angeles Animal Services for 11 years. VRC began employing parolees in 2006. VRC relocated to Louisiana in 2011 due to economic reasons and major changes in county laws making it nearly impossible to function as a non-profit business. Now in Louisiana, VRC has a location in the city of New Orleans and in the rural/country environment of Assumption Parish (an hour and a half outside of New Orleans). VRC now has a location in Northeast Texas for wolfdogs (wolf/dog mixes) ONLY. Due to the overwhelming need to help other dogs, VRC has now become an all-breed rescue with the main focus still being on Pit Bulls. Now that we are in the South, we have to deal with heartworm disease. This means that 99% of the dogs we take in, enter our facility with this pre-existing condition. It not only takes three to six months to cure but costs up to $500 per dog. Our yearly vet bill is almost half a million dollars. That's $500,000.00 The cost per day to run VRC varies, but it averages $10,000.00. That's $70K a week, $280,000 a month approximately $4 million a year to run the rescue. We take in approximately 40 dogs a month. We adopt out approximately 40 50 dogs a month. We adopt dogs all over the country (the lower 48 states). We DO NOT adopt outside the country with the exception of Canada. We are no longer able to adopt to the state of Colorado due to state restrictions. Placing or giving up a dog: Whether it be yours personally or a dog that you have found, unfortunately with our relocation to Louisiana, we are no longer able to take dogs from out of state. The amount of dogs in our local area that need our help is OVERWHELMING and for the past 3 years, we have taken on the responsibility of working with animal control in our rural/country location of Assumption Parish where by parish guidelines, no dogs can be turned away from within the parish. We get approximately 100 requests per day to take dogs from all over the country and this is simply not something that we can physically and financially keep up with. If you email our placement box on our Contact page, you will receive an auto-response with suggestions on where else you can find assistance. There are many other wonderful Pit Bull rescues around the country. Showing up at our facility, unexpected and outside the tour times with the expectation of seeing Tia Torres or trying to drop a dog off from out of the state of Louisiana: Probably the two most common problems we have. To keep it simple, more than likely neither will happen. Tia Torres does NOT live in New Orleans and her schedule is very hit & miss. To have people showing up at our facility in the middle of the night, yelling and screaming for Tia (sadly it happens all the time) will only grant you a visit from NOPD. So you've been warned. As we stated in #13, we can no longer take dogs from out of state. For the record, this does not mean that by you bringing a dog from let's say California and by driving it across the country into Louisiana.this does not constitute an in-state dog. You will be turned away and referred to a group closer to the area you just came from. We can only do so much and if we took in every dog we got a call or request for, we would be taking approximately 700 dogs a week and this is literally impossible. Please be respectful of the limitations we have had to impose. Each dog that comes through our gates, is an initial and up-front cost of $1000 PER DOG to Villalobos (medical intake, vaccinations, heartworm disease, spay/neuter, etc) Again, we NO LONGER are able to take dogs into our facility from other states but we are NOT the only Pit Bull rescue. Please Google for other organizations. They do exist.

Free To Be Me Rescue
#100 in United States, #11 in New York, #1 in Albany
Albany

Fulton County Regional SPCA
#100 in United States, #11 in New York, #1 in Albany
Albany
Fulton County Regional Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (or Regional SPCA, for short) had its humble beginnings as Regional Animal Shelter, which was founded in 2002. Regional started as a grassroots group of dedicated animal advocates whose primary goal was to design, construct, and staff a new state-of-the-art animal shelter to serve our region. Our current location at 117 West Fulton St in Gloversville opened in May of 2012. We are 100% volunteer-run, and we receive no funding from government or national organizations (i.e. ASPCA, HSUS, etc.). In 2018, the decision was made to reincorporate as an SPCA to better serve the neediest animals in our community. Reincorporation was finished in 2019 and we began full operations as Regional SPCA in January of 2020.

Mohawk Hudson Humane Society
#100 in United States, #11 in New York, #1 in Albany
Albany
Founded in 1887, the Mohawk Hudson Humane Society (MHHS) is the oldest and largest animal protection organization in New York's Capital Region, serving Albany, Rensselaer and surrounding counties. In addition to providing shelter and care for stray, abused and unwanted animals, we provide an ever-increasing array of services for animals and those who care for them. These programs contributed to a 93% live release rate in 2023, and include low-cost spay/neuter and wellness services, vaccination and microchip clinics, stray housing for municipalities, dog training, a pet food pantry and humane education programming for all ages.

Out of the Pits, Inc.
#100 in United States, #11 in New York, #1 in Albany
#26 in pit Bull
Pit Bull
Albany
Out of the Pits is a not for profit organization that was founded in 1994. We seek to educate the public about the true nature of the American Pit Bull Terrier and to make them aware that they used to be one of America's favorite breed of dogs. Our efforts are aimed at restoring the breed to its former position of esteem in the hearts and minds of people everywhere. Person holding a Pitbull puppyOur main focus is education. We visit dozens of schools with our certified therapy Pit Bulls to teach humane education throughout the New York Capital District, as well as nearby Massachusetts and Connecticut. We are also a rescue organization. Since our inception, we have successfully rehomed over 3,000 dogs, and helped many more stay in their homes.

What's the Sniffspot Albany Top Dog Rescue & Shelter List About?

Welcome to the 2024 Albany, NY Sniffspot Top Dog Rescue & Shelter List, highlighting the top rescues and shelters in Albany, NY chosen by the Sniffspot community and the public.

This list is sponsored by Sniffspot, the largest global network of private dog parks. Sniffspot offers 5 private dog parks in the Albany area, including fenced, water, indoor, and beach parks. As a hub for rescue dogs, our sponsorship underscores our dedication to supporting shelters and rescues. Explore Albany dog parks on Sniffspot's platform.

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See The Best Dog Rescues & Shelters In Other Cities Near Albany

See The Best Dog Rescues & Shelters In Other States

Ordered alphabetically, only included states where there is enough data to compile a list

Sniffspot Albany Dog Rescues & Shelters Frequently Asked Questions

How many dog rescues and shelters operate in Albany?

There are 5 in Albany. Outside of Albany, there are 58 located in New York.

What are the most reputable dog rescues and shelters in Albany?

There are many reputable rescues in Albany, the top 3 on our list are: Mohawk Hudson Humane Society, Companion Animal Placement Program, Homeward Bound Dog Rescue of New York.

What specialized services do dog rescues and shelters in Albany offer?

The most common specialization for dog rescues and shelters in Albany is Pit Bull with 2 focusing on it.

How can I adopt a rescue dog in Albany?

Using our list of the top dog rescues and shelters, you can find a reputable shelter in Albany. The adoption policies of each shelter varies and you can find information on the shelter profile page. Here is an example adoption policy:
1) Fill out an On-Line Adoption application after reading this entire page: This should be completed with little or no omissions or incorrect data. Please understand that we cannot process your application if you do not take the time to fill one out properly. Please note that until we review your application and tell you that you are approved to adopt, you cannot adopt one of our dogs - the process does take a little while so it is good start early. For various reasons, we are no longer acepting 'hand-apps.'Pay particular attention to your references and Veterinarian, including phone numbers. Filling out an on-line application before you come to the Saturday clinic will speed up the process, and will go directly to the HB volunteers who manage applications. Please remember to click the 'SUBMIT APPLICATION' button when completed.If you are not within 40 miles of the Albany Airport, please do not apply. This a distance we decided upon and if you disagree with our definition for out-of-the-area, please feel free to look for a dog in your community.2) Interview: Qualified volunteer (we are all volunteers) interviews you, for numerous reasons. First, we want to find our dogs the best possible homes. Second, we want to match personalities as much as possible. (We really hate to see adoptions fail). Third, we get a kick out of helping to complete families, and who knows, you might get convinced to become a volunteer as well. We require everyone in the household to be present for the interview process, especially young children. We need to see the interaction between the dog and everyone in the family, and for that reason we NEVER do surprise or gift adoptions.3) Reference Check: See the first reason for the interview) Home Visit: We will do a home visit if you have animals at home that we feel our dog needs to meet before adoption takes place. Sometimes personalities clash, and somebody does not like someone else. This is especially true if you have cats and we do not know how the dog you wish to adopt will react to cats. We will also do a home visit for any potential adopter who requests it or if we feel there is a situation at home that warrants one. We have replaced the home visit for many of our adopters, by our interview, as we feel it is thorough and tells us what we wish to know.5) Contract: (Link to contract) Once you are approved we will meet to handle the paperwork at our Saturday clinic. Once the contract is completed, your adoption fee (CLICK HERE) is paid (We accept cash and checks only), your new family member is turned over. We then hand over or mail you copies of everything we have about your new dog (medical records particularly).6) Follow Ups: You may hear from us!! We will try to make follow up calls to check out how things are going.7) Also, please send us pictures of your new family member whenever possible. We love to see success stories, so please keep in touch. You are very welcome to come to a later clinic with your new family member and show him (her) off. We also love to get Alumni pictures and stories from the new family to post.

Are there any breed-specific dog rescues and shelters in Albany?

We do not have any record of breed specific rescues and shelters in Albany, but there are the top breed-specific rescue and shelter types in nearby metro, CH Boxer Rescue, Pitbulls and Addicts, Companion Animal Placement Program

Can you recommend any dog rescues in Albany that specialize in senior dogs?

We do not have any record of senior dog rescues and shelters in Albany, but these are the closest cities with senior dog rescues and shelters: Poughkeepsie

Get your dog the safe enrichment they need by renting a Sniffspot

David Adams

June 25, 2024

Dog Rescues & Shelters

David Adams

About the author

David Adams is a man of many passions, but his love for dogs stands above all. He is not only a dog lover, but also the founder of an innovative platform called Sniffspot. This unique platform connects dog owners with private property owners who are willing to rent out their space for off-leash playtime. While the idea of Sniffspot was initially conceived by his wife, Rebecca, David has been the driving force behind its remarkable success, tirelessly overseeing its growth and development. David's dedication to providing safe and enjoyable spaces for dogs to play, explore, and socialize is evident in his unwavering commitment to Sniffspot. He strongly believes that dogs need ample space and opportunities to stretch their legs and have fun. As a result, he has worked tirelessly to build a network of private property owners across the country who share his vision and are willing to offer their space for the benefit of dogs and their owners. Despite his busy schedule, David always finds time to indulge in his passion for the great outdoors. He loves nothing more than exploring new hiking trails and embarking on thrilling outdoor adventures. Whenever he is not working on Sniffspot, he can often be found hiking or visiting multi-acre fenced sniffspots with his two beloved dogs, Soba and Toshii. He is an avid outdoorsman who enjoys the fresh air, breathtaking scenery, and the sense of freedom that comes with being in nature. David is based in Salem, MA.

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About Sniffspot

Sniffspot provides the best experiences and fun for you and your dog. Our dog parks are designed for the ultimate dog exercise. Our private spaces help you minimize distractions or triggers and maximize time with your dog. We provide off leash enrichment - exploration and activities you can't get anywhere else; wear your dog out for days. We make it easy to have playdates. Socialize your pup in a controlled, private spot - it's great exercise and it's fun for you and your dog.

The Best Albany, NY Dog Rescues & Shelters in 2024

Homeward Bound Dog Rescue of New York

Companion Animal Placement Program

Free To Be Me Rescue

Fulton County Regional SPCA

Mohawk Hudson Humane Society

Out of the Pits, Inc.

What's the Sniffspot Albany Top Dog Rescue & Shelter List About?

See The Best Dog Rescues & Shelters In Other Cities Near Albany

See The Best Dog Rescues & Shelters In Other States

Sniffspot Albany Dog Rescues & Shelters Frequently Asked Questions

How many dog rescues and shelters operate in Albany?

What are the most reputable dog rescues and shelters in Albany?

What specialized services do dog rescues and shelters in Albany offer?

How can I adopt a rescue dog in Albany?

Are there any breed-specific dog rescues and shelters in Albany?

Can you recommend any dog rescues in Albany that specialize in senior dogs?

David Adams

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