The Best San Diego, CA Dog Rescues & Shelters in 2025

Bunny's Buddies

Bunny's Buddies works tirelessly to save dogs from slaughterhouses, the streets and kill shelters in Asia and the USA.

The Animal Pad

The Animal Pad is a non-profit, all breed dog rescue that focuses on saving dogs from high kill shelters and the streets of Mexico. We get them vet care, place them in foster homes and then find them loving forever families. A few years ago, we turned our attention to the street dogs of Mexico as there is very little help for them. Since then, we have developed a large rescue network in Baja California and we have a sister shelter in Ensenada that we focus on taking dogs from whenever funds allow.

A Way Home For Dogs

We are a free Pet Recovery Service assisting owners on a global scale. We also secure evasive street strays primarily in the San Diego are (occasionally Riverside). If the strays are not claimed at the local shelter systems and are in danger of being euthanized, we become their safety net pending kennel space. We rescue, rehabilitate and rehome when the dogs are ready and safe to do so.

Amazing Strays Rescue

From day one, our goal has been to help all dogs who need it. Big, small, medical cases, senior or puppy; ASR stands by our commitment- Lisa, Our Founder

The Liberty Dog Network

The Liberty Dog Network was established in 2022 and is a small, Southern California based dog rescue. We rely on fosters/people to open their home to care for the dogs we rescue. We provide all medical care and supplies to our fosters, they provide the home and supply the love.

The Barking Lot

Located on 10 acres in San Diego County, we adopt to anywhere in the US and Canada. It's our goal to find an excellent match suited to both you and each of our Temporary Barkers. Having rescued over 9,000 dogs since our inception in 2006, we are primarily volunteer run with a soft spot for the underdogs. Our Temporary Barkers come from all over the world as we have partnerships with Soi Dog Foundation in Thailand, Four Paws in Cambodia/Vietnam and Ark119 in Korea from which we've taken in over 1000 dog meat trade survivors. We also rescue heavily from Mexico where the abandoned dog population is extensive, the neglect is vast and the stories are heart wrenching.

It's The Pits

It's The Pits is a 501c3 canine rescue that coordinates the fostering and adoption of dogs that haven't yet found their permanent home. We specialize in American Staffordshire Terriers (Am Staffs), Staffordshire Bull Terriers ("Staffy's"), and American Pit Bull Terriers, but will do our best to help all breeds, often by referral to other local rescues that specialize in that type of dog. You can find many of these on our links page. We are located in San Diego county, as are all of our foster homes. We work alongside our fosters to give the dogs a temporary and loving home before they are placed into permanent homes. We rescue dogs from various shelters, evaluate them, ensure they are healthy, and then match them with the appropriate family. We take pride in matching the best dog for the individual family that contacts us. We do this by matching the activity level of the dog to the family's needs, as well as making sure that the other pets in the home work well with the new addition to the pack.

Mad Mutts

Our goal is to assist in the rescue and rehabilitation of at-risk dogs from shelters that need a little more time, a more home-like environment, more individualized support, and/or have minor medical issues. So many AMAZING dogs just simply do not thrive or show well in a kennel environment. We aim to help rehabilitate and rehome these dogs with the goal of quality homes over quantity of placements. Our small rescue works with local shelters and rescues in Southern California to network, transport, foster, and adopt.

Tragic to Magic

We are in the Baja California region and see first hand the homeless, hungry, scared and sometimes sick dogs on the streets. We take the animals in and keep the animals in our homes until they are fully vetted and ready to find a new home. We are just 3 people doing the actual rescue so we attempt to operate on a one-in one-put bases. Therefore, we work very hard doing adoption events, networking with other rescues and using social media to find them homes. We have saved over 120 animals in 2017.

Heart of Gold's Shelter

Heart of Gold Legacy was established in December 2005 with the purpose of providing assistance to various organizations that promote the general welfare of animals. Gertrude Sissy, McGill, the benefactress of Heart of Gold Legacy, has given financial contributions to organizations that provide shelter and care to animals before the inception of the foundation. Sissy has been an active supporter of animal welfare all her life. With the help of Teresita Bacani, a long-time friend and business partner, Sissy's vision of helping the animals through the foundation came to fruition. A legacy has been finally fulfilled. To this date, many animal welfare organizations in the United States have benefited from the goodness of the heart of the foundation.

Frosted Faces Foundation

FROSTED FACES FOUNDATION IS A 501(C)(3) NON PROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT DELIVERS THE PROMISE OF FAMILY AND QUALITY VETERINARY CARE FOR SENIOR ANIMALS WHOSE LOVE AND LIVES ARE IN JEOPARDY.

Mutt Scouts

Mutt Scouts is not a breed specific rescue. We're dedicated to saving every dog we can, regardless of age, breed, medical or behavioral needs. We are transparent about our Mutt's needs with fosters and potential adopters to ensure that once a dog becomes a part of our organization, they will know nothing but love and safety for the rest of their lives.

Second Chance Dog Rescue

Second Chance Dog Rescue (SCDR INC, dba Second Chance Dog Rescue) is a non-profit 501c3 (#26-3642128) organizations dedicated to saving homeless dogs. We rescue, rehabilitate and re-home dogs, primarily from local shelters, as well as dogs surrendered by their owners for various reasons, and dogs from Baja California, Mexico. Once we receive a dog, we provide medical care, including spay and neuter, and any necessary rehabilitation.

San Diego Humane Society

San Diego Humane Society, an open-admission shelter, is creating a more humane world by inspiring compassion and advancing the welfare of animals and people. Our lifesaving safety net has helped San Diego become the largest city in the U.S. to keep healthy and treatable shelter animals from being euthanized. We are a private, independent, nonprofit organization that is not affiliated with any other humane society or society for the prevention of cruelty to animals. With campuses in El Cajon, Escondido, Oceanside, Ramona and San Diego, we provide animal services for 13 cities within San Diego County. We not only care for more than 40,000 animals in our communities annually, but also share the expertise we have gained through our innovative programs with shelters nationwide so they can save more lives in their communities. While our influence is expanding nationally, our top priority is meeting the needs of San Diego. We provide exceptional care for all animals through world-class veterinary medicine, shelter and most of all: love.

Mission Bay Puppy Rescue

Rescue orphaned puppies, pregnant and their litters. We partner with amazing rescue teams in Bakersfield CA, the San Diego Humane Society and Country Animal Shelters across California as well as others to save as many pups and mamas as possible.

Bichon FurKids Rescue

Bichon FurKids is a charitable not-for-profit organization whose members believe that our animal companions deserve to be cherished, cared for and protected. We value the loving contribution they make to our lives and are dedicated to assisting these loyal companions in finding forever homes — and a second chance at life. Our goal is to rescue bichons, bichon mixes and other small dogs who can no longer live with their original owners. Our Board and key volunteers are all dedicated, passionate and compassionate people who strive to make a difference in a dog’s life, assisting these FurKids to be adopted by loving owners who will care for and protect them as long as they live.

Tails of Mana

Non-profit foster-based animal rescue in Ocean Beach, San Diego CA. Tails of Mana is more than just a rescue; we are an integral part of the community. Through education, public outreach, and partnerships within the community, we aim to raise awareness for animals so desperately in need, the importance of spaying/neutering, the critical bonding opportunity through training and the joy of adopting a rescue animal. Our rescue relies solely on voluntary foster homes to care for these animals. We do not have a shelter facility or store front, we rely solely on word of mouth, social media, public events and our community to rescue these animals.

Cute Odyssey Inc

CUTEODYSSEY'S DOGGIE RESCUE is an all volunteer organization dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation and re-homing of abused, abandoned and neglected dogs. We are also a doggie hospice. Cuteodyssey Rescue is primarily a Shih Tzu Rescue (although we do take other breeds and mixes), located in S Cali. We are a 501(c)(3) non profit organization, tax ID number: 27-441-9788. We love dogs and we love to see them enhance a life. Our goals are two-fold. First, we want to save shelter dogs and secondly, we want your life to be improved by matching a wonderful dog to a safe, loving and caring family. No one should have to live without a furry little friend, when there are so many of these little munchkins needing loving homes.

RESCUE FENIX

Rescue Fenix, is a not-for-profit 501(c)3. We are an all-volunteer all-breed rescue mobilized by the feeling of compassion for animal welfare: those animals who are in danger, sick, abused, and neglected. We ensure that each animal rescued receives medical care and rehabilitation prior to rehoming them into a suitable forever home. We do not receive government funding and rely solely on the generosity of our donors.

Wagging Dog Rescue

Wagging Dog Rescue is a grassroots nonprofit that champions the rights of animals worldwide and works to create a better future for all lives. We rescue orphaned dogs and other critters from shelters and streets in Southern California and ’round the globe who have no other options and are at risk of euthanasia or worse, who may need medical care or rehabilitation, and who will one day be restored to their rightful place as a cherished family member. We advocate responsible pet parenting, stand against discrimination – in all forms – and dedicate ourselves to educating our communities in order to achieve our goal of a more compassionate future. WDR came about in November 2011 after our Founder, Cassandra, spent some time volunteering at her local municipal animal shelter. Finding the volunteer program to be inefficient and seeing too many good family pets put down simply because of a lack of options when the shelter ran out of kennel space, she resolved to focus her energy on saving lives, one life at a time. Euthanasia is not an acceptable form of population control. Cassandra began to recruit like-minded people to her cause, and Wagging Dog Rescue was born. Our rescue is an all volunteer 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization that relies on charitable contributions and fundraising to supplement our adoption fees and provide for the care of our orphans. We are a registered charity with the CA Attorney General’s Registry of Charitable Trusts. We are all foster based and firmly believe in the value of a responsible, loving foster home to an orphaned dog. Our foster homes nurture these abandoned babes back to complete health while giving them the skills to be successful in a forever home and providing details that enable us to make successful matches between dog and forever family. The Wagging Dog Team is comprised of passionate animal lovers, owners, advocates and rescuers who give freely of our time, oft times money, and all the time – heart, in order to work together to improve our future. We support responsible pet ownership, a leadership lifestyle, spay and neuter .. and most of all, ADOPTION. Learn more about our annual rescue stats.

Coastal K9 German Shepherd Rescue

The Rescued Pup

Animal Rescue Resource Foundation (ARRF)

ARRF (Animal Rescue Resource Foundation) is an organization with years of combined experience in rescue, spay/neuter and support of people who are helping domestic pets find a better life. We are a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization working to assist the rescue community, educate the public, and support low cost spay/neuter efforts. ARRF supports a variety of efforts to protect and defend our furry friends and our goal is to provide connections and solutions for pets and the people that work with them. Our commitment is to find the need and fill it with our “grassroots” approach at getting pets, products and people supported. We serve San Diego County. We have an Adoption Application, contract, fee, and a process to find the very best match between a pet and its adopter. We interview all potential adopters to ensure the perfect match for all of our rescue animals. We want both you and our adoptable pets to be happy with the match. We do not have a shelter location. All pets are in foster care.

Aussie Rescue San Diego

We believe that when you adopt a dog, a family is created. Here at Aussie Rescue San Diego, we have made it our mission to save Australian Shepherds, Border Collies and other breeds as needed. Our experienced, compassionate volunteers provide our dogs with medical care, training, and proper enrichment until the day that they find their forever home. We advocate for greater public awareness about responsible dog ownership and celebrate the connection and lifetime of love of people and their pets. We look forward to you being a part of our family! When you support ARSD, you will be forever changing the future of a dog who is desperate for help. 100% of your donation goes towards providing life saving care to dogs who otherwise would not have any good options. We need your help! With so many dogs currently being displaced and neglected, shelters / rescues are over capacity and struggling to make ends meet. Your support will help a dog have a better tomorrow. You will be saving lives and giving a future filled with hope, love and happiness.

Labs and More Dog Rescue

Labs and More Dog Rescue is San Diego's fastest growing and most active dog rescue organization. Since our inception, Labs and More Rescue, has been Volunteer-run and is committed to saving dogs from our shelter systems and strays dumped in Southern California. Labs and More rescues thousands of dogs each year, with over 400 of them needing life-saving medical care. Over the past decade, we are most proud of our long-term relationships with over 13,500 adopting families. Previous adopting families and their referrals account for over 50% of our adoptions, a high mark of achievement we are very proud of.

Road To Freedom Rescue

Road To Freedom Rescue is a volunteer group of dedicated women who strive to bring brighter futures to rescue dogs.We help dogs who are homeless, neglected or abused. Our love for dogs has no geographical boundaries. Although we do focus on the homeless dogs of Mexico because, there is barely any help for these dogs, we also rescue many dogs in the USA from neglectful situations and those in shelters.

No Wagging Tail Left Behind Animal Rescue

Wagging Tails is an all breed, non-profit rescue that places hundreds of dogs each year. We pride ourselves on our reputation of ongoing support for adopters and their new family members. We are volunteer and donation based- our main goal being to care for and give loving homes to dogs in need. Sandy's first rescue dog, Bonnie, was a cattle dog mix that was transported to her home in the trunk of a car with 8 puppies. She found homes for the puppies and kept Bonnie. Since that day, Sandy has been helping place dogs in loving homes. No Wagging Tail Left Behind came to life when Sandy began taking in six plus dogs a week, mostly from El Centro, to find them homes. With the help of board members Jean Whitney and Laura Morkan, Wagging Tails received a non-profit status on May 12, 2012. Since then, the rescue has grown in size with volunteers who handle paperwork and attend adoption events. We look forward to increasing the number of dogs placed each year, our volunteer staff, and our donations!

Baja Animal Sanctuary

he Baja Animal Sanctuary is located in Rosarito, Mexico, just 22 miles south of the San Ysidro border. The sanctuary was founded by Sunny Benedict, a native New Yorker who was working in Real Estate in Rosarito. From her office window, Sunny would see the local animals, mangy and starving, roaming the streets in search of anyone who might toss them a morsel of food, or give them a kind pat on the head. She knew she had to do something. With a mere $180.00 she gathered from friends, she turned her dream into reality and started the Baja Animal Sanctuary. Baja Animal Sanctuary, the only no-kill shelter in northern Mexico, provides a safe haven for dogs and cats. Rescued from the streets of Mexico, they now receive food, medical care, and love for the rest of their lives. Once the puppies are old enough, or the sick ones are well enough, they are spayed & neutered. Our ultimate goal is to find each and every one of them a forever home. When this can't be accomplished, since we are a no-kill shelter, the animals that are "un-adoptable" will make BAS their permanent home. In some extreme cases, untreatable dogs and cats are euthanized to put an end to their pain and suffering. The dog enclosures, which are called "corrals", just like the cattery enclosures, are all numbered. This makes tracking the location of the residents much easier. The large canine corrals house adult males and females that have been spayed & neutered. The residents are placed in corrals based on age, temperament, and health problems. Each of the large corrals is home to 10 to 15 dogs. Smaller corrals that house 3 to 4 dogs each are generally used to house residents that need to be spayed or neutered, or new moms nursing pups. The smaller corrals are also used to house any animals in need of immediate medical attention or any new BAS arrivals that need to be evaluated by our vet. A Daily Log is kept on all animals receiving medical care or on medication. This information is then transferred to the individual animal's health record. Our overall resident count fluctuates daily, but we always average over 400 residents (dogs and cats combined).

Pugs N Roses

We rescue and foster pugs, pug mixes and other needy dogs from high kill shelters in Southern California. All of the dogs we save are scheduled to killed due to illness or overcrowding before we save them! Unlike some breed rescue groups, we don’t discriminate against non pure dogs. Though we love pugs, we save pug mixes, and other urgent dogs.

Glad To Be Saved Rescue

We are a no kill foster home base rescue with an amazing team of volunteers that are committed to helping animals. Seeing a nonprofit to support our community's animals, we formed our organization to provide sensible solutions. We've grown considerably since then, all thanks to the helping hands and foster homes of this amazing community!