The Best San Francisco, CA Dog Rescues & Shelters in 2026

Muttville

dogs in good health with wonderful personalities are euthanized. Why? Because they're older, and not considered adoptable. A dog is brought in because he can't jog with his guardian anymore. Or he needs a little time to get up the stairs. Or he's simply not a puppy. In some cases, dogs are moved from loving homes to concrete cages because their guardians have died or simply can't care for them anymore. We reach out to senior dogs at risk, give them the care they need, and find them loving forever homes. If we had our way, no dog would spend their last days in a shelter. There is so much love and joy in these dogs!

Rocket Dog Rescue

Rocket Dog Rescue saves dogs from abuse, neglect, and death at overcrowded shelters and places them in loving homes. We support pet owners in need in our community, and serve as first responders in emergency animal situations and natural disasters. Funded entirely by donations, we are a volunteer-run, 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. Learn about what we do or apply to adopt a dog in the San Francisco Bay Area

Rescues Rock

Rescues Rock is a community based animal welfare, education and rescue organization servicing Hollywood, West Hollywood, The Hollywood and Beverly Hills neighborhoods, as well as, Studio City and neighborhoods of East San Fernando Valley. We adopt to homes throughout Southern California. Rescues Rock operates a dedicated, foster house located in Laurel Canyon. 100% Volunteer fueled Rescues Rock and BarkPark focus on at risk orphan kittens and puppies and dogs and cats requiring medical intervention. Adoptions and meet and greets are by appointment only. Thank you for making the loving and responsible decision to adopt and not shop for your new family member. Rescues Rock is here to help you every step of the way in your adoption process. If you don't see your future family member among our current adoptables, reach out and let us know who you are hoping to find and we will contact our extensive network to help you find your perfect match. Rescues Rock adoptable dogs, cats, puppies and kittens are always up to date on all vaccinations, spayed/neutered and cleared by a veterinarian at the time of adoption. We offer foster to adopt scenarios to approved fosters. Vaccination and S/N clinics are offered at BarkPark for the convenience of our fosters and adopters. Rescues Rock is here for the life of your pet. We are available to consult on training, nutrition, health and wellness at no charge to our adopters. Rescues Rock is a 501c3 non profit organization.

Friends of the Alameda Animal Shelter

Friends of the Alameda Animal Shelter (FAAS) shelters and cares for the lost and abandoned companion animals of Alameda, Calif., reuniting lost pets with their owners and finding new families for the homeless. FAAS is a 501(c)(3) organization. Our tax ID number is 27-0864431. Eight-time winner "Best Nonprofit Group" (Alameda Magazine, 2014-2021) Six-time winner Best Charitable Event (Alameda Magazine 2016-2021).

Asians for Humans, Animals & Nature

We are changing our organization's name from Asians for Humans, Animals & Nature to Angel's Love. The abbreviation and the website will remain the same as www.ahan.org. AHAN Accomplishments and The Future of AHAN First, I would like to express my gratitude to all of the people whom adopted dogs and cats from us and all of the people, including the staff, volunteers, donors and friends of AHAN, whom were involved with our organization to find so many good homes for these animals. AHAN will be a program under Angel's Love and will continue to help animals, but decreasing the number of hands-on adoptions. We will still post a few new dogs but the majority of the requests will be forwarded to other reliable organizations to help with dog adoptions. Angel's Love will be more involved with setting up a foundation to help other rescuers and organizations once we verify all the information and the background of those organizations. A quick look at AHAN's 30+ years of accomplishments • - We were the first organization that came up with a strategy with an international organization's help to get Taiwan pass the Animal Protection Law. • - We have helped more than 60 international and local rescuers find homes for their rescued dogs • - We have adopted out more than ten thousand dogs and cats and even some goats. • - We were heavily involved in stopping the unnecessary killing of feral cats in the Bay Area. • - We came up with a successful strategy of how to help animals locally and internationally without owning a shelter by working together with rescuers from all over the world. We will continue helping to save dogs and cats by supporting other organizations!

Northern California Sled Dog Rescue

Established in 1997 as a 501(c)(3) organization, NorSled's mission is to rescue, rehabilitate, foster, and find homes for unwanted, abandoned, and abused Northern breed dogs. Our strategy involves extensive community engagement, fundraising, and collaboration with partners like Pet Food Express. We focus on increasing awareness about the specific needs of these breeds and providing support to adopters, ensuring long-term care and reducing return rates.

NorCal Poodle Rescue

We are a group of volunteers who rescue, rehabilitate and find loving homes for more than 140 poodles and poodle mixes each year. Serving Northern California, we rescue and adopt standard, miniature and toy poodles, as well as poodle mixes. We respond to county shelters, humane societies, and individuals via our website and phone hotline. Each poodle is spayed or neutered, vaccinated, micro-chipped and groomed before adoption. In addition, we provide extensive medical care, fostering, boarding and training if needed before placement. We have a return policy in the event that a poodle adoption doesn't work out. We are always grateful for your donations; 97% of all donations are dedicated to our poodles. As we are an all-volunteer organization we incur only 3% administrative cost. The generous gift of time by our volunteers, support and services by pet care businesses, and your tax-deductible donations make this work possible. NorCal Poodle Rescue is an Adoption Guarantee Organization: We rehabilitate and re-home all healthy and treatable animals in our care and reserve euthanasia only for unhealthy and untreatable animals in extreme cases, such as those who bite or with unmanageable medical conditions. NCPR honors the definitions of healthy and treatable as described by the Asilomar Accords.

Mutt Luv Rescue

FurEver Animal Rescue

Fairy Tails

One of the ways in which we educate and spread awareness, is through our podcast Fairy Tails Dog Rescue. Our podcast is your window into the rescue world. Tiffany Montesano and Louise Wernvik are sharing their everyday challenges and victories in running a nonprofit dog rescue. The podcast puts a face to rescue workers and a gives a voice for homeless dogs. We want to share what we do - but also how we do it. This way our cause can inspire dreamers, rescuers, volunteers and dog lovers in San Francisco and other kingdoms far far away. We provide foster homes for dogs in need. Many rescue dogs leave the shelter with experiences that will haunt them forever.

A Better Chance Rescue

1. We are an international non-profit dog rescue organization. 2. We do not have a facility to hold all dogs. 3. We have some dogs that are being fostered in the Bay Area, California. 4. We review all applications. However, our organization is run by dedicated volunteers. Therefore, we may not be able to answer all emails or calls. If your application is approved, we will reach out to you for further information. Moving forward, we will schedule a meet and greet and home visit to ensure your home perfectly matches your potential puppy. 5. We can only adopt our dogs to BAY AREA families because our adoption process requires a home visit and follow-up after the dog is being adopted (sorry we are unable to do it virtually). 6. If there are kids in the household, they MUST BE OVER 10 years old. 7. If you have experienced difficulty in submitting an application online, kindly download the application form and email it directly to abetterchancerescue@gmail.com. 8. We highly appreciate your interest and understanding. 9. Thank you for considering adopting from A Better Chance Rescue.

Woof Animal Rescue

WOOF Animal Rescue is a 100% volunteer-based non-profit organization dedicated to rescuing animals in Northern California. With the help of our volunteers, WOOF has rescued numerous dogs from high-kill shelters, trained them as necessary and found wonderful forever homes for them. We believe in… • Saving animal’s lives • Adoption of animals rather than purchasing from those breeding for profit and/or irresponsibly • Responsibly placing these animals in loving permanent homes • Finding the perfect match for both human and animal, rather than placing animals in any homes • Educating people and spreading the word about the importance of pet sterilization to control overpopulation of animals • Educating people about responsible pet ownership, positive behavior training, good nutrition and the humane treatment of animals If you are interested in adopting one of our animals or becoming an animal foster parent, click here to apply. If you are interested in Volunteering and/or Donating, visit our Donate page for more instructions, or fill out our contact form to reach one of our dedicated volunteers! We want to thank you in advance for your support and compassion for the animals. It is people like you who make up our circle of friends, helping those who cannot ask for help themselves. Without your support and compassion, our mission would not be possible.

Bay Area Animal Rescue Crew

Bay Area Animal Rescue Crew (BAARC) was born August 2015 from a group of friends with a passion and love for saving animals. We provide loving foster homes to homeless dogs until we find them their new FURever family. At BAARC, we are dedicated to finding the right fit for all of our ADOPTables. Our animals come from a variety of California shelters or from owners who can no longer take care for their pets. If you are interested in owner-surrendering a pet, please know that while we are committed to saving as many animals as possible, we are bound by the number of foster homes we have to house and love the animal. If we cannot take in the animal due to a lack of space, we can provide referrals to other rescues who may be able to help keep your animal out of the shelter system. ADOPTable dogs are spayed/neutered (fixed), microchipped, up to date on vaccinations. We will not adopt out dogs for breeding purposes, and as such, each dog that is eligible for spay/neuter will be desexed.

Tailchaser Rescue

Tailchaser Rescue is a 501(c)3 non-profit, no-kill, animal rescue organization based out of the Bay Area, CA, dedicated to rescuing cats and dogs (and sometimes more) from shelters where they are in danger. We believe in removing barriers to adoption and educating pet owners and potential adopters about responsible pet ownership and the importance of spay / neuter. We are a foster-home-based organization and we do not have a shelter or physical location that adopters can visit. All of our rescued animals are cared for by volunteer foster families in their homes. This allows us to get to know the animals better, and helps us assess what type of home environment they will do best in. Tailchaser Rescue was founded in 2008.

Welcome Home Sanctuary

We are a 100% volunteer-run nonprofit rescue based in San Francisco that take dogs most in need and immediately put them in foster care so they don't ever have to be in a shelter environment again.

Companion Animal Community Center

The Center was founded in 2021 by a group of animal advocates on the San Mateo Peninsula, with the goal of rescuing animals in need of loving homes by engaging community members in our lifesaving efforts. Our Team has over 50 years experience that includes foster and adoption programs, behavior and training, fundraising, medical and veterinary care.

SF SPCA

The SF SPCA is an independent nonprofit supported entirely by our community. We exist to ensure every companion animal has access to quality medical care, compassionate shelter, and a loving home.

Friends of Berkeley Animal Care Services

Friends of Berkeley Animal Care Services (FoBACS) is a volunteer-run 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to assisting Berkeley Animal Care Services (BACS), the municipal open-admission animal shelter that serves the communities of Albany, Berkeley, Emeryville, and Piedmont, CA.

All Beings Cooperative Animal Rescue

We believe that in order to achieve peace of earth, we need all being to cooperate! Animals instinctively cooperate in nature! Our pets live to give us love, protection, healing and companionship. Therefore it is our duty to provide equivalent support to our animal brothers and sisters. We believe that when all being cooperate, we can achieve happiness for everyone, and are excited to do our part! After many years of collaborating with rescues all over the bay area, fostering, rescuing animals from individuals and off the streets, we have established ourselves as an official 501(c)3 nonprofit charity organization in Bay Area, CA - with the continued support of other rescues, veterinary hospitals and animal shelters in the area. Saving lives is everyone's duty! Our organization has been rescuing animals internationally for over 20 years! All types of animals in need are welcome at our sanctuary. From birds to livestock, reptiles or puppies & kittens - we welcome the opportunity to alleviate suffering and loneliness for our voiceless wards.

Doggie Protective Services

Doggie Protective Services is a non-profit, volunteer-driven animal rescue organization. We are a 501(c)(3) rescue that was incorporated in 2001. We rescue dogs of all breeds, ages, and sizes. Since our creation, we have helped over 12,000 dogs and cats find their forever homes. We do not have a facility, so we rely on our foster homes located throughout California. Anywhere from 100-200 foster homes are active at various times in some capacity, whether they are long-term, short-term or overnight fosters. Most of our fosters are also involved beyond just fostering - they come to events, transport our animals, do post-adoption outreach and help spread the word about DPS! We also rely heavily on volunteers, and are lucky enough to have a supportive group of dedicated friends who help assist in everything from writing bios for dogs to promoting them on their own social media to help them get adopted! While our name may be Doggie Protective Services, we also rescue cats as well! We have a small, vibrant group of cat fosters who take in our rescue cats and kittens. For cat owners requesting re-homing assistance, we also assist if they can foster their own cat while we work to find a perfect forever home. Approximately 30 shelters throughout Southern and Northern California partner with us in our rescue efforts. We are contacted by shelters and asked to help with overpopulation by taking in specific dogs who otherwise may not be adopted or who have been at the shelter for an extended period of time. We take in dogs who do not thrive in a shelter environment or who need medical or behavioral attention outside of the facility. Our partnership with a rescue group in Korea helps us fully realize the impact of a highly dedicated, global network of volunteers. Our Korean rescue partners save dogs who are sold to the meat markets or who are in danger of ending up at the meat markets. We also have a partnership with a rescue in China who sends us dogs she would not be able to place in her country. It is our strong belief that because we have the resources and the ability to save highly adoptable dogs from certain death, that we should do so. It doesn't matter if the dogs in need are in the Bay Area, LA, or as far away as Korea. Our philosophy is simple: If there is a need, and we can and want to assist, then we will.

Hella Dam Bitches n Queens Rescue Inc

We are dedicated to saving, protecting and caring for cats and dogs while helping end euthanasia due to overcrowding. As an independent nonprofit that receives no federal, state or local funding, nor funding from national organizations, we rely on donations from our supporters to provide our care and services.

Transform A Street Dog

Transform a Street Dog has been on the ground in Ukraine supporting independent animal rescuers and rescuing homeless animals since 2018. After the war began, we switched gears, and started to organize mass evacuations of animals to enable them to escape the war and be adopted. Please help us to support pet owners, abandoned pets, neglected shelter dogs and suffering street dogs in Ukraine that have all been affected by the senseless Russian invasion of Ukraine and its people.

Jelly's Place

Jelly's Place was founded in 2017 to be an advocate for the lives and dignity of urban animals who are homeless, abandoned, impounded, sick, or injured, by providing responsible care, placement, and community education with the commitment to the No-Kill philosophy. Its founder, Julie Bainbridge, has been rescuing and fostering animals since childhood. She has rescued, fostered, and /or raised all kinds of animals, including baby squirrels, racoons, pigeons, chickens, geese, ducks, opossums, skunks (yes- skunks), wild and tropical birds, pigmy goats, mice, snakes, rabbits, dogs, and cats. Animals are cared for by volunteers in their homes and at our shelter located in San Pablo. Jelly's Place is named in memory of her beloved English Bulldog who crossed over the Rainbow bridge in 2016. Jelly's Place depends on donations and grants, and volunteers to foster and care for animals. Your donations are tax-deductible.

St. Francis Animal Protection Society

In 1971, our founder Helen Galantiere walked away from a successful corporate career to help animals. Inspired by her days screening potential foster families for kids, she hatched St. Francis Animal Protection Society. We received charitable nonprofit status in March of 1972. Helen built a rescue organization without a physical facility, instead placing at-risk cats and dogs in foster homes to receive treatment, training, and TLC. She made sure unfixed animals were spayed or neutered, and educated her community about proper care of companion animals through "Animal World," a weekly column in the Marin Independent Journal. While times have changed, our commitment to at-risk animals remains the same. We bring help, hope, and healing to animals and the people love them. A volunteer-run, foster-based animal rescue and advocacy group, we serve the Greater Bay Area. We approach rescue with an open heart, an open mind, and an innovative spirit. Together, we engage, educate, and empower our community in the fight for our most vulnerable cats and dogs.

Golden Gate Labrador Retriever Rescue, Inc.

GGLRR is an all-volunteer, nonprofit tax-exempt organization in the greater San Francisco Bay Area of Northern California. We've been placing unwanted Labs in loving homes since 1986! Our Lab Rescue team saves purebred Labrador Retrievers and Lab mixes from shelters, as well as assists people giving up their dogs for adoption. We provide foster homes, veterinary care, and rehabilitation when needed, and place them with loving, forever families. While GGLRR focuses on rescuing and rehoming Labrador Retrievers, some of our dogs are Lab mixes. Sometimes we know what they are mixed with; most times we do not. We may even have a dog up for adoption that has some physical resemblance of a Lab but turns out not to be a Lab at all (per a DNA analysis performed by the adopter). We endeavor to rescue/rehome Lab mixes that look mostly like a Lab and have the personality/temperament of a Lab. The younger a dog is, the more difficult it is to tell how Labby a dog will be when it is fully grown. We realize that people come to us to adopt a Lab. GGLRR cherishes the opportunity to provide new forever homes for all of the dogs that come into our program.

4 Dogs Farm Rescue

At 4 Dogs Farm Rescue, we are dedicated to rescuing and rehabilitating dogs in need. Our team of volunteers work tirelessly to ensure the physical and mental well-being of our rescue dogs. We believe that every dog deserves a loving and forever home, and we strive to make that a reality for each and every one of our dogs.

SEN Foundation Animal Rescue

SEN Foundation Animal Rescue is a volunteer-run foster-based rescue dedicated to saving the lives of injured, sick, abandoned, ownerless animals, as well as preventing animal cruelty and neglect. We passionately believe that people help animals and animals help people through trust, unconditional love, and respect. We believe that animals from shelters and animals with special needs also deserve a chance. Sharing this philosophy with others, we inspire and teach locally and internationally, the importance of the animal-human bond, responsible and humane treatment of animals, adoption of animals from shelters, and animals with special needs.

K9 Paw Print Rescue

K9 Paw Print Rescue (K9PPR) is an animal rescue group. Our founding volunteers are known in the rescue world and have been rescuing as well as working in animal-related fields for quite some time. K9PPR became fully operational at the beginning of 2012. We have volunteers in fields such as Veterinary, Animal Training and behavior fields, Nurses, Shelter workers, and hard core animal lovers. We all work together to save lives of dogs in need! Our family is growing every day, and we are very excited for the things to come in the coming years! As an animal rescue group, we have access to animals that are not available to the public which may need some extra help medically, or just need a little extra TLC before becoming adoptable. We are contacted about animals who have run out of time at shelters, evaluate them for temperament and work with them until they are ready for adoption! We rescue animals primarily from local shelters and place the animals into our volunteer foster homes until we can find them their fur-ever home!

Love Dogs Rescue and Foundation Inc.

Love Dogs Rescue and Foundation is a federal income tax exempt 501(c)(3) organization. Founded in 2019, we seek to end the killing of homeless dogs through two avenues: adoption and free or low cost spay/neuter.

DogZone Rescue

DogZone Rescue is a registered 501(c)3 Non- Profit who saves unwanted, abused and abandoned dogs and places them in loving and responsible forever homes to live out their lives as cherished family members. We would love for you to join us by adopting a dog, volunteering as a foster parent or donating your time for other needed volunteer positions with the rescue.