The Best Seattle, WA Dog Rescues & Shelters in 2026

Resilient Hearts Animal Sanctuary

Resilient Hearts is a 501(c)3 nonprofit rescue that rescues animals from high risk situations and unites them with their forever families in the Puget Sound area. As a queer led organization, we are committed to accessible and inclusive programs for our entire community, and maintain a community safe space for anyone to share our animals.

Motley Zoo Animal Rescue

Motley Zoo Animal Rescue is the revolution of rescue. As a rock and roll-themed, foster-based, volunteer-powered rescue, we take in animals that have no one else. "Animals" primarily means dogs and cats, but as the name "zoo" implies, we take all kinds (as long as we have a foster home/ resources for that species). We work with shelters and owners who cannot keep their pets and through extensive veterinary care and training, we rehabilitate them and place them in loving, forever homes where the animals will never again be abandoned. More than 30% of the animals we take in are special or medically needy and require more extensive and expensive care. In all we work with all ages, breeds, many species and all different types of humans too- treating each as an individual so they can find the life and love they deserve.

Auburn Valley Humane Society

AVHS is a local, independent 501(c)3 non-profit, which relies on pet licensing fees, vulnerable pet housing agreements with the City of Auburn, shelter services, spay and neuter services, Thrift Store sales, Cat Cafe Sales, and generous donations from the community to fund the shelter, clinic, and educational programs.

Greyhound Pets, Inc.

John A. Hern Jr. founded Greyhound Pets, Inc. in 1985. John was a Coeur D'Alene, Idaho businessman who built a foundry business and owned Industrial Park real estate. Among John's many and varied interests, he held greyt admiration for ex-racing greyhounds and became committed to their care and welfare. As the greyhound racetrack opened in Coeur D'Alene John started a small side business providing feed and racing equipment to track kennels. He demonstrated his commitment to the dogs by being instrumental in building a track sponsored Greyhound Welfare Committee that reviewed track and kennel policies. John's first greyhounds were Roo and Babe, the two greyhounds featured in the GPI logo. John adopted several greyhounds after Roo and Babe. Ace was one of his favorites and was the subject of many of John's stories. John was the executive director of Greyhound Pets, Inc. for many years and oversaw expansion to include the Pacific Northwest and Southwestern Canada. John's generous bequest to the organization he founded has provided for GPI's continued prominence in the ex-racing greyhound rescue effort. The volunteers who continue in the efforts John began, honor his colorful leadership in finding homes for ex-racers. John is remembered and his love for ex-racing greyhounds honored in the Hern Greyt Works, GPI's kennel facility in Woodinville, WA.

Juno's Den

Welfare for Animals Guild (WAG)

Since 2001, WAG has placed dogs into new, loving homes. Our rescues come to us in many ways: owner surrenders due to unplanned life changes, over-populated shelters, and strays found wandering streets and fields. Prior to adoption, all of our rescues are spayed/neutered, receive all vaccines, are micro-chipped, and all other medical needs are addressed.

CHEW Dog Rescue

CHEW Dog Rescue is an all-volunteer organization dedicated to rescuing abandoned dogs, dogs scheduled for euthanasia due to shelter space limitations, and other dogs who need us. We are always looking to find additional foster homes and acquire funding for other essential elements of dog rescue to allow us to help more dogs in need. We strive to place our dogs in safe and loving forever homes. Additionally, we promote responsible dog ownership through the facilitation of educational and recreational activities and events. CHEW (Canine Health Education and Welfare) is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization.

The Pit Bull Pen

We are an all volunteer rescue specializing in bully breeds. We are facility based and prefer our dogs experience the home environment with their foster homes because the care they receive is superior to a shelter environment. Spay/neuter, microchip, vaccinations, training, socialization and lots of love are critical for producing well balanced and well behaved dogs.

Homeward Pet Adoption Center

Homeward Pet's mission is to transform the lives of cats and dogs in need through compassionate medical care, positive behavior training, and successful adoption while building a more humane community.

The Humane Society of Mason County

The Humane Society of Mason County (HSMC) is a private 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that serves the Mason County area of Washington State. Our organization adheres to a philosophy of a no-kill shelter and animal rescue. We believe in providing second chances for companion animals whether they are abandoned, abused, neglected or homeless. We believe that all animals deserve the chance to live, thrive and be loved in "forever homes!" It is our sincere desire to provide aid when needed and to create opportunities for these needy animals to have a second chance at life.

Seattle Humane

Founded in 1897, Seattle Humane proudly promotes the human-animal bond by saving and serving pets in need. We are one of the region's leaders in animal adoption, education and welfare. Seattle Humane is more than a shelter we are a community resource center, providing adoption services, a pet food bank and support for pet owners, low-cost spay/neuter surgeries and wellness exams, humane education for all ages and more. Our work is made possible by the support of a generous community, and through our outreach, advocacy and services we strive to ensure that animal companionship is accessible to all.

Old Dog Haven

Old Dog Haven is a small nonprofit group using a large network of foster homes to provide loving, safe homes for unadoptable senior dogs in need in western Washington. When we have room and the means, we take these dogs into our homes. We care for them as members of the family in permanent foster homes (what we call ‚Final Refuge‚) and provide all needed veterinary care for as long as they have a good quality of life. In addition, we assist rescues, shelters and owners in finding new homes for senior adoptable dogs through our website, social media and referrals.

Save A Mutt

Red Waggin' Rescue

Red Waggin' Rescue is a Washington State dog and cat rescue. We are a foster-based non-profit founded in 2012 in Eastern Washington. Our mission is to rescue, rehabilitate, and find homes for abandoned dogs and cats in need, ensure healthy pets through pet food education, cultivate the younger generation's love of animals, and build a community where animals are valued and celebrated. Every animal deserves to be loved and find a forever home! 100% of your donation will go directly to help animals in need.

The NOAH Center

In 1988, Northwest Organization for Animal Help first opened its doors at our original shelter location on Camano Island. For more than ten years our staff and volunteers worked diligently to help animals in the community. As the need for help grew in our own community and across Washington state, we knew we had to expand our resources to better serve our mission to save more animals. After years of serving animals in our local community, we expanded our horizon by adopting a new approach to our facility, programs, and services. In 2003 we debuted our current location in Stanwood, WA where we introduced our expanded adoption and brand new transfer and low-cost spay/neuter programs. Since then we have created partnerships with more than 100 different shelters to transfer animals at risk of euthanasia to our facility for the second chance they deserve; we have developed the second-highest volume spay/neuter clinic in Washington state; and we have continued to expand our efforts to ensure healthy, adoptable and treatable animals across Washington state and beyond are given a second chance.

Center Valley Animal Rescue

The Olympic Mountains provide the backdrop to Center Valley Animal Rescue (CVAR), a ranch with 32-acres of pastures, ponds, barns and shelters for large animals. The central building is home to small animals, an office, a medical room and storage. This animal rescue is the vision of Sara Penhallegon who in 2002, formed a 501(3) C Charitable Organization on the Washington State Olympic Peninsula. Sara and a handful of friends created a network of carefully screened foster care families to temporarily care for animals that were being signed over due to abuse or neglect or by people who simply could no longer care for them.

Saving Great Animals

Saving Great Animals is a matchmaking rescue organization focused mainly on dogs in the Greater Seattle area. We work tirelessly to match the best pet to your family based on breed, lifestyle and other factors. With more than 8500 lovingly homed since 2007, we are proud of our dedicated team and foster homes for bringing new life to pets with loving homes to last their lifetime. We adopt out only after a dog has been spayed/neutered, updated on shots, has received proper medical care and chipped. We are dedicated to lowering the dog reproduction population, which leads to millions of lost lives. We use a trial adoption program, which includes training and counsel, and dogs are only adopted after that period. As a result, our return rates are very low. We love every single animal we rescue and we are cradle to grave, staying in touch with adopting families for years, often adding new furry loves to their homes. Adopters must sign a contract, and this is to ensure that if for some unforeseen reason, the dog needs to be rehomed, he/she is returned to Saving Great Animals for rehoming. Our dogs are never to see a high-kill shelter again in their lifetime.

HappyPaws Farm Humane Society

At HappyPaws Farm, our mission is to save dogs and cats that have been neglected, abused, or are in some other way in need of care. We also work with people to help them keep their pets. We are a no-kill shelter. Our animals live in a farm-like setting, not in cages. We are currently working towards opening an 18 acre cat shelter with an emphasis on helping feral cats and reducing their population. We will also take in regular cats with medical problems who are not infectious. The new shelter will also house dogs following surgery, for short periods. We also run a pet food bank for the low-income, on food stamps, who have animals. By running our own animal food bank we are able to pick up neglect cases, to spay/neuter, and provide vet care (as funds allow) and flea control. The need in these areas is tremendous. We also help low-income families by providing dog houses, fencing, flea control, wormings, and education. Our main facility is our sanctuary in Arlington, WA, north of Seattle. We provide seven acres of lush green countryside for the lucky animals that find their way to HappyPaws Farm. Some of these pets had owners who were terminally ill or nursing home bound; were in domestic violence situations; came from meth houses, or were saved from poor conditions in their homes. We work diligently to make our dogs and cats happy and to find them loving homes. We are a 501(c)3 federal tax-exempt agency and also a non-profit state agency and United Way agency. All donations are tax-deductible.

Metro Animal Services

Metro Animal Services is a partnership that shelters, protects and unites the pets and people of seven cities in eastern Pierce County and southern King County. Metro is operated by the City of Sumner and utilizes a shelter provided by the City of Puyallup. The Cities of Algona, Bonney Lake, Edgewood, Milton and Pacific participate by interlocal agreement.

6Dogrees Rescue

At our non-profit dog rescue, we believe that saving dogs is a team effort. From our dedicated fosters to our generous donors and supporters, it takes a community of animal lovers to make a difference in the lives of these deserving pups. Together, we can give them a second chance at finding their forever homes and experiencing the love and happiness they deserve. 6dogrees – a 501c3 – is a small, grassroots rescue focusing on saving local & CA death-row dogs. Why CA? We save “red listed” dogs meaning those with less than 12 hours to be rescued. A good percentage of these dogs end up on the euthanasia list by no fault of their own. Pet stores are over selling dogs, backyard breeders, & puppy mill dogs are a big part of the problem. As they breed the new trendy dogs, these “less desirable” dogs are discarded. The dogs end up in the streets and shelters. We help many dogs in California because 800 dogs per day are dying there. The lack of spay and neuter, and education also adds to the problem leaving many agencies with very limited resources to help the animals.

Animal Aid and Rescue Foundation

Rez Animal Resources & Education

Rez Animal Resources & Education is a nonprofit organization serving animals on Indian reservations in southwest Washington state.

Royal Hounds

Royal Hounds is a nonprofit, tax exempt organization in the Seattle area of Washington State and comprised solely of volunteers, who give graciously of their time and love, to this noble breed with the common goal of finding secure and loving homes for the many ex-racing and retired Hounds that grace us with their presence. At Royal Hounds, our mission is to facilitate the placement and adoption process of ex-racing and retired Greyhounds, and those bred for the racing industry. Specifically, ● We value compassion and respect for people and animals. ● We value the humane treatment of greyhounds before, during and after their use by the racing industry. ● We advocate education on the importance of responsible pet ownership. ● We believe every greyhound deserves life as a beloved pet. Our volunteers are committed to finding homes FIRST, and then determining what type of dog will best suit the approved adopters lifestyle and needs. Greyhounds are all different, having different temperaments and personalities. While some may seem similar, no two are alike. They require the correct setting if they are to thrive in their new home and adjust easily to their new life. Adopting from us usually means that there will be a waiting period as we go through the process to match the right dog to your home. During this time we suggest that you research the breed and prepare yourselves for a change in your lifestyle once your dog arrives. We work closely with Victoria, Australia based non-profit Racing 2 Rehome to find forever homes for retired racers.

Regional Animal Services of King County (RASKC)

Our predecessor agency, King County Animal Control, was established in 1972 to provide animal services and public education to most of King County. Re-energized in 2008 with a directive to improve animal outcomes and increase efficiency, KCAC dramatically increased the number of animals rehomed each year. In 2010, Regional Animal Services of King County (RASKC) was formed as a partnership between King County and more than two dozen cities to improve animal welfare in our region. Today, RASKC provides services to more than one million residents living in 24 cities and unincorporated King County. With help from our city partners, more than 100,000 cats and dogs are protected with identification through licensing by RASKC annually. License fees are used to provide animal care and control services and to shelter homeless pets until they get adopted. Our animal services officers cover a territory of more than 1,100 square miles, an area nearly the size of the state of Rhode Island. Our Pet Adoption Center staff and volunteers give thousands of animals each year a second chance by providing quality care while they wait for their "forever home."

Community Animal Resources and Education Society (CARES)

CARES (Community Animal Resource & Education Society) is a non-profit 501 c(3) Corporation. We are the animal care and control authority for the cities of Burien and Des Moines, Washington, and operate a community animal shelter that houses and cares for strays, and adopts out unclaimed animals to new loving families. Our primary concerns are public safety, the health and welfare of Burien and Des Moines domestic animals, and enforcing the relevant laws and ordinances of Burien and Des Moines, King County, and Washington State. CARES was formed in 2011 by a group of local residents and business owners who wanted to reduce the dangers and nuisances caused by irresponsible pet ownership, and to protect pets from abuse, neglect and homelessness. As a non-profit, community-based shelter, we rely on the generous material donations of animal lovers and citizens like you, and the dedication of our many volunteers to provide a safe, clean, compassionate environment for the animals that come through our doors. We work hand-in-hand with residents, businesses, and local organizations to provide a high level of service to the Burien and Des Moines communities.

Washington Alaskan Malamute Adoption League

Washington Alaskan Malamute Adoption League (WAMAL) was formed in 1998 by Cindy Neely to help with Malamute Rescue in Washington State and since then has expanded into Oregon. WAMAL's mission is to rescue, rehabilitate as needed, and find new homes for Malamutes in need. Our mission includes increasing public awareness of the unique characteristics of the breed, promoting responsible ownership, and providing education and support to our community. We strive to ensure that every Malamute we rescue receives the care, love, and attention they deserve and are dedicated to making a positive difference in the lives of these wonderful dogs. Serving the greater Northwest we are also part of a national rescue network, Alaskan Malamute Assistance League (AMAL) that covers other areas of the US. WAMAL provides hope to families that must rehome their malamutes when life has taken a sharp detour; training support to those families desperately working to keep their 4-legged family members; works with shelters and takes into rescue strays and those pups needing an extra level of thoroughness in the adoption process; and, actively recruits adopters and foster homes. We are a 100% volunteer run, 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that is celebrating over 20 years! Our volunteers come from all walks of life and locations and WAMAL is only able to do what we do because of this generous and dedicated team of volunteers. They truly make it possible to save the lives of this gentle, stubborn, and loving working breed. WAMAL has rescued many hundreds of malamutes to date and each holds a place in our hearts.

Lady's Hope Dog Rescue

Underdog Pet Rescue and Rehabilitation

Underdog is a foster-based rescue located in North Seattle, servicing the Greater King County area. We prioritize intake for urgent community needs, as well as high-risk shelter animals that may need extra support or time. Our priority is to help full shelters and stressed people find support for their animals in need.​ Underdog is a group founded by rescue professionals who have seen the need first hand for dedicated, experienced rescues to provide support to overburdened communities, rescues, and shelters. Among our board members and volunteers, we have experience in most professional animal industries: shelters, rescues, veterinary hospitals and clinics, day care, dog socializations and training, and more. We want to use our experience to help animals needing that extra time, resources, and love to get the outcome they deserve.

Basset Rescue Of Puget Sound

We are an all volunteer rescue organization dedicated to helping place basset hounds that are in need. We are located in Woodinville, Washington and are here to help the surrounding area. We are a 501(c)3 charitable rescue organization and our tax exempt number is 27-2507477. Your donations are 100% tax deductible in the USA. Thank you for helping the homeless hounds of Western Washington

Wet Noses Rescue

In Sayulita, fate brought together two extraordinary women – one American and one Mexican – who shared a deep concern for the well-being of countless sick, abandoned, neglected, and abused dogs and cats in the area. Their partnership began informally, as they joined forces to rescue, rehabilitate, and find loving homes for these vulnerable animals. Over time, their dedication and hard work paved the way for the establishment of Wet Noses Rescue. What once started as a modest backyard operation has now blossomed into a thriving 501c3 nonprofit organization with two dedicated facilities in Punta Mita. Join us in our mission to create a brighter future for these innocent beings, one Wet Nose at a time.