Dog rescues and shelters work to rescue, rehabilitate, and rehome dogs through foster care, adoption programs, and medical support.

Organizations may be noted as no-kill, foster-based, or sanctuary, where applicable.

🐶Atlas Animal Rescue

Location: Paso Robles, California
Type: Foster-Based Rescue · No-Kill
Focus:
– Dogs
– Abuse & neglect cases
– International rescue (China meat trade survivors)

Services:
– Rescue & rehabilitation
– Adoption
– Medical care
– Behavioral support
– International rescue partnerships

Website: https://atlasanimalrescue.org

🐶Angel’s Furry Friends Rescue

Location: San Jose, California, United States
Category/Type: Dog Rescues
Focus:
– Dogs and cats rescued from shelters
– Euthanasia-list animals
– International rescue (Russia & Ukraine)

What They Do:
– Rescue dogs and cats from local shelters
– Save animals placed on euthanasia lists
– Provide medical care, training, and foster placement
– Transport and rehome rescued animals internationally
– Facilitate adoptions into permanent homes

Website:https://angelsfurryfriends.org/

🐶Beach Dog Rescue

Location: Southern California, USA
Type: Foster-Based Rescue · No-Kill
Focus:
– Dogs
– At-risk & shelter dogs

Services:
– Rescue & Intake
– Foster Program
– Medical Care
– Training & Enrichment
– Adoption Placement

Website: https://www.thebeachdogrescue.com/
Contact: Website contact form

🐶California Bully Rescue

Location: California, United States
Category/Type: Dog Rescues
Focus:
– Bully breed dogs
– Rescue, rehabilitation, and rehoming
– Reducing puppy mill demand through adoption

What They Do:
– Intake and rescue of dogs in need
– Adoption placement and support
– Community education on ethical adoption
– Advocacy against industrial-scale breeding

Website: https://www.cabullyrescue.org/

🐶Helen Woodward Animal Center

Location: Rancho Santa Fe, California, United States
Category/Type: Intake-Based Rescue & Humane Society · No-Kill
Focus:
– Humane care and adoption for homeless animals
– Education and therapeutic programs
– Strengthening the human–animal bond

What They Do:
– Operate a no-kill animal care and adoption center
– Provide animal-assisted therapy and educational programs
– Offer humane services benefiting both animals and people
– Advocate globally for the animal–human bond through recognized programs

Website: https://animalcenter.org/

🐶Hope Ranch Animal Sanctuary

Location: Anza, California, United States
Category/Type: Sanctuaries & Lifetime Care
Focus:
– Abused and neglected animals
– Farm animals and companion animals
– Euthanasia-listed animals
– Rehabilitation and lifelong care

What They Do:
– Intake of abused, neglected, and at-risk animals
– Provide sanctuary and permanent placement when adoption is not possible
– Foster-based and home-based dog rescue (no kennel housing)
– Adoption services for eligible animals
– Full veterinary care including spay/neuter, vaccinations, microchipping, and medical treatment
– Community education on spay/neuter and responsible animal care
– Collaboration with local shelters and like-minded rescues

Website:https://www.hoperanchanimalsanctuary.org/

🐶Humane Society of Imperial County

Location: Imperial County, California, United States
Category/Type: Intake-Based Humane Society · No-Kill
Focus:
– Dog and cat rescue & adoption
– Community animal welfare
– Low-cost veterinary access
– Humane education
– Reducing euthanasia through rescue partnerships

What They Do:
– Intake and care for approximately 1,300 homeless animals annually
– Adoption services for dogs and cats
– Public low-cost spay/neuter programs
– Preventative care (vaccinations, deworming, flea & tick prevention)
– Medical treatment for sick or injured animals
– Humane education and community outreach
– Rescue transfers and partnerships with out-of-county rescues
– Commitment to not euthanizing adoptable animals due to time or space

Website:https://www.imperialcountyhumane.org/

🐶Humane Society of Sonoma County

Location: Sonoma County, California, United States
Category/Type: Dog Rescues, Cat Rescues (Intake-Based Humane Society)
Focus:
– Animal intake and sheltering
– Adoption services for dogs and cats
– Community pet support and wellbeing
– Spay/neuter and low-cost veterinary care

What They Do:
– Provide safe haven and intake services for animals in need
– Offer comprehensive adoption services
– Deliver low-cost veterinary care, spay/neuter services, and medical treatment
– Provide free food and supplies for pet parents in need
– Offer training classes and behavior support
– Operate as a donor-supported 501(c)(3) nonprofit (no federal or state funding)

Website: https://humanesocietysoco.org/

🐶Labradors and Friends Dog Rescue Group

Location: Southern California, United States
Category/Type: Dog Rescues
Focus:
– Labradors, Labrador mixes, and “Lab friends”
– Rescue from high-kill shelters
– Senior dogs and medical-needs dogs
– Adoption and foster placement

What They Do:
– Intake and rescue of dogs from kill shelters across California and the Southwest
– Foster-based care and adoption services
– Operate dedicated support funds (Agnes Fund for seniors, Paw Up Fund for medical care)
– Place approximately 350 dogs per year into loving homes
– Community engagement and volunteer-driven rescue operations

Website: https://www.labradorsandfriends.org/

🐶Legacy of Love

Location: Ventura, California, United States
Category/Type: Dog Rescues
Focus:
– Rescue and rehabilitation of dogs of all breeds
– Responsible rehoming
– Reducing pet overpopulation through spay and neuter

What They Do:
– Intake and care of rescued dogs
– Rehabilitation and foster-based support
– Adoption placement
– Spay and neuter practices aligned with breed health standards

Website: https://legacyoflove805.org/

🐶Loving PAWsabilities

Location: Palm Desert, California, United States
Category/Type: Dog Rescues
Focus:
– Rescue of neglected, sick, and mistreated dogs
– Dogs from high-kill shelters and cross-border cases (Mexico)
– Medical rehabilitation and recovery
– Responsible adoption and rehoming

What They Do:
– Intake and rescue of at-risk dogs
– Full veterinary care, vaccinations, and health screening
– Spay/neuter, microchipping, and preventive care
– Foster-based rehabilitation
– Adoption placement into permanent homes

Website:https://lovingpawsabilities.org/

🐶Marley’s Mutts Dog Rescue

Location: Kern County, California, United States
Category/Type: Dog Rescues (Intake-Based Nonprofit, 501(c)(3))
Focus:
– Shelter dog rescue and rehabilitation
– Reducing euthanasia in overcrowded county shelters
– Human–animal bond programs (therapy, recovery, rehabilitation)
– Community-based intervention and second chances

What They Do:
– Rescue, rehabilitate, and rehome dogs from high-volume shelters
– Operate Marley’s Mutt Movers, transporting at-risk dogs to high-demand adoption regions
– Run Miracle Mutts Therapy Dog Program serving hospitals, schools, recovery programs, first responders, and community events
– Partner with California state prisons for canine training and inmate rehabilitation programs
– Provide canine-assisted therapy for veterans alongside licensed therapists
– Offer training, rehoming, and networking resources for the community
– Maintain multiple donation pathways, wishlists, volunteer programs, and corporate giving options

Website:https://marleysmutts.org/

🐶Pawsibilities Ranch

Location: Caliente, California, United States
Category/Type: Sanctuaries & Lifetime Care
Focus:
– Lifetime sanctuary for animals with special needs
– Trauma-informed care
– Non-adoptable and rehabilitation cases

What They Do:
– Provide lifelong sanctuary for animals who cannot be rehomed
– Care for dogs with trauma or behavioral challenges
– Rehabilitate and rehome animals when safe and appropriate

Website: https://pawsibilitiesranch.godaddysites.com

🐶Real Good Rescue

Location: Los Angeles, California
Category/Type: Dog Rescues
Focus:
– Foster-based dog rescue
– Adoption and placement
– Community engagement
– Responsible, transparent rescue practices

What They Do:
– Rescue and foster dogs in need
– Coordinate adoptions
– Partner with shelters
– Lead public awareness initiatives
– Fundraise through limited-edition merchandise

Website: https://www.realgood.dog

🐶San Diego Humane Society

Location: San Diego County, California, USA
Category/Type: Dog Rescues • Cat Rescues
Focus:
– Open-admission animal sheltering
– Community animal welfare
– Veterinary care and rehabilitation

What They Do:
– Intake and care for homeless and at-risk animals
– Adoption services across multiple campuses
– Spay/neuter and veterinary programs
– Community education and humane initiatives

Website: https://www.sdhumane.org

🐶Viva la Vida Rescue

Location: Los Angeles, California, United States
Category/Type: Small Animal Rescue & Network
Focus:
– Rescue of animals in need
– Networking animals to safe placements
– Community-supported rescue efforts

What They Do:
– Rescue and placement of animals
– Coordinate support through a rescue network
– Accept community donations to fund rescue efforts

Website: https://linktr.ee/VivalaVidaProject
Support: Venmo – VivaLaVidaProject | PayPal – nadiaprz

🐶Wags and Walks

Location: Los Angeles, CA & Nashville, TN
Category/Type: Dog Rescues
Focus:
– Reducing shelter euthanasia
– Bully breeds and misunderstood dogs
– Medical cases and mama dogs with puppies

What They Do:
– Rescue dogs from overcrowded shelters
– Operate community Adoption Centers
– Facilitate adoptions without breed, size, or age bias
– Provide education and advocacy around rescue dogs

Website: https://www.wagsandwalks.org/

🐶We Rescue 4 Pawz

Location: Phelan, California, United States
Category/Type: Dog Rescues
Focus:
– Lost, abused, and abandoned dogs
– Dogs pulled from kill shelters
– Rehabilitation and rehoming

What They Do:
– Rescue dogs from neglect, abandonment, and high-risk shelters
– Provide medical care, rehabilitation, and recovery support
– Prepare dogs for adoption and place them in permanent homes

Website: https://www.werescue4pawz.org/

Cat rescues and shelters focused on rescuing, rehabilitating, and rehoming cats through foster care, adoption programs, medical treatment, and TNR initiatives.

Organizations may be noted as no-kill, foster-based, or sanctuary where applicable.

🐱Crumbs & Whiskers Cat Café

Location: Los Angeles, CA
Category/Type: Cat Rescues
Focus:
– Cats and kittens from high-kill shelters
– Adoption-based rescue partnerships
– Reducing euthanasia through visibility and placement

What They Do:
– Partner with rescue organizations to intake homeless cats
– Provide a safe, social café environment while cats await adoption
– Facilitate adoptions and support animal welfare charities

Website: https://crumbsandwhiskers.com/

🐱Feline Lifeline

Location: Pasadena, California, United States
Category/Type: Cat Rescues
Focus:
– Cats rescued from high-kill shelters
– Street and abandoned cats
– Foster-based rehabilitation and adoption

What They Do:
– Rescue and foster cats and kittens
– Provide vaccinations, microchipping, FIV/FeLV testing
– Spay/neuter prior to adoption
– Place cats into permanent, loving homes

Website: https://www.felinelifeline.org/

🐱Smittens Rescue

Location: San Diego County, California, United States
Category/Type: Cat Rescues
Focus:
– Stray and abandoned cats
– Spay/neuter access for cats and dogs
– TNR (Trap-Neuter-Return) for feral cats
– Low-cost veterinary care and vaccinations

What They Do:
– Intake and rehabilitation of stray and abandoned cats from Southern California and border regions
– Placement of cats into adoptive homes through partnerships with shelters and vet hospitals
– Spay/neuter coordination for owned pets, strays, and feral cats
– Vaccination support through the Shots for Spays program
– Community assistance for low-income pet owners seeking affordable veterinary services

Website: https://www.smittensrescue.org/

Rescues dedicated to saving horses and farm animals through rehabilitation, medical care, advocacy, and responsible placement or lifelong sanctuary.

Organizations may be noted as rescue-based, sanctuary-focused, or lifetime care facilities.

🐴Coachella Valley Horse Rescue

Location: Indio, California, United States
Category/Type: Equine & Farm Animal Rescues
Focus:
– Rescue and rehabilitation of abused and neglected horses
– Adoption and placement into loving homes
– Equine-assisted programs for children and adults

What They Do:
– Rescue and rehabilitate horses from abuse and neglect
– Provide equine-assisted programs that enhance quality of life
– Place rehabilitated horses into appropriate adoptive homes
– Operate through donations, sponsorships, volunteers, and community support

Ways to Help:
– In-person donations (by appointment)
– Online donations via PayPal
– Phone donations or sponsorships: 760-808-6279
– Mail-in donations

Website: https://cvhorserescue.org/

🐴Milly’s Place

Location: Valley Center, California, United States
Category/Type: Equine & Farm Animal Rescues
Focus:
– Horses, mules, and donkeys
– Rescue from neglect, abuse, and the slaughter pipeline
– Rehabilitation and rehoming

What They Do:
– Rescue and intake of at-risk equines
– Rehabilitation and long-term care
– Adoption placement into safe, permanent homes

Website: https://www.millysplacevc.com/

🐴Rescue Ranchito

Location: California (exact city not listed)
Category/Type: Equine & Farm Animal Rescues
Focus:
– Equine rescue
– Farm animal care
– Small-scale, intentional intakes
– Storytelling for animal empathy

What They Do:
– Rescue and lifelong care for equines and farm animals
– Maintain low resident numbers to ensure individualized care
– Share resident stories to educate and shift perspectives on animal welfare
– Offer community involvement through sponsorships and on-site events

Website: rescueranchito.org

🐴Skydog Ranch & Sanctuary

Location: Oregon (near Bend) & Malibu, California, United States
Category/Type: Equine & Farm Animal Rescues
Focus:
– Wild mustang and burro rescue
– Kill pen intervention
– Sanctuary-based rehabilitation
– Lifetime care for rescued equines

What They Do:
– Rescue wild mustangs and burros from neglect, kill pens, and at-risk situations
– Provide large-scale sanctuary living with species-appropriate environments
– Rehabilitate horses physically and emotionally
– Serve as ambassadors for wild horse protection through public education
– Advocate for humane wild horse management and protection policies

Website: https://www.skydogranch.org/​

Sanctuaries providing permanent, lifelong care for animals who cannot be safely adopted due to age, health, trauma, or special needs.

These organizations focus on protection, rehabilitation, and quality of life rather than placement.

🏡Love Creek Sanctuary

Location: Grass Valley, California, United States
Category/Type: Sanctuaries & Lifetime Care (intake-based)
Focus:
– Farm animals in need of permanent care
– Dogs and cats seeking adoption
– Rehabilitation and lifelong sanctuary care

What They Do:
– Rescue and intake of animals in need
– Rehabilitation and daily care
– Adoption placement for dogs and cats
– Lifetime sanctuary for farm animals
– Community education and advocacy

Website: https://lovecreeksanctuary.org/

🏡Spoiled Rotten Ranch

Location: Southern California
Category/Type: Sanctuaries & Lifetime Care
Focus:
– Permanent sanctuary for rescued animals
– Lifetime care and welfare
– Health, nutrition, and medical support

What They Do:
– Provide safe, permanent housing for rescued animals
– Offer quality feed, supplements, and veterinary care
– Ensure lifelong protection and daily hands-on care

Website: https://spoiledrottenranch.org

🏡Treat Them R+ght Rescue

Location: Lakeside, CA, United States
Category/Type: Sanctuaries & Lifetime Care
Focus:
– Farm animal rescue and sanctuary
– Vegan, compassion-based animal welfare
– Positive reinforcement and fear-free care

What They Do:
– Rescue and provide lifelong sanctuary for abandoned or mistreated animals
– Focus on farm animals using force-free, positive reinforcement methods
– Support fostering and placement through community partnerships
– Promote animal welfare through activism and environmental education

Website: https://treatthemrght.com/

Rescue listings coming soon. This section will include wildlife rehabilitation centers and conservation organizations serving native species in California.