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Rescue Directory

California Animal Rescue & Sanctuary Directory

Explore our growing directory of animal rescues and sanctuaries serving California.

Browse by the animals an organization helps or the care it provides. Each listing includes its location, focus, services, and official website so you can learn more about adopting, fostering, volunteering, or supporting its work.

An organization may appear in more than one category when its programs overlap. Animal shelters are listed separately in our Animal Shelter Directory.

Dog Rescues

Organizations rescuing, rehabilitating, and rehoming dogs through foster care, veterinary treatment, and adoption programs.

Care models and verified no-kill policies are noted in individual listings.

Location: San Jose, California
Category: Dog Rescues · Cat Rescues
Focus: Shelter animals · Dogs and cats at risk of euthanasia · International rescue
Angels Furry Friends Rescue helps dogs and cats from local shelters and supports international rescue efforts involving Russia and Ukraine. Its work includes medical care, training, foster placement, transport, and adoption into permanent homes.
Angels Furry Friends Rescue
Location: Paso Robles, California
Category: Dog Rescues
Care model: Foster-based rescue
Focus: Abuse and neglect cases · Rehabilitation · International rescue partnerships
Atlas Animal Rescue provides medical care, rehabilitation, and behavioral support for dogs in need. Its work includes adoption placement and international partnerships helping dogs rescued from the meat trade in China.
Atlas Animal Rescue
Location: California
Category: Dog Rescues
Focus: Bully breeds · Rehabilitation · Responsible adoption
California Bully Rescue rescues, rehabilitates, and rehomes bully breed dogs. Alongside adoption placement and support, it promotes ethical adoption and educates the community about the effects of puppy mills and industrial-scale breeding.
California Bully Rescue
Location: Anza, California
Category: Dog Rescues · Equine & Farm Animal Rescues · Sanctuaries & Lifetime Care
Care model: Sanctuary and foster-based rescue
Focus: Abused and neglected animals · Medical recovery · Adoption and lifelong care
Hope Ranch Animal Sanctuary helps companion and farm animals affected by abuse, neglect, and other at-risk situations. Its dog rescue uses foster and home-based care rather than kennel housing. Animals receive veterinary treatment and adoption preparation, with permanent sanctuary available when adoption is not possible.
The organization also promotes spay/neuter and responsible animal care through community education and rescue partnerships.
Hope Ranch Animal Sanctuary
Location: Southern California
Category: Dog Rescues
Care model: Foster-based rescue
Focus: Labradors and Labrador mixes · Other dogs in need · Seniors and medical cases
Labradors and Friends rescues dogs from shelters across California and the Southwest and prepares them for adoption through foster care. Its Agnes Fund supports senior dogs, while the Paw Up Fund helps cover medical treatment for dogs needing additional care.
Labradors and Friends
⭐ Featured as a Rescue of the Month by The Green Muse
Location: Ventura, California
Category: Dog Rescues
Care model: Foster-supported rescue
Focus: Dogs of all breeds · Rehabilitation · Responsible rehoming
Legacy of Love provides care and rehabilitation for rescued dogs while helping them find permanent homes. Its work includes foster support, adoption placement, and spay/neuter practices intended to reduce pet overpopulation.
Legacy of Love
Location: Grass Valley, California
Category: Dog Rescues · Cat Rescues · Equine & Farm Animal Rescues · Sanctuaries & Lifetime Care
Focus: Rescue and rehabilitation · Companion animal adoption · Permanent farm animal care
Love Creek Sanctuary rescues animals in need and provides rehabilitation and daily care. Dogs and cats may be placed in adoptive homes, while rescued farm animals receive lifelong sanctuary. The organization also supports animal welfare through community education and advocacy.
Love Creek Sanctuary
Location: Palm Desert, California
Category: Dog Rescues
Care model: Foster-based rehabilitation
Focus: Neglected and medically vulnerable dogs · Shelter rescue · Cross-border cases
Loving Pawsabilities rescues dogs affected by illness, neglect, and mistreatment, including dogs from shelters and cross-border cases in Mexico. Care includes veterinary treatment, vaccinations, health screening, spay/neuter, microchipping, and foster-based recovery before adoption.
Loving Pawsabilities
Location: Kern County, California
Category: Dog Rescues
Focus: Shelter dog rescue · Rehabilitation · Transport · Human–animal bond programs
Marley’s Mutts rescues, rehabilitates, and rehomes dogs from overcrowded shelters. Marley’s Mutt Movers transports at-risk dogs to regions with adoption opportunities, while Miracle Mutts brings therapy dogs into community settings.
Its work also includes prison-based canine training partnerships, canine-assisted support for veterans, and community training and rehoming resources.
Marley’s Mutts Dog Rescue
Location: Caliente, California
Category: Dog Rescues · Sanctuaries & Lifetime Care
Care model: Sanctuary with rehabilitation and selective rehoming
Focus: Special-needs animals · Trauma and behavioral challenges · Lifelong protection
Pawsibilities Ranch provides permanent care for animals who cannot be safely rehomed, including dogs with trauma or behavioral challenges. Rehabilitation and adoption are pursued when safe and appropriate, with lifelong sanctuary available for animals requiring ongoing care.
Pawsibilities Ranch
Location: Los Angeles, California
Category: Dog Rescues
Care model: Foster-based rescue
Focus: Dogs in need · Adoption · Shelter partnerships · Community awareness
Real Good Rescue rescues and fosters dogs while coordinating adoption into permanent homes. Its work includes shelter partnerships, public awareness initiatives, and fundraising through limited-edition merchandise.
Real Good Rescue
Location: Southern California
Category: Dog Rescues
Care model: Foster-based rescue
Focus: At-risk dogs · Shelter rescue · Medical and behavioral support
The Beach Dog Rescue helps dogs through rescue intake, foster placement, medical care, training, and enrichment. Its adoption program prepares dogs for permanent homes with care tailored to their needs.
The Beach Dog Rescue
Location: Los Angeles, California; also operates in Nashville, Tennessee
Category: Dog Rescues
Focus: Overcrowded shelter rescue · Overlooked dogs · Mothers and puppies · Medical cases
Wags and Walks rescues dogs from overcrowded shelters and helps them find permanent homes through its adoption centers and placement programs. Its work includes bully breeds, mothers with puppies, and dogs needing medical care, alongside public education and rescue advocacy.
Wags and Walks
Location: Phelan, California
Category: Dog Rescues
Focus: Lost, abused, and abandoned dogs · Shelter intervention · Rehabilitation
We Rescue 4 Pawz helps dogs affected by neglect, abandonment, and high-risk shelter situations. The organization provides medical care and recovery support, then prepares suitable dogs for adoption into permanent homes.
We Rescue 4 Pawz

Cat Rescues

Organizations rescuing, caring for, and rehoming cats through foster care, veterinary treatment, and adoption. Some also provide Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) support for community cats.

Care models and verified no-kill policies are noted in individual listings.

Location: San Jose, California
Category: Dog Rescues · Cat Rescues
Focus: Shelter animals · Dogs and cats at risk of euthanasia · International rescue
Angels Furry Friends Rescue helps dogs and cats from local shelters and supports international rescue efforts involving Russia and Ukraine. Its work includes medical care, training, foster placement, transport, and adoption into permanent homes.
Angels Furry Friends Rescue
Location: Los Angeles, California
Category: Cat Rescues
Care model: Cat café and rescue-partner adoption space
Focus: Adoption visibility · Cat socialization · Rescue partnerships
Crumbs & Whiskers works with rescue partners to provide a public-facing space for cats awaiting adoption. Its café environment gives visitors opportunities to meet and interact with adoptable cats while supporting rescue placement and animal welfare charities.
Crumbs & Whiskers
Location: Pasadena, California
Category: Cat Rescues
Care model: Foster-based nonprofit rescue
Focus: Shelter cats · Street cats · Adoption · Community cat support
Feline Lifeline rescues cats and kittens from shelters and the streets of Los Angeles and surrounding areas. Foster homes provide care while cats await adoption. Adoption preparation includes vaccinations, microchipping, FIV/FeLV testing, and spay/neuter.
The organization also promotes spay/neuter and supports Trap-Neuter-Return efforts.
Feline Lifeline
Location: Grass Valley, California
Category: Dog Rescues · Cat Rescues · Equine & Farm Animal Rescues · Sanctuaries & Lifetime Care
Focus: Rescue and rehabilitation · Companion animal adoption · Permanent farm animal care
Love Creek Sanctuary rescues animals in need and provides rehabilitation and daily care. Dogs and cats may be placed in adoptive homes, while rescued farm animals receive lifelong sanctuary. The organization also supports animal welfare through community education and advocacy.
Love Creek Sanctuary
Location: San Diego County, California
Category: Cat Rescues
Organization type: 501(c)(3) nonprofit
Focus: Unwanted, abandoned, homeless, and abused cats · Veterinary preparation · Adoption
Smittens Rescue helps cats in need receive care and find permanent homes. Cats are spayed or neutered and receive veterinary preparation before adoption. Supporters can help through volunteering, donations, and adoption.
Smittens Rescue

Equine & Farm Animal Rescues

Organizations rescuing horses, donkeys, and other farm animals from neglect, abandonment, and unsafe situations. Services may include medical care, rehabilitation, responsible adoption, and permanent sanctuary.

Listings identify whether the organization offers adoption, lifelong care, or both.

Location: Indio, California
Category: Equine & Farm Animal Rescues
Focus: Abused and neglected horses · Rehabilitation · Adoption · Equine-assisted programs
Coachella Valley Horse Rescue provides care and rehabilitation for horses affected by abuse and neglect, with adoption into suitable homes when appropriate. It also offers equine-assisted programs for children and adults.
Donations, sponsorships, volunteers, and community support help sustain its work.
Coachella Valley Horse Rescue
Location: Anza, California
Category: Dog Rescues · Equine & Farm Animal Rescues · Sanctuaries & Lifetime Care
Care model: Sanctuary and foster-based rescue
Focus: Abused and neglected animals · Medical recovery · Adoption and lifelong care
Hope Ranch Animal Sanctuary helps companion and farm animals affected by abuse, neglect, and other at-risk situations. Its dog rescue uses foster and home-based care rather than kennel housing. Animals receive veterinary treatment and adoption preparation, with permanent sanctuary available when adoption is not possible.
The organization also promotes spay/neuter and responsible animal care through community education and rescue partnerships.
Hope Ranch Animal Sanctuary
Location: Grass Valley, California
Category: Dog Rescues · Cat Rescues · Equine & Farm Animal Rescues · Sanctuaries & Lifetime Care
Focus: Rescue and rehabilitation · Companion animal adoption · Permanent farm animal care
Love Creek Sanctuary rescues animals in need and provides rehabilitation and daily care. Dogs and cats may be placed in adoptive homes, while rescued farm animals receive lifelong sanctuary. The organization also supports animal welfare through community education and advocacy.
Love Creek Sanctuary
⭐ Featured as a Rescue of the Month by The Green Muse
Location: Valley Center, California
Category: Equine & Farm Animal Rescues
Focus: Horses, mules, and donkeys · Neglect and abuse cases · Rehabilitation and rehoming
Milly’s Place rescues equines from neglect, abuse, and the slaughter pipeline. Its work includes rehabilitation, long-term care, and adoption placement into safe, permanent homes.
Milly’s Place
Location: California; exact city not provided
Category: Equine & Farm Animal Rescues · Sanctuaries & Lifetime Care
Care model: Small-scale rescue and permanent sanctuary
Focus: Equines and farm animals · Individualized care · Animal welfare education
Rescue Ranchito provides rescue and lifelong care for equines and farm animals. Resident numbers are kept limited to support individualized attention. The organization shares animal stories to encourage empathy and offers community involvement through sponsorships and on-site events.
Rescue Ranchito
Location: Malibu, California, and near Bend, Oregon
Category: Equine & Farm Animal Rescues · Sanctuaries & Lifetime Care
Care model: Permanent equine sanctuary
Focus: Wild mustangs and burros · At-risk equines · Rehabilitation · Wild horse protection
Skydog Sanctuary rescues mustangs and burros from neglect, kill pens, and other at-risk situations. Rescued equines receive physical and emotional rehabilitation and lifelong care in sanctuary environments.
The organization also educates the public and advocates for humane wild horse management and protection.
Skydog Sanctuary
Location: Lakeside, California
Category: Equine & Farm Animal Rescues · Sanctuaries & Lifetime Care
Care model: Farm animal sanctuary
Focus: Abandoned and mistreated farm animals · Lifelong care · Compassionate handling
Treat Them Rght provides sanctuary for rescued farm animals using force-free care and positive reinforcement. Its work also includes fostering and placement through community partnerships, animal welfare advocacy, and environmental education.
Treat Them Rght

Sanctuaries & Lifetime Care

Organizations providing permanent care for animals who need lifelong protection, including seniors and animals with medical, behavioral, or trauma-related needs.

Some also offer adoption or forever foster programs for suitable animals.

Location: Anza, California
Category: Dog Rescues · Equine & Farm Animal Rescues · Sanctuaries & Lifetime Care
Care model: Sanctuary and foster-based rescue
Focus: Abused and neglected animals · Medical recovery · Adoption and lifelong care
Hope Ranch Animal Sanctuary helps companion and farm animals affected by abuse, neglect, and other at-risk situations. Its dog rescue uses foster and home-based care rather than kennel housing. Animals receive veterinary treatment and adoption preparation, with permanent sanctuary available when adoption is not possible.
The organization also promotes spay/neuter and responsible animal care through community education and rescue partnerships.
Hope Ranch Animal Sanctuary
Location: Grass Valley, California
Category: Dog Rescues · Cat Rescues · Equine & Farm Animal Rescues · Sanctuaries & Lifetime Care
Focus: Rescue and rehabilitation · Companion animal adoption · Permanent farm animal care
Love Creek Sanctuary rescues animals in need and provides rehabilitation and daily care. Dogs and cats may be placed in adoptive homes, while rescued farm animals receive lifelong sanctuary. The organization also supports animal welfare through community education and advocacy.
Love Creek Sanctuary
Location: Caliente, California
Category: Dog Rescues · Sanctuaries & Lifetime Care
Care model: Sanctuary with rehabilitation and selective rehoming
Focus: Special-needs animals · Trauma and behavioral challenges · Lifelong protection
Pawsibilities Ranch provides permanent care for animals who cannot be safely rehomed, including dogs with trauma or behavioral challenges. Rehabilitation and adoption are pursued when safe and appropriate, with lifelong sanctuary available for animals requiring ongoing care.
Pawsibilities Ranch
Location: California; exact city not provided
Category: Equine & Farm Animal Rescues · Sanctuaries & Lifetime Care
Care model: Small-scale rescue and permanent sanctuary
Focus: Equines and farm animals · Individualized care · Animal welfare education
Rescue Ranchito provides rescue and lifelong care for equines and farm animals. Resident numbers are kept limited to support individualized attention. The organization shares animal stories to encourage empathy and offers community involvement through sponsorships and on-site events.
Rescue Ranchito
Location: Malibu, California, and near Bend, Oregon
Category: Equine & Farm Animal Rescues · Sanctuaries & Lifetime Care
Care model: Permanent equine sanctuary
Focus: Wild mustangs and burros · At-risk equines · Rehabilitation · Wild horse protection
Skydog Sanctuary rescues mustangs and burros from neglect, kill pens, and other at-risk situations. Rescued equines receive physical and emotional rehabilitation and lifelong care in sanctuary environments.
The organization also educates the public and advocates for humane wild horse management and protection.
Skydog Sanctuary
Location: Southern California
Category: Sanctuaries & Lifetime Care
Care model: Permanent sanctuary
Focus: Lifelong protection · Daily care · Nutrition and veterinary support
Spoiled Rotten Ranch provides permanent housing and daily care for rescued animals. Its sanctuary work includes appropriate feed, supplements, veterinary care, and hands-on attention throughout each resident’s life.
Spoiled Rotten Ranch
Location: Lakeside, California
Category: Equine & Farm Animal Rescues · Sanctuaries & Lifetime Care
Care model: Farm animal sanctuary
Focus: Abandoned and mistreated farm animals · Lifelong care · Compassionate handling
Treat Them Rght provides sanctuary for rescued farm animals using force-free care and positive reinforcement. Its work also includes fostering and placement through community partnerships, animal welfare advocacy, and environmental education.
Treat Them Rght

Wildlife & Nature Conservation

Organizations supporting wildlife through rescue, rehabilitation, public education, habitat protection, or species conservation.

Services vary. Listings distinguish wildlife rehabilitation and release from permanent care and conservation work.

We haven’t added an organization to this category in California yet. Listings will be added as we identify and review relevant wildlife organizations.

Before contacting an organization
Adoption requirements, service areas, and intake availability vary. Please contact the organization directly to confirm its current programs and whether it can help with your situation.

Explore the Animal Shelter Directory