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Animal Shelters & Rescue Organizations

All groups listed below are non-profit organizations unless otherwise indicated. This is a list of both local shelters, and rescue organizations (Note: Rescue organizations usually have networks of foster homes throughout San Diego).

You can contact these organizations if you have a pet to relinquish, or if you are looking to adopt. All pets adopted from the following organizations are spayed/neutered, & up to date on shots. Many include a micro-chip, and most will provide you with any vet records.

Groups we work most closely with are indicated by a heart


DOG RESCUES

A Passion for Paws Akita Rescue, Inc
Phone: 858-551-7511
Email: apassionforpaws@gmail.com
An Akita Rescue that relies solely on generosity of donors, fosters & volunteers.
They do not have a shelter, and are always in need of new foster homes for Akitas. Willing to take other breeds when foster homes are available.

Animal Rescue Resource Foundation
(AARF)
Phone:  760-414-3966/ 760-522-7836 or 619-589-9334
AARF is an all-volunteer foster program without a facility.  They place abandoned pets with responsible families and work with other animal welfare organizations.  They also support the Give Some Life Foundation which offers free spay/neuter clinics in Mexico. 

Basset Hound Rescue & Adoption, Inc
Phone: 619-286-8638
Email: bassetmail@cox.net

Basset Rescue has been in San Diego for 17 years. rescuing only purebred Basset Hounds- no mixes. They spay and neuter and provide other medical needs before placement.


Boxer Rescue Los Angeles
Phone: 818-986-5914
Dedicated to finding homes for unwanted Boxers. They maintain two large capacity kennels which can house up to 120 boxers at a time.


Chesapeake Bay Retriever Relief & Rescue
Phone: 760 635-1955
Email: hhrsolutions@aol.com
Matching rescued Chesapeake Bay Retrievers with loving, permanent adoptive homes.

heartChihuahua Rescue of San Diego
Phone: 858-277-3557
Foster homes located throughout San Diego. Only adopt to local residents.
Rescue abandoned, abused, and special needs Chihuahuas. All-volunteer, rescue special needs dogs, too.

Dogz In Need
Phone:
760 297-1040
Email: dogzinneed@yahoo.com
A K-9 rescue group, that works with most breeds and mixes, with a goal to try and help any "dog in need". They are a small (but mighty) rescue, staffed by dedicated volunteers, and funded solely thru donations.

Foundation for the Care of Indigent Animals

Phone: 619-466-0426
Very small fostering organization, usually featuring dogs under 20 pounds who would have been killed in shelters due to expensive but treatable medical conditions. They've been around forever, and are very reputable and all volunteer.

Friends Of County Animal Shelters (FOCAS)
Phone: 619-685-3536
A foster and adoption organization that works with three shelters run by the County Department of Animal Services. They manage a small foster program consisting of pets taken from the three municipal County-run shelters.


German Shorthaired Pointer Rescue of Southern California
Phone: 760-726-4813
E-mail: info@GSP-Rescue.org
Breed-specific rescue specializing in German Shorthaired Pointers. A network of volunteers assures proper placement and lifetime assistance for each dog. All dogs are altered, vaccinated, micro-chipped, and come with a warranty contract for lifetime training and support.


Greyhound Adoption Center
Phone: 877-478-8364
The Greyhound Adoption Center is dedicated to rescuing Greyhounds and placing them in responsible, loving homes, matching each dog with an adopter, taking into consideration other family members, children, other pets and surroundings.

It's The Pits
Phone: 
858-472-0985
Fostering organization which focuses on rescuing and re-homing dogs mostly of the bully breed such as American Staffordshire Terriers and American Pit Bull Terriers.   Foster homes are located throughout San Diego, as well as a facility in Poway.  Rescued dogs are evaluated for temperament and health, before being placed with an appropriate family. 

heartLabradors & Friends Dog Rescue Group
Phone: 619-990-7455
Email: labradorsandfriends@yahoo.com
.
Rescue and foster labs and lab mixes throughout Southern California. All volunteer. They will take labradors that aren't purebred.

Labrador Rescuers, Inc.
Phone: 619-819-0234
Email: doginfo@labrescuers.org
Labrador Rescuers was established to rescue, rehabilitate, and rehome stray, abandoned, or unwanted Labrador Retrievers into loving, caring and permanent homes. Volunteer based resc
ue, placing 925 dogs since January 2004
.

heartOperation Greyhound Rescue & Adoption
Phone: 619-588-6611
Email: operationgreyhound@cox.net
A volunteer-run organization that has rescued and adopted over 2200 greyhounds during the past 17 years. It is a publicly supported organization dedicated to rescuing ex-racing greyhounds and other sighthounds. The organization has a 10-acre parcel in El Cajon which will be developed when future funds become available.


heartPacific Animal Welfare Society of Coronado (PAWS)  
Phone: 
619-435-8247
Email: Pawsofcoronado@aol.com

All-volunteer organization dedicated to facilitating the adoptions for the Coronado Animal Shelter in addition to assisting Coronado residents in re-homing their pets.  They run a foster program for homeless animals, while raising money to build a new Coronado Animal Shelter. 


Pit Bull Rescue San Diego
Phone:(858)-361-3592
Email: www.pitbullrescuesandiego.com
Volunteer-run, foster organization dedicated to rescuing and re-homing American Pit Bull Terriers, American Staffordshire Terriers, and other related bully breeds. They advocate responsible pet ownership, and oppose dog fighting, inhumane treatment and the exploitation of the bully breeds. They're working to save the most difficult breed to place....a tough job, due to prejudice and abuse of the breed.


Pug Rescue of San Diego
Phone: 619-685-3580
Breed Specific, non-profit rescue servicing San Diego County and surrounding areas. Dedicated to rescuing unwanted pugs, providing medical care if necessary, and placing them into permanent loving homes. No central location....pugs are located in volunteer foster homes throughout San Diego. There are no paid employees.


San Diego Rottweiler Rescue
Phone: 619-659-9189 or 619-212-6028
Email: Dossluvscritters@aol.com
A small rescue with a big heart. Specailizing in Rottweilers, but always willing to help with other breeds when foster homes are available. Dependent on individual donations.

heartSan Diego Spaniel Rescue
Phone: 619-922-0545
Email: sdsrwebinfo@yahoo.com

Provides breed education, rescue, fostering, medical and adoption services for abused, abandoned and homeless Cocker Spaniels throughout San Diego and Orange Counties. All volunteers .. no paid employees.


heartShelter Pet Partners
Phone: 619-212-0499
SPP rescues dogs and cats of all breeds and sizes, and has one of the most complete networks of foster homes throughout the County. They also host weekend adoption events, and maintain cat adoption facilities in various pet supply stores throughout the County. We've worked closely with this organization for more than 6 years. They rescue thousands of pets every year, without the expense of a shelter.


heartSouthern California German Shepherd Rescue
Phone: 619 379 1796
Their mission is to specifically rescue German Shepherds and find adoptive homes in Southern California. There is no shelter, but they do have dogs in foster homes. Small organization, easy to work with, and have always been kind enough to help us with our car donation program!


heartSpecial Needs Rescue
E-mail only: SpecialNeedsRescue@san.rr.com
This is a two-woman show. Very small organization, run from a foster home. Often takes in animals that other organizations won't touch, due to impending medical expenses.


The Dog Squad Rescue, Inc.
Phone: 760-804-1400
Email: info@thedogsquadrescue.org
An all-volunteer, foster-based organization servicing San Diego and surrounding areas. They rescue dogs of all breeds, sizes and ages. They hold 2-to3 adoption events each month, taking dogs in their foster program as well as dogs from the county shelter in Carlsbad.


heartUnited Hope For Animals
Phone: 909-801-0012 or 858-405-6267
A huge network of volunteers and fosters committed to ending the suffering and mistreatment of dogs and cats in Tijuana and all of Southern California. Provide rescue, and adoption/foster care where and whenever possible. Provide spay/neuter services in Tijuana, as well as humane euthanasia in those shelters.

Westie Rescue of Orange County & Beyond
Phone: 805-208-4322 or 714-960-1083
Email: karens@westierescueoc.com
A breed-specific rescue & foster group for West Highland White Terriers, based in Huntington Beach, but covering all California.


CAT RESCUES & CAT SHELTERS

Cat Adoption Service
Cat Adoption Service is a no-kill, volunteer organization dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation and permanent placement of homeless cats and kittens, with weekly adoption events at the La Jolla PETsMART. No shelter...foster homes, only.

Friends of Cats

Location: 15587 Olde Hwy 80 in El Cajon
Phone: 619-561-0361 X10
Shelter for homeless and unwanted cats that provides adoption services a well as a sanctuary for cats that are terminally ill or considered unadoptable. Once they take a cat, they never kill it unless medically necessary.

Friends Of County Animal Shelters (FOCAS)
Phone: 619-685-3536
A foster and adoption organization that works with three shelters run by the County Department of Animal Services. They manage a small foster program consisting of pets taken from the three municipal County-run
shelters.

Kitty Rescue of San Diego, Inc.
Phone: 619-545-2301
Email:
Sandra.Sato@navy.mil
A small cat rescue organization with most of the cats coming from owner relinquishments, and some coming from the County shelters. Funding is supplied through private donations, local city grants, and personal funds. There are no paid assistants.

National Cat Protection Society
9031 Birch Street, in Spring Valley
Phone: 619-469-8771
This shelter takes in owner relinquished cats and kittens, and runs an adoption program. They also have a retirement program for cats that are not adoptable. They have another facility in Newport Beach.

heartPacific Animal Welfare Society of Coronado (PAWS)  
Phone: 
619-435-8247
Email: Pawsofcoronado@aol.com
All-volunteer organization dedicated to facilitating the adoptions for the Coronado Animal Shelter in addition to assisting Coronado residents in re-homing their pets.  They run a foster program for homeless animals, while raising money to build a new Coronado Animal Shelter. 


heart Shelter Pet Partners
Phone: 619-212-0499
SPP rescues dogs and cats of all breeds and sizes, and has one of the most complete networks of foster homes throughout the County. They also host weekend adoption events, and maintain cat adoption facilities in various pet supply stores throughout the County. We've worked closely with this organization for more than 6 years. They rescue thousands of pets every year, without the expense of a shelter.

heartThe Rescue House
Phone: 760-591-1211
Rescue, foster, and adoption services. They find loving homes for unwanted, abandoned, homeless and abused cats, regardless of age and often handicap. There are 9 adoption centers throughout San Diego. They are volunteer based, and often will take cats that other organizations refuse. Once they take a cat in, the NEVER kill it, unless medically necessary. Since 1999, they've saved 6,300 cats....they have stepped up to the plate to save MANY cats we have directed to them.

The Rosebud Society
Phone:858-459-8357
Email: adoptacat@therosebudsociety.com
Rescues cats and kittens from local animal shelters (and other locations), that would otherwise be euthanized. They accept cats with moderate to severe medical needs, and kittens too young to survive. Cats are spayed/neutered, vaccinated, microchiped and made available for adoption, when healthy.


heartUnited Hope For Animals
Phone: 909-801-0012 or 858-405-6267
A huge network of volunteers and fosters committed to ending the suffering and mistreatment of dogs and cats in Tijuana and all Southern California. Provide rescue, and adoption/foster care where- and whenever possible. Provide spay/neuter services in Tijuana, as well as humane euthanasia in their shelters.


OTHER CRITTERS


heartSan Diego House Rabbit Society
Phone: 619-718-7777
Email: hrs@sandiegorabbits.org
HRS has been in San Diego County for more than 15 years. In addition to education, the HRS's key goals are to rescue, spay/neuter, socialize and find permanent indoor homes for abandoned domestic rabbits in our local shelters, and they provide a store for rabbit related products. They are an all-volunteer organization...no big salaries, and they work with rabbits already in shelters, so very little overhead. They help us with our car donation program.

San Diego Turtle & Tortoise Society
E-mail only: care.consultant@sdturtle.org
Dedicated to educating the public and protection of turtles and tortoises.


Parrot Education & Adoption Center
E-mail: parroted@cox.net
Based in San Diego and dedicated to educating bird owners on the proper care of birds. Unwanted and found parrots are accepted at PEAC.

heart Wee Companions
Phone; 619-934-6007
Small Animal Rescue in San Diego, specializing in Guinea Pigs, Hamsters, Rats & Mice. Pets are located in foster homes.


PRIVATELY FUNDED LOCAL SHELTERS
All Types of Pets

heartBaja Animal Sanctuary
Located in Rosarito, Mexico
Phone: 619-231-6960
No-kill Animal sanctuary and shelter based in Rosarito, Mexico, for both dogs and cats. Extensive network of San Diego foster homes for animals, as well as weekly adoption events north of the border.


Escondido Humane Society
3450 East Valley Parkway
Escondido, CA 92027
Phone: ((760) 888-2275


Helen Woodward Animal Center

Located in Rancho Santa Fe/Coastal North San Diego
Phone: 858-756-4117
HWAC is an animal shelter & adoption agency. It is a privately-funded shelter specializing in dog and cat adoptions, humane education for children, and therapy programs for animals and people in-need.

Living Free Animal Sanctuary
Located in the San Jacinto Mountains near Idyllwild.
Phone: 951-659-4687
A sanctuary for dogs and cats facing shelter euthanasia, also work to place these pets in qualified homes.

heartNorth County Humane Society & SPCA
2905 San Luis Rey Rd.
Oceanside, CA 92054
Phone: (760) 757-4357
Fax: (760) 757-3547

Rancho Coastal Humane Society
389 Requeza St.
Encinitas, CA 92024
Phone: (760) 753-6413
Fax: (760) 753-6664

The San Diego Humane Society and SPCA

5500 Gaines Street
San Diego, CA 92110
Phone: 619.299.7012


MUNICIPAL SHELTERS
(Tax Funded - Government Run)
All Types of Pets

Camp Pendleton Animal Control
Building 25132, Camp Pendleton
Phone: (760) 725-8120

Central County Animal Shelter

5480 Gaines Street in San Diego
Phone: (619) 236-4250
FOCAS Adoption Counselor: (619) 767-2632

Chula Vista Animal Shelter
130 Beyer Way in Chula Vista
Phone: 619-691-5123
Provide adoption services for abandoned and stray animals. Provides animal control services for the cities of Chula Vista, National City, Imperial Beach and parts of Lemon Grove.
Linda Septon, the adoption counselor: lsepton@ci.chula-vista.ca.us

City of Ridgecrest Animal Shelter
411 San Bernardino Blvd. in Ridgecrest
Phone: (760) 375-8157

Coronado Animal Shelter
1015 Sixth Street in Coronado
(corner of Orange Ave.)
Phone: (619) 522-7371

El Cajon Animal Shelter
1275 North Marshall Avenue in El Cajon
Phone: (619) 441-1580

North County Animal Shelter
2481 Palomar Airport Rd in Carlsbad
Phone: (760) 438-2312
FOCAS Adoption Counselor: 760-966-3218

South County Animal Shelter
5821 Sweetwater Rd in Bonita
Phone: (619) 263-7741
FOCAS Adoption Counselor: (619) 475-0372

Victor Valley Animal Shelter
21779 Zuni Road in Apple Valley
Phone: (760) 247-2102