4 Best Dog Rescues in British Columbia! (2023)

Finding the best dog rescues in British Columbia can be a challenging task; that is why we have put this guide together to help you.

Looking for a dog can be an intimidating process for you and your family. You want the perfect pet who will blend in with your family members and adjust easily to your home.

Before scrolling down this list of dog rescues in British Columbia, check out these guides: Ways to Find Hypoallergenic Dog Rescues and Best Historical Dog Names For a Puppy.

Find a Dog Rescue in British Columbia

You may not know it, but in addition to dog breeders, there are many deserving dogs that are worthy of adoption in the British Columbia region. These dogs have been rescued by charitable organizations who go out of their way to rehabilitate dogs so they can be rehomed.

If you adopt a dog, you are not only doing service to your community but also giving a loving home to an animal that may have never experienced it. What could be better than that?

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1. Home at Last Dog Rescue

Home at Last Dog Rescue is a 100% donation volunteer-run foster home. No one at Home at Last Dog Rescue receives a salary or any other sort of compensation. Volunteers donate their time to take care of the animals.

It is a charitable organization that is on a mission to save abandoned dogs and strays. “Home at Last” is not a shelter but runs exclusively on foster families that take in the animals until they can be rehomed.

It wants every potential dog owner to remember that there are alternatives to dog breeders and puppy mills when you are looking for the best dog rescues in British Columbia. If you are looking to adopt a rescue, then Home at Last Dog Rescue is a great option.

Let’s look at their adoption process:

• The best way to get an idea of the adoptable dogs available is to check Home at Last’s website by clicking dogs available for adoption.
• After you have selected a few dogs, you need to fill out the application form. Make sure to fill out the form accurately and honestly. It is based on this form that they will decide whether you can adopt a dog or not.
• After your application has been approved, a telephone interview will take place to see if you are a good match for the dog you have chosen.
• A visit will be arranged depending upon the personality of the dog and to see how you interact with the animal. After this, a home visit will be arranged to make sure your home and premises are safe for the dog.
• If, after the visits, it seems like a good match, then the adoption process will proceed.
• All vet records will be handed over, and you can visit the foster home to pick up the dog after a non-refundable adoption fee has been paid.

Home at Last Dog Rescue Details

• Website: Home at Last Dog Rescue
• Address: Lower Mainland British Columbia, Surrey, BC V4A 0B1, Canada

2. Save Animals Through Rescue & Adoption (SARA) Society

The SARA Society was established in 1998 and is a no-kill shelter and a non-profit. They have cats and dogs available for adoption in addition to birds. Society has sheltered and rehomed more than 4,000 animals.

It is also a permanent home for those animals who are disabled or who, due to age, cannot be rehomed. In addition to providing animals for adoption, Sara also donates dry cat and dog food to support groups in the community.

Society strives to help better the community for animals by doing the following:

• Rescuing animals
• Spaying & Neutering animals through generous donations
• Providing a permanent home to helpless animals
• Providing animals for adoption

If you are looking to adopt, Sara is one of the best dog rescues in British Columbia.

The adoption process is fairly straightforward:

• Fill out an adoption form and email it to sarasociety@gmail.com
• Pay the adoption fee to Sara. The fee is used to vaccinate, vet checkups, and the general care of the animal and other animals that are permanently living on the premises.
• Each dog is vaccinated, dewormed, spayed/neutered, collared, leashed, and receives a free vet checkup.
• Any animal that is returned within 15 days of adoption will receive a full refund, while animals returned within 30 days will receive a partial refund.

Save Animals Through Rescue & Adoption (SARA) Society Details

• Website: Save Animals Through Rescue & Adoption Society
• Address: Surrey, British Columbia
• Phone: (604) 580-8254
• Email: sarasociety@gmail.com
• Facebook: Save Animals Through Rescue & Adoption

3. Abbotsford British Columbia Society for the Prevention of the Cruelty to Animals (SPCA)

BCSPCA provides a haven for all animals in the British Columbia region. It is a great option if you are looking to adopt a big dog rescue in British Columbia and provide a loving home to an animal that needs one.

To adopt from the BCSPCA that is located in Abbotsford, you will need to first look at pets that are available for adoption.

Some of the animals are special needs, so you need first to determine if you are ready to adopt a rescue who may need more attention and time to adjust to your home. To find out if you are ready, you can check out this pre-adoption survey available on their site.

Once you have decided to choose BCSPCA as your puppy rescue in British Columbia, you can commence with the application. Note that the adoption process at BCSPCA has been adjusted due to COVID-19.

The next steps include:

• Fill out an adoption form
• Talk to local staff and volunteers over the phone. A virtual meeting can be arranged if further issues need to be discussed.
• Proceed with the adoption process, as most pets are ready to go home immediately.
• Complete the process by visiting the shelter and bringing a government-issued I.D. with you.
• Bring your new pet home.

The BCSPCA can be a good option for those families that are looking to adopt an animal quickly. But it is always a good idea to make sure you are prepared before you bring your new animal home. The site has a good prep guide you can access here.

SPCA Details

• Website: SPCA
• Address: 34312 Industrial Way, Abbotsford, BC V2S 7M6, Canada
• Phone: (604) 850-1584
• Email: info@spca.bc.ca
• Facebook: SPCA’s Facebook
• Instagram: SPCA’s Instagram

4. Paws It Forward

Last on the list of dog rescues in British Columbia is “Paws It Forward.” Paws it Forward is a rescue shelter that started in November 2011 when two friends learned about dogs being euthanized in high-kill shelters.

They decided to open a rescue home that had a no-kill policy that would rehome dogs safely from all around the world. They started with 50 dogs and as their network grew, so did the number of dogs they rescued who were abandoned and unloved.

Currently, Paws it Forward is an exclusive dog rescue that fundraises all of its funds with no government support. All dogs are kept in foster homes until they find loving homes.

The adoption process at Paws It Forward involves looking for matches for rescued dogs through a very long and comprehensive process.

They do not believe in making a quick adoption, so they take their time to make sure a good match is made, making them one of the best dog rescues in British Columbia.

Here is what they look at:

• They want to know why you are adopting a dog and whether you have read their biography or not.
• They will ask you for personal information like your name, age, and occupation.
• They want to know your living arrangements and whether you rent or own your home.
• They want to know how many family members are below the age of 19.
• They want to know if anyone has allergies to pets.

Paws It Forward Details

• Website: Paws It Forward
• Mailing Address: P.O. Box 23129 Plaza 33, Kelowna, B.C V1X 7K7
• Facebook: Paws It Forward’s Facebook
• Instagram: Paws It Forward’s Instagram

How to Choose a Dog Rescue in British Columbia

When considering the best dog rescues in British Columbia, it is important to determine what your requirements are. If you are looking for a well-trained, rehabilitated dog, then you must look at rescues like Paws it Forward that will not hand over dogs unless they are ready to be rehomed.

Other shelters may not go through so much trouble and are looking for transition animals quickly due to lack of space like the BC SPCA. Whichever one you choose will depend on what you and your family can easily adapt to.

If you are a first-time pet owner, then you may want a dog that does not have special needs or high care needs. Whatever you choose, you can rest assured that you are helping the overall community of dogs by giving a forever home to an abandoned animal.

Conclusion For The “Best Dog Rescues in British Columbia”

This list is a great starting point if you are looking for the best dog rescues in British Columbia. So go ahead, dive right in, and welcome that furry friend to your home today.

For more guides similar to this list of dog rescues in British Columbia, you can check out:

• Best Dog Rescues in London
• Best Dog Rescues in East Midlands
• Best Dog Rescues in Southern California

Before you adopt a dog from a rescue shelter in British Columbia, you can learn more by watching “How to Prep For a Rescue Dog” down below: