If you’re searching for the best dog rescues in Houston, you have come to the right place. Finding dog rescues in Houston is as simple as reading this article. Unfortunately, finding a reliable and legitimate dog rescue can be difficult. According to the last official count, more than 100 registered animal rescue homes operate in Houston.
Before scrolling down this list of dog rescues in Houston, you can check out these other recommendations from our team at We Love Doodles: Best Pitbull Rescues in Houston and Best Yorkie Rescues in Houston.
Find a Dog Rescue Near Me in Houston
If you have so many choices and locations, you might wonder where to begin your search. Due to their notoriety, the standard of pet care, and the quality of service, we recommend the following rescue shelters.
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1. Houston Humane Society
Houston Humane Society strives to end cruelty, abuse, and overpopulation of animals while offering them the best possible care. Dogs, cats, horses, and various other animals are available for adoption. Adoption is easy, and they even offer specific discounts for some of their furry friends.
They strive to provide all resident animals at HHS, regardless of their length of stay, with the above and extra enrichment activities, including walks in the park, socialization, training, Kong toys, and much more, until they are matched with their permanent families.
Federal, state, or local governments do not fund them, and they rely solely on donations, program services, and special events for funding. Therefore, HHS strives to create animal welfare awareness within the Houston community through various programs, animal welfare awareness within the Houston community through a variety of programs, animal welfare, and Houston’s best high-volume, low-cost spay and neuter clinic.
Dog Adoption Fees:
- Puppies 6 months of age and under – $195
- 25 pounds or less (any age) – $195
- Seven months and older – $145
Houston Humane Society Details
- Location: 14700 Almeda Rd. Houston, TX 77053
- Telephone: (713) 433-6421
- Website: Houston Humane Society
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: Houston Humane Society’s Instagram
- Facebook: Houston Humane Society’s Facebook
2. Friends for Life
They were thrilled to move into their shelter in the Heights in 2012. They designed the space with animals in mind. The natural light and modern layout create an inviting space for adopters and volunteers. The adoption team will help you find the perfect pet, schedule a date to meet the animal, and organize a one-week “sleepover.”
Their staff can assist with pet introductions or provide step-by-step instructions if you already have pets. Pets should not be brought to the shelter unless pre-arranged with staff. After the sleepover, they will schedule an appointment to finalize the adoption contracts.
They will review your pet’s medical records, microchip information, and post-adoption benefits and resources available to all FFL adopters. The adoption fee is $95 per pet. Includes a microchip, age-appropriate vaccinations, spay/neuter if over six months old, and advice/resources throughout the pet’s life.
Friends for Life Details
- Location: 107 E 22nd Street Houston, TX 77008
- Telephone: (713) 863-9835
- Website: Friends for Life
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: Friends for Life’s Instagram
- Facebook: Friends for Life’s Facebook
3. Houston Pets Alive
Andrea Birkelbach founded the 501(c)3 animal shelter in 2014, and now it is run by animal-loving volunteers and staff who never give up on saving the next life. They’re not your typical rescue. Through working alongside their animal welfare partners to reduce euthanasia, pet homelessness, and animal suffering in the Houston area, they act as a safety net for municipal shelters/impound facilities and help at-risk animals.
Through education, outreach, and accessible care, they empower their community to share in their goal of giving every cat and dog-loving homes. Houston has 1.2 million stray animals and two open-intake shelters. They work with BARC and Harris County Animal Shelters and smaller municipal shelters and pounds to improve life outcomes. HPA’s mission is to save the lives of at-risk companion animals and find them loving homes. The vision of HPA is to give every dog and cat a forever home.
Houston Pets Alive Details
- Location: 2800 Antoine Drive, Suite 2854 Houston, TX 77092
- Telephone: (832) 786-9310
- Website: Houston Pets Alive
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: Houston Pets Alive’s Instagram
- Facebook: Houston Pets Alive’s Facebook
4. Houston SPCA
Houston SPCA was founded nearly 100 years ago by Houston community leaders to meet the needs of animals in Houston and has always put their wellbeing and care first. The Houston SPCA is an iconic nonprofit that has grown along with the city and has continued to adapt to help animals in their community.
Since they were founded, millions of animals have been saved by the Houston SPCA. The Houston SPCA’s mission is to promote commitment to and respect for all animals and protect them from suffering, abuse, and exploitation. They do this through a variety of programs and services.
The adoption process:
- You must be at least 18 years old.
- Please bring a photo ID.
- Ensure you have the knowledge and consent of all adults living in your household. They encourage you to bring the whole family.
- You may pay the adoption fee with cash, check, debit card, or credit card.
Houston SPCA Details
- Location: 7007 Old Katy Road Houston, TX 77024
- Telephone: (713) 869-7722
- Website: Houston SPCA
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: Houston SPCA’s Instagram
- Facebook: Houston SPCA’s Facebook
5. Citizens for Animal Protection
Citizens for Animal Protection, founded in 1972, houses, rescues, and places homeless animals for adoption with loving families. In addition to advocating respect and compassion for animal life, CAP provides humane education to help prevent animal cruelty.
By providing the following programs and services, CAP speaks for those who cannot speak for themselves: Shelter & Care; Pet Adoption; Spaying & Neutering; Pet Care Counseling; Lost & Found Pets; Feral Cat Assistance Program; Pets for Seniors; Humane Education; and Pet Supply Shop.
Fees associated with pet adoption. CAP adoption fees include various services, including age-appropriate vaccinations, canine heartworm tests, feline leukemia tests, spaying/neutering, deworming treatments, and microchipping, which exceed $450.
Citizens for Animal Protection Details
- Location: 17555 Katy Freeway Houston, Texas 77094
- Telephone: (281) 497-0591
- Website: Citizens For Animal Protection
- Instagram: Citizens For Animal Protection’s Instagram
- Facebook: Citizens For Animal Protection’s Facebook
6. Harris County Pets
Last on the list of the best dog rescues in Houston is “Harris County Pets.” Harris County Pets serves residents and pets in unincorporated Harris County as an open intake, municipal pet adoption, and resource center. Harris County Pets is open to everyone.
At Harris County Pets, anyone can volunteer (must be 16 years old). Foster homes for Harris County Pets must be located in Harris, Brazoria, Chambers, Fort Bend, Liberty, Montgomery, or Waller counties. You can give a homeless pet a loving home by adopting them.
Approximately 16,000-20,000 animals are taken in by Harris County Pets, an open-intake municipal animal shelter. A variety of dogs and cats are available for adoption. The adoption fee includes spaying or neutering, a microchip, a Harris County pet license for a year, and age-appropriate vaccinations, including rabies.
Adoptions must be conducted in person at their facility after making an appointment. To schedule an appointment, call the facility. You cannot hold animals via phone or email. The adoption process is first-come, first-served. Therefore, there is no guarantee that a particular animal will still be available at your appointment.
Harris County Pets Details
- Location: 612 Canino Rd. Houston, TX 77076
- Telephone: (281) 999-3191
- Website: Harris County Pets
- Instagram: Harris County Pets’ Instagram
- Facebook: Harris County Pets’ Facebook
Dog Rescue Shelters in Houston
Adopting a pet from a shelter has numerous benefits. Adopting a dog from an animal shelter means saving a life. When you adopt, you are not just providing a loving home for a deserving animal but also freeing up space and resources for another animal in need.
If you consider adopting a new pet, we encourage you to consider one of the thousands of animals waiting to be adopted from shelters and rescues across the United States. If a family wants to buy a pet, we encourage them to work with a responsible breeder rather than a pet store or online store.
How to Choose a Dog Rescue Shelter in Houston
It would be best if you understood the differences in facilities. Pet parents today have various options for picking where to adopt a dog. Most of these are municipal, city-owned shelters, privately owned shelters, and rescue groups where you can arrange foster dogs until permanent homes.
Municipal animal shelters are usually funded almost exclusively by public funds. As a result, they are often called “animal control,” whereas private shelters and rescue groups rely on private donations to survive.
Where Do You Find a Dog in Houston?
You can find the perfect match for your family at an animal shelter or rescue organization. Breed-specific rescue groups exist for every type of dog, including hybrids and “designer” breeds like Labradoodles and Puggles.
Related: Ways to Find Hypoallergenic Dog Rescues.
Conclusion For The “Best Dog Rescues in Houston”
There you go—Houston’s best animal rescue homes. You should feel more confident looking for a dog rescue in your state now that you have this list. If you are looking for a dog that meets your needs, you can visit their websites and browse the available dogs.
Unfortunately, due to COVID-19, many appointments are only available by calling ahead of time. So be sure to call before you visit. Good luck finding your dream dog.
For more guides similar to this list of dog rescues in Houston, you can check out:
Before you adopt a dog companion from a rescue shelter in Houston, you can learn more about adoption by watching “Things You Must Know Before Adopting a Dog” down below:
Andy is a full-time animal rescuer and owner of a toy doodle. When he’s not saving dogs, Andy is one of our core writers and editors. He has been writing about dogs for over a decade. Andy joined our team because he believes that words are powerful tools that can change a dog’s life for the better.
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