Are you searching for the best dog rescues in Ottawa? Ottawa is home to many dog lovers. Dogs are welcome almost everywhere, from the corner store to the bus. The city also boasts many dog rescue organizations that work tirelessly to help dogs get adopted.
This article is for you if you are looking for the best and easiest place to adopt a dog in Ottawa. Many pet lovers prefer adoption over buying because of the simple processes involved. To adopt a dog, you must complete the adoption, wait for approval, and meet the basic requirements.
On the other hand, buying a puppy from a breeder can take months or even years. Adoption is also more affordable, as your new dog will come vaccinated, dewormed, microchipped, and spayed/neutered without paying additional fees besides the adoption fee.
However, with the abundance of dog rescue organizations in Ottawa, finding a reliable and reputable one can be daunting. As such, we have curated a list of Ottawa’s best small and big dog rescues.
Before you scroll further down this list of dog rescues in Ottawa, you can check out these other dog-related recommendations from our team at We Love Doodles: Best Boxer Rescues in Ontario and Best Dog Rescues in Edmonton.
Find a Dog Rescue Shelter Near Me in Ottawa
Please keep reading to see our top dog rescues in Ottawa, recommended by our team.
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1. Ottawa Dog Rescue
Ottawa Dog Rescue is a group of experienced rescuers and dedicated dog lovers founded in August 2013. It is a foster-based rescue organization, meaning all their rescued dogs are placed in foster homes until they find their forever homes.
The rescue does not have a central facility where you can meet their dogs. Upon the approval of your application, they will contact you and set up a meeting to see your potential dog. ODR consists of avid dog lovers dedicated to helping surrendered, abused, lost, abandoned, and neglected dogs.
They rescue these dogs and find the best-suited home for them. Ottawa Dog Rescue is cautious about who goes home with their dogs, as they don’t want the dogs to return to the streets or shelters again. All their applicants are thoroughly screened to ensure they are the right candidate for the dogs.
To ensure every adoption is perfect, the organization assesses the adopters and finds the best match for them. Each dog is paired with a family or individual that best suits their unique needs, personality, and lifestyle.
ODR is a non-profit rescue organization that strives to be transparent and accountable. They are always transparent about their processes and accountable for the donations received. ODR has a good team, including foster homes, local vets, and committed volunteers.
The vets examine the dogs and puppies after being rescued. After being examined and treated for any known health issues, the dogs are kept in quarantine for at least two weeks before being listed for adoption.
All rescued dogs are brought up-to-date on vaccination, dewormed, and microchipped before joining their new families. Besides rescuing and rehoming dogs, this organization aims to educate by bringing awareness to responsible pet ownership and the importance of spaying/neutering.
Ottawa Dog Rescue Details
- Address: Ottawa, Canada
- Website: Ottawa Dog Rescue
- Phone Number: N/A
- Email Address: admin@ottawadogrescue.com
2. Home for Paws Dog Rescue
Home for Paws Dog Rescue is dedicated to rescuing, rehabilitating, and rehoming dogs and puppies in need. Whether you are looking for puppies, young adults, adults, and senior dogs, HPDR is one of the best places to adopt your new companion and pet.
HPDR is an all-volunteer rescue organization dedicated to giving rescued dogs a second chance at a new life. Their ultimate goal is to place the dogs they rescue in loving forever homes where they will live out the rest of their lives.
Home for Paws Dog Rescue does not have a shelter or central location where you can meet all their puppies and dogs. All their rescued pets are placed in separate volunteer foster homes within Ottawa until their forever families come for them.
Their adoption fee ranges from $300 to $650, which is non-negotiable and non-refundable. However, the adoption fees include vaccination, deworming, microchipping, and spaying/neutering. They rescue all dog breeds and sizes, including those with mild to severe health issues.
All rescued dogs are vet-checked and tested for various health conditions. Those diagnosed with any health condition are treated immediately and given the necessary attention. Proper training is also provided while they are in foster care.
The dogs undergo adequate socialization and training exercises to prepare for their new families. All dogs and puppies receive age-appropriate vaccines, including Rabies and flea preventative.
You can consult them for advice if you aren’t sure which dog breed to adopt. They will assess you to determine the best breed that will suit your lifestyle, family, and personality. You can also rely on them for continuous support after adopting a dog from them.
Home for Paws Dog Rescue Details
- Address: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
- Website: Home for Paws Dog Rescue
- Phone Number: N/A
- Email Address: homesforpaws@hotmail.com
3. Paws for Cause Animal Rescue
Next up, we have Paws of Cause Animal Rescue – a highly committed rescue organization that puts the health and welfare of their dogs and puppies first. It is a foster-based rescue dedicated to helping dogs in need locally and internationally.
The rescue team is run by volunteers passionate about rescuing, rehabilitating, and placing dogs in permanent homes. PCAR is selective of whom they give their puppies to. Their dog placement goal is to ensure the dogs never return to the streets or shelters.
The team at this organization puts a lot of effort into placing the dogs in the right homes. They screen all their applicants and only choose the most qualified and trusted. Applying for a puppy or dog here does not guarantee to get one.
After the first application stage, the organization conducts home visits to ensure the applicant’s home is safe and secure for the dog. While ensuring their applicants are a great fit for their dogs, PCAR also prepares them to ensure they are a great addition to their new homes.
First, all dogs are thoroughly examined by a professional vet to ensure they are healthy and sound. Those with health issues are treated immediately and are kept in foster care until they are perfectly healthy and sound. One thing we love about this rescue team is that they do not give away sick dogs.
You will be informed during the adoption process if the dog has any underlying or lingering health issues. The dogs are also well-socialized and exposed to various events and environments before going home. Behavioral training is also part of the mix to ensure your dog is well-behaved before joining you.
Paws for Cause Animal Rescue Details
- Address: Ottawa, Canada
- Website: Paws for Cause Animal Rescue
- Phone Number: N/A
- Email Address: pawswacause@gmail.com
4. Freedom Dog Rescue
If you are looking for an easy and quick way to adopt a dog in Ottawa, Freedom Dog Rescue is one of the best options you have. This rescue organization is 100 percent involved in saving the lives of dogs and puppies in Ottawa and providing them with proper health care and foster homes.
Freedom Dog Rescue is a registered non-profit rescue organization. The organization started operating in February 2015 and has saved hundreds of dogs since then. You can adopt all dog sizes and breeds from this organization, including puppies, adults, and seniors.
All the volunteers involved in this rescue program are avid dog lovers and would go the extra mile to save and rescue abandoned, abused, lost, and neglected dogs. In addition, the organization takes in dogs whose owners can no longer provide or care for them.
The program is run and managed by a dedicated team that involves local vets, trainers, and committed volunteers. They rescue these dogs and provide them with proper vet care to ensure they are healthy and sound before listing them for adoption.
Any injured or severely sick dog is given necessary medical attention, including surgery (when needed). All their dogs are spayed/neutered, fully vaccinated, dewormed, and microchipped before going home.
The organization also educates people about responsible pet ownership and the importance of spaying/neutering their pets. They also work hard to groom the rescued dogs to make it easy to adjust to their new families.
Freedom Dog Rescue Details
- Address: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
- Website: Freedom Dog Rescue
- Phone Number: N/A
- Email Address: freedomdogrescue@gmail.com
5. Rocky Road Rescue
Rocky Road Rescue is a foster-based, non-profit dog rescue organization. The organization rescues, rehabilitates, and rehomes all dog breeds, regardless of age, size, and health condition. They do not ignore dogs with health problems, regardless of their severity.
RRR is a volunteer-run program, and all their dogs are placed in foster homes until their forever families come for them. The volunteers running this rescue donate their time outside work and family obligations to care for these dogs and ensure they are paired with the right families.
Thanks to their dedicated foster families, all the rescued dogs live in loving home environments while they attend to and meet their medical and behavioral needs. Rock Road Rescue is a non-profit organization that raises funds via fundraisers and events.
Their puppies are released for a small adoption fee, and the fees cover vaccinations, wormings, spaying/neutering, and microchipping. Transparency and accountability are the core of this rescue organization. They are highly transparent and invest 100 percent of the funds received in purchasing food, medical bills, and more.
Rocky Road Rescue Details
- Address: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
- Website: Rocky Road Rescue
- Phone Number: N/A
- Email Address: Online Form
Conclusion For The “Best Dog Rescues in Ottawa”
Our list of the best dog rescues in Ottawa includes organizations that improve their communities by providing comfortable and safe refuge to vulnerable, abused, and lost animals.
In addition to playing a major role in helping you find an affordable yet healthy family companion or friend, these organizations also play a key role in raising pet rights awareness. So you can reach out to them to start your adoption process.
For more guides similar to this list of dog rescues in Ottawa, you can check out these other dog-related recommendations from our team:
Before you adopt a dog companion from a rescue shelter in Ottawa, you can learn more about raising a dog by watching “Everything You Need to Know About Raising a Puppy” 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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