Where Can You Get Free Puppies in Sacramento?

Are you searching for free puppies in Sacramento? If you are fed up with clickbait advertisements of free puppies, keep reading below to find out genuine options you can explore in Sacramento to meet your next best mate.

The United States is home to several million dogs owned by 69 million American families, a number that keeps on growing. Sacramento, the sixth most populous city in the California region, is no stranger to the popularity of adoptable dogs.

There are many ways to locate free puppies in Sacramento, but you can do it most easily at shelters and rescues. You can find free puppies at the Department of Animal Care & Regulation in Sacramento County, Petfinder, Front Street Animal Shelter, Sacramento SPCA, Recycled Pets Norcal, Happy Tails Pet Sanctuary and others.

Before you scroll further down this guide, “Where Can You Get Free Puppies in Sacramento,” you can check out these other dog-related articles from our team at We Love Doodles: Best Dog Daycares in Sacramento and Best Dachshund Rescues in California For Adoption.

Find Free Puppies in Sacramento

We have developed a guide that will help you kickstart the adoption process for your dog at the organization of your choice.

Puppy Product Recommendations: Best Automatic Dog Ball Launchers and Best Plaque Removers For Dogs.

1. Department of Animal Care & Regulation, Sacramento County

The only shelter you should check out is the official Department of Animal Care & Regulation in Sacramento, which promotes community care and the welfare of dogs in Sacramento neighborhoods via awareness-raising, stewardship, and kindness.

The facility is operational each day of the week between 12 pm to 5 pm, apart from Mondays, and is located at 3839 Bradshaw Road, Sacramento, CA 95827. You can contact the shelter with any questions about adoption placements by emailing [email protected] or calling (916) 368-7387 (PETS).

To start the adoption process, visit the official website of the Department of Animal Care & Regulation in Sacramento and check out the listings. The website is revised every half hour; keep in mind the adoption process at the sanctuary is first come, first served.

No prior reservations are required since animals cannot be held over the phone or by email.  If you have any queries, allow some time for a reply since it is a state entity and is usually understaffed. It is, therefore, best that you go to the facility in person. ​

Department of Animal Care & Regulation, Sacramento County Details

• Phone Number: (916) 368-7387
• Email Address: [email protected]

2. Petfinder

Petfinder is an online directory of animals looking for loving families, and the database is revised frequently. From the convenience of their homes, pet lovers may use Petfinder to choose a free puppy that suits their lifestyle. The service provides a platform for more than 11,000 sanctuaries and placement agencies in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

The Petfinder website aims to use online services to increase public knowledge of the accessibility of adoptable canines and improve pet placement programs’ general success across North America. Together, animal rescue experts and citizens who volunteer for their regional welfare organizations for animals keep the website’s adoptable pet listings current and reliable.

In just the 10 miles surrounding Sacramento alone, there are 370 dogs available for adoption via Petfinder. You can filter out your searches based on age, height or weight, social skills, fur, care, temperament, days spent on Petfinder, or a specific shelter or dog’s name. You may also sign up for email notifications from the website when new dogs that meet your search parameters are listed on Petfinder.

When you locate a dog that piques your interest as a potential pet, you’ll likely want to visit it in person. To do so, you must tap the dog’s image or title on the results pages to get to the dog’s detailed profile page. Here, you can get in touch with the organization that posted the listing by using the “Ask About” option.

Each adoption organization with pets listed on the website has its guidelines and specifications for adopting animals. Petfinder does not impose policies on placement groups, including the qualifications for adoption.

No information listed on Petfinder is guaranteed, even though all the rescue organizations that post their dogs there have been extensively vetted by outreach professionals. To make sure the pet is still available and that the details posted in Petfinder are true, it is recommended to give the facility or organization that advertises the animal a call.

Any dog obtained through an adoption agency must get a thorough examination by a vet as soon as possible after being adopted. The adoption agencies and the adopter are held responsible for any dogs discovered, acquired through, or posted on Petfinder.

Petfinder Details

• Website: Petfinder

3. Front Street Animal Shelter

Front Street Animal Shelter is another wonderful option when you’re searching for free puppies in Sacramento. The shelter features a user-friendly website that you can use to find your next best mate by clicking on a dog’s picture and following the directions in the description.

The Front Street Animal Shelter is open every day of the week from noon to five o’clock in the evening. Walk-ins are allowed, and it is located at 2127 Front Street, Sacramento, CA 95818. You can schedule adoption appointments for speedier assistance by contacting (916) 808-5011 or (916) 264-5011.

In appreciation for your help in rehoming and preserving a priceless life, Front Street Animal Shelter gives its adopters a free initial vet exam with VCA Animal Hospitals and discounts to Petco and Pet Food Express.

Front Street Animal Shelter Details

• Phone Number: (916) 808-5011 or (916) 264-5011

4. Sacramento SPCA

Another rescue group that houses and provides free puppies for adoption is the Sacramento SPCA. One of the oldest animal rights advocates in the Sacramento region, it has been operating for 130 years. During this time, the Sacramento SPCA has worked towards offering accessible sterilization procedures, advancing animal welfare through awareness, and supporting pet owners with resources.

If you want to adopt a free puppy from Sacramento 2SPCA, you can visit the shelter from 10:30 in the morning until 5:30 pm, Tuesday through Saturday, at 6201 Florin Perkins Rd., Sacramento, CA 95828. Not sure you’re ready to adopt? Visit the shelter. They provide an opportunity for the public to spend time with animals without the permanent commitment.

They might be people who live in senior living facilities, hospitalized or recovering inmates, youngsters living in foster homes, or even college kids who are under a great deal of stress. Through the Love on Loan program of the Sacramento SPCA, regular visits from animal pals may significantly improve someone’s quality of life.

Volunteers and employees at the Sacramento SPCA launched the Love on Loan animal-assisted rehabilitation program in 1984. The initiative recruits participants who bring their dogs to local children’s facilities and nursing institutions. For elders and kids, spending time with animals may be a potent catalyst for personal development and a positive change in daily life.

Sacramento SPCA Details

• Location: 6201 Florin Perkins Rd., Sacramento, CA 95828

5. Recycled Pets NorCal

A 501(c)3 non-profit organization, Recycled Pets NorCal is devoted to helping homeless animals. Working with shelters and rescue organizations around California, the facility finds permanent homes for distressed pets in the Sacramento, California, region.

Its objective is to grow the Recycled Pets NorCal family while “recycling” abandoned pets into permanent homes. If you cannot adopt the dog you requested, Recycled Pets NorCal might be available to assist you in finding the best dog for your needs and way of life.

Recycled Pets NorCal follows a rigorous adoption procedure. The first step is to submit an application on the website or via [email protected] since there is no physical shelter location open for the public to visit.

Afterward, you can meet the dogs you have applied for. The next step is a residence check to ensure you have enough space to accommodate the dog. Once you have completed this process, an adoption agreement will be drawn up.

An adoption fee will be paid that will help cover the microchipping, deworming, and immunizations for your pet, and sterilization by the shelter. Keep in mind that the shelter does not operate on a first-come, first-served basis because it wants to ensure that the canines don’t just go to any available family but that the ideal family finds them.

Recycled Pets NorCal Details

• Website: Recycled Pets NorCal
• Email Address: [email protected]

6. Happy Tails Pet Sanctuary

Happy Tails Pet Sanctuary is an animal welfare organization that was established in 1993 to preserve and enhance the lives of abandoned and mistreated pets in the Sacramento region. Before being put in secure, devoted, long-term homes, vulnerable pets are saved, nourished, and given housing and medical attention.

Rather than being placed at the shelter’s main headquarters on Folsom Boulevard, Happy Tails’ foster canines live in volunteer homes throughout the Sacramento region.

If you want to adopt a dog from Happy Tails Pet Sanctuary, call the administrator at (916) 556-1155 to start the adoption process. They will provide more information about the available dogs and when, where, and how to meet the dog of your dreams.

Happy Tails Pet Sanctuary Details

• Website: Happy Tails Pet Sanctuary
• Phone Number: (916) 556-1155

7. ALWAYS Adopt A Sterilized Pup

You must have noticed that every good shelter, from Sacramento SPCA to Happy Tails, always offers a spayed or neutered dog for adoption and sometimes covers it with an adoption fee. Typically, right before spring and summer, animal overproduction occurs.

The period is generally referred to as “heat”; animals can become increasingly aggressive, restless, and territorial during this time. Therefore, sterilization is encouraged for your pets. Spaying and neutering dogs benefit their health and significantly reduces dog overpopulation, which is largely responsible for the countless strays people are unwilling to care for.

These are adorable, healthy animals who might have made wonderful friends. Besides that, spaying increases the lifespan of your dogs since they are not repeatedly at risk of childbirth complications.  Uterine tumors and infections can also be avoided by spaying.

Breast tumors, invasive or fatal in many dogs, are almost completely avoided by spaying. Similarly, neutering prevents testicular cancer and significantly lowers the likelihood of developing perianal cancers.

Your pet’s tendency to wander can be curbed with sterilization, reducing the likelihood of accidents outside the home. The risk of assertive behavior, regular urine marking, incessant wailing, and restless roaming in heat is eliminated.

ALWAYS Adopt A Sterilized Pup Details

• Website: Sacramento SPCA

Frequently Asked Questions

Still have questions about where you can get free puppies in Sacramento? Here are the answers to some of the most commonly asked questions from our readers.

Is it safe to adopt free puppies in Sacramento?

When you choose a reliable and established shelter, there’s a very good chance that your free puppy will be perfectly fine. However, it’s important that you ensure that your puppy has been to the vet and that you receive records. When possible, you’ll also want to visit the shelter in person to better understand how the puppies and dogs are treated while in shelter care.

Is social media a good place to get free puppies?

Yes and no. You’ll likely find quite a few listings for free pets on Facebook, Instagram, Craigslist, and even Nextdoor. But you’ll need to do your due diligence to ensure the puppies are healthy.

Ask the “seller” why they’re trying to get rid of puppies for free. Can they simply not care for them? Are they unhealthy? Learn about whether the dogs have been to the vet, and ask about your puppy’s parents, too.

Meet your seller in a public place and bring a friend for safety. This is true no matter which platform you choose.

How much money do I need to get a puppy?

While your puppy may be free, the cost of caring for your dog can be significant. On average, most pet parents spend between $1,500 and $2,000 in food, bedding, toys, medical care, and other responsibilities. Free puppies aren’t free in the long term, so be sure you’re prepared to care for your pet appropriately before you begin the adoption process.

Conclusion For “Where Can You Get Free Puppies in Sacramento”

Your free puppy should come from one of the many organizations working day and night to foster a culture of animal welfare in Sacramento’s neighborhoods. Dogs are an important part of our lives, and we must choose them with discretion and planning.

If you find this guide, “Where Can You Get Free Puppies in Sacramento,” you can check out these other dog-related guides from our team:

• Where Can You Get Free Puppies in Houston?
• Where Can You Get Free Puppies in Colorado?
• Where Can You Get Free Puppies in Connecticut?

Before you bring home a free puppy in Sacramento, you can learn more about raising your future companion by watching “Everything You Need to Know About Raising a Puppy” down below: