5 Best Great Dane Rescues in Minnesota! (2023)

If you are looking for reliable Great Dane rescues in Minnesota, you have come to the right place. In this article, we will look at some best rescues in Minnesota that cater to the Great Dane breed. But first, let’s talk about this amazing dog breed. Great Danes are large, strong, handsome dogs that are excellent family pets.

A typical male may grow to be 32 inches tall and weigh 100-120 pounds, whereas a typical female may grow 30 inches tall and have a similar weight distribution (45 to 59 kilograms). The skull of the massive Great Dane is thin and flat on top. The brows are prominent.

Ears either fall forward or are clipped to stand upright. This breed has a long, muscular body and straight front legs. The tail is average in length, thickest at the base, and narrowest just behind the hocks. Great Danes are large dogs with serious faces that may appear menacing at first glance.

However, anyone who has spent time with these docile giants knows they are more amusing than dangerous. These incredible dogs may not appear as active and intelligent at first glance, but their history as hunting dogs has given them a deep well of intelligence and bravery. So if you are interested in adopting a Great Dane, the places listed below can help you.

Before you scroll down this list of Great Dane rescues in Minnesota, you can check out these other rescue shelter recommendations from our team at We Love Doodles: Best French Bulldog Rescues in Minnesota and Best Corgi Rescues in Minnesota.

Find a Great Dane Rescue Shelter Near Me in Minnesota

Here’s a list of Great Dane rescues in Minnesota to help you on your journey to finding a compatible companion.

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1. Secondhand Hounds

Secondhand Hounds, one of Minnesota’s few non-profit Great Dane rescues, was founded in 2009 to assist stray and abandoned dogs and hounds. The organization offers shelter and veterinary services. Foster parents, donors, and volunteers are always appreciated.

So far, over 20,000 animals have found new homes as a result of the direct efforts of the organization. Secondhand Hounds accepts dogs from high-kill shelters and dogs from the general public. Every animal is cared for until the organization adopts it.

You can learn more about adopting pets and donating to this rescue organization. Secondhand rescue dogs from the Midwest kill shelters and dog owners who can no longer provide adequate care for their pets. Since July 2009, they have found permanent homes for over 20,220 dogs, including Great Danes, cats, and other animals.

Secondhand Dogs coordinators work quickly, usually responding to applicants within a day or two. Citizens of Minnesota, Iowa, Illinois, Wisconsin, North Dakota, and South Dakota are the only ones who can adopt through them. So if you’re in these areas, Secondhand Rescue Dogs is a great place to adopt a hound.

Adopters looking for dogs or cats needing homes can use the dedicated websites Dogs for Adoption and Cats for Adoption, respectively. For the time being, only one application is required for this group. Adoption coordinators review applications and respond to hopeful adopters within two days.

Secondhand Hounds Details

• Address: 5959 Baker Road Suite 390 Minnetonka, Minnesota
• Postal Code: 5534
• Website: Second Hang Hounds Rescue Minnesota
• Email: dogadoptions@secondhandhounds.org
• Social Media: Facebook and LinkedIn

2. Wags & Whiskers Animal Rescue Minnesota

Wags and Whiskers Animal Rescue was established in 2009 as a no-kill, volunteer-run organization committed to rescuing unwanted pets. The group does not have a regular meeting site; dogs are placed in foster homes to await permanent homes after being vetted.

This pet rescue in Minnesota assists stray or abandoned dogs that might otherwise be mistreated or euthanized. In addition, this organization prioritizes pet care education and wishes to convey the information to the general population. Adoptees must be above 18, have a government-issued picture ID, and show their current address.

Adoptees must also be authorized in an interview and home inspection, and student IDs are not accepted. Each rescued dog is thoroughly screened to ensure it will go to a good home. The adoption fee ranges from $255 to $400, depending on the dog’s age.

Pets whose predominate breed is a Pit Bull Terrier are currently eligible for a discount. They operate within a 60-mile radius of the Twin Cities, which include St. Paul and Minneapolis. They also serve Rochester, Mankato, and Duluth. Citizens within a 30-mile radius of these locations are welcome to adopt from Wags & Whiskers.

Wags & Whiskers Animal Rescue Minnesota Details

• Address: Shakopee, Minnesota
• Website: Wags and Whiskers Animal Rescue Minnesota
• Email: wagswhiskermn@gmail.com

3. Twin Cities Pet Rescue Minnesota

Twin Cities Pet Rescue is a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization rescuing abused and neglected pets since 2009. More specifically, the organization saves the lives of animals who would otherwise be euthanized. Operating out of St. Paul, Twin Cities Pet Rescue has found homes for over 2,000 animals since 2009.

It accepts animals that have been abandoned, neglected, or abandoned in animal shelters or pound facilities into foster care. They care for the animals as a group until they can be adopted by responsible people who have been thoroughly vetted.

Every Great Dane is cared for in one of its 100 foster homes until it is adopted, during which time it receives first-rate medical care, basic training, and nutritious food. A potential adopter will be unable to adopt one of their dogs if they live more than sixty miles outside the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area. All applications are reviewed and responded to within 72 hours.

Twin Cities Pet Rescue Details

• Address: St. Paul, Minnesota
• Website: Twin Cities Pet Rescue 
• Email: info@twincitiespetrescue.org
• Social Media: Twin Cities Pet Rescue’s Facebook

4. Pet Haven Dog Rescue Minnesota

Pet Haven is a foster-based small dog rescue in Minnesota operating since 1952 and has been rescuing and caring for animals since its inception. Before being made available for adoption, the animals under its care are vaccinated and sterilized. Pet Haven of Minnesota helps to reduce overpopulation and rehome mistreated or abandoned animals.

As part of their mission to better the lives of both pets and their owners, pets are rescued, cared for, and put in new homes. Every creature in Pet Haven’s care is housed in a loving foster home until adoption. Adopting a dog ranges from $134 to $483, depending on the dog’s age. People with a soft corner for dogs may adopt any dog, from a senior dog to a puppy.

Pet Haven Dog Rescue Minnesota Details

• Address: Minneapolis, Minnesota
• Website: Pet Haven Minnesota
• Telephone: (952) 831-3825
• Email: director@pethavenmn.org
• Social Media: Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn

5. Underdog Rescue Minnesota

Last on our list of Great Dane rescue in Minnesota is Underdog Rescue. Lucy, a Pit Bull puppy, and Lily, a Toy Poodle, helped found Underdog Rescue Minnesota in 2000 – the owners were so enamored with their pets that they opened a rescue to help other dogs. Since its inception, Underdog Rescue MN has taken in stray dogs and cats of all breeds.

Shannon McKenzie, the founder of Underdog Rescue, has helped over 12,000 dogs find new homes. They would not have made it without the help of their wonderful foster parents, veterinary care partners, and community partners. Unfortunately, this organization does not have a shelter where these animals can be cared for until they are adopted.

Instead, they operate through a network of foster homes that have generously opened their homes to the rescue and offered their resources and expertise. They are very particular about who adopts their animals and how they are cared for.

For example, if you live more than sixty miles outside of the Twin Cities in Minnesota, you will be unable to adopt a puppy. An exception can be made for adopters willing to feed the adopted dog four-star-rated dog food. If you want to adopt a dog from them, you must pay a $25 application fee at the time of submission. A puppy application response is guaranteed within 5 business days.

Underdog Rescue Minnesota Details

• Address: St. Louis, Minnesota
• Website: Under Dogs Rescue Minnesota
• Email: apps@undergodrescuemn.com
• Social Media: Instagram and LinkedIn

How to Choose a Great Dane Rescue in Minnesota

Taking on the care of a dog is a significant life decision. This gregarious, pack-oriented animal necessitates consistent training, socialization, play, exercise, and companionship from both human and animal caregivers. Integrating a new puppy into the household is difficult if no one is home during the day due to long work hours.

It is also necessary to consider the available funds. Vet bills, dog food, bedding, crates, collars, and toys can quickly add up, not to mention regular grooming visits. A dog’s initial adoption fee can range from $50 to more than $250, depending on the shelter, the dog’s age, and whether or not immunizations and spay/neuter are included.

Therefore, before deciding to adopt a dog from a shelter, inquire about their return policy. It is customary to allow 30 days to test a product or service before making a final decision. If things don’t work out, some animal shelters will give you a full refund, while others will provide you with a coupon to adopt another animal.

Before you take the dog into your home, it should be spayed or neutered, or you should be given a coupon to use at a nearby clinic. Moreover, before they are given for adoption, all dogs must be updated on their immunizations. If you need time to consider adoption, many animal shelters will keep a dog for you for a day or longer.

Before deciding on a shelter for adopting a dog, check if the shelter workers are approachable, knowledgeable, and compassionate. The staff should not be unpleasant or overly judgmental when deciding whether or not your home is suitable for a dog but rather thorough.

Conclusion For The “Best Great Dane Rescues in Minnesota”

Adopting a dog is not a decision to be taken lightly – it is an investment in money and time. However, not all dogs in shelters have a difficult start in life. As a result, you’ll have to cater to the specific needs of your Great Dane canine companions.

Therefore, we recommend giving it some serious thought and careful calculation before adopting a dog. If adoption isn’t for you, consider volunteering at one of the organizations above to help dogs in need. We hope this list of Great Dane rescues in Minnesota helped you.

For more guides similar to this list of Great Dane rescues in Minnesota, you can check out these other rescue shelter recommendations from our team:

• Best Great Dane Rescues in Maine
• Best Great Dane Rescues in Illinois
• Best Great Dane Rescues in South Carolina

Before you adopt a Great Dane companion from a rescue shelter in Minnesota, you can learn more about this dog breed by watching “Things Nobody Tells You About Owning a Great Dane” down below: