There aren’t very many Portuguese water dog rescues in the USA, so we’re here to help you find your next fur baby. The Portuguese water dog is a lively, courageous dog that was originally bred to help fishermen at sea. Even today, the breed is good at diving, retrieving, guarding and, of course, swimming!
Affectionate and obedient, the athletic, energetic Portuguese water dog requires daily exercise. Also commonly referred to as the Portuguese fishing dog, the Portuguese water dog has evolved into a loving family companion over the decades.
This dog breed requires a lot of training but can be sweet, friendly companions when properly trained. Portuguese water dogs are not very popular in the United States, so finding a rescue to adopt this dog breed can be difficult. However, if you have decided to adopt and give this dog breed a second chance at life, we are here to help.
This guide will walk you through the various places you can easily adopt a Portuguese Water Dog. Portuguese Water Dog rescues in the United States are committed to saving these dogs from being euthanized in shelters and finding the best homes. Here are the best places to adopt this breed in the United States.
Before you scroll down this list of Portuguese Water Dog rescues in the United States, you can check out these other rescue shelter recommendations from our team at We Love Doodles: Best Bichon Frise Rescues in the United States and Best Shar-Pei Rescues in the United States.
Find a Portuguese Water Dog Rescue Shelter Near Me in the United States
Here’s a list of the best Portuguese Water Dog rescues in the United States. Most have dogs available for adoption, but you may need to add your name to a waiting list. Enjoy the search, and good luck finding your new forever friend!
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1. Portuguese Water Dog Club of America Rescue
The Portuguese Water Dog Club of America Rescue is first on our list of the best Portuguese water dog rescues. It’s a non-profit organization and volunteers across the country assist in rehoming animals that are in need of loving new homes.
This rescue and relocation program rescues, evaluates, and places Portuguese water dogs with families that can provide exercise, care, love, and warm shelter in a safe environment. Because they’re non-profit, you’ll need to keep two points in mind: first, the organization is volunteer-run, so please be patient as your application is processed, and second, they rely on the community. Your donations are welcomed, whether they’re monetary or donations of your time.
The Portuguese Water Dog Club of America Rescue offers various services. Besides rescuing and rehoming Portuguese water dogs, they provide resources and advice to potential and existing Portuguese water dog owners. Their goal is to help people know their dogs better to prevent them from being surrendered or abandoned.
The shelters have volunteers in each state, and they’re notified when a Portuguese water dog is placed into shelter care. Volunteers rescue the animals, particularly from high-kill shelters, and then are cared for appropriately. Some may have surgical needs, others dental needs. A licensed vet will give your dog a clean bill of health before the pup is rehomed.
If you’re not sure whether a Portuguese water dog is right for you, why not foster? By fostering a dog, you’re committing to providing a loving but temporary home. You’ll be asked to transport your pup back and forth to the vet and provide for his basic needs until a permanent home – maybe yours – is found!
To begin the adoption process, fill out an application. The volunteers will get back to you to schedule a telephone interview. If all goes well, you will pay an adoption fee and you can bring your dog home with you!
Portuguese Water Dog Club of America Rescue Details
- Address: Foster homes in all States
- Website: Portuguese Water Dog Club of America Rescue
- Phone: (877) 328-7937
- Email: [email protected]
2. Mayflower Portuguese Water Dog Club
Mayflower Portuguese Water Dog Club is one of the most reputable Portuguese water dog rescues in the United States. This rescue organization saves, rehabilitates, and rehomes Portuguese water dogs in Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Connecticut, and Maine.
If you are looking for the best place to adopt this dog breed in those regions, Mayflower Portuguese Water Dog Club should be your first choice. The organization helps Portuguese water dog owners who want to give up their dogs by assessing the dog, placing him in a foster home, and eventually placing him permanently.
Mayflower Portuguese Water Dog Club accepts dogs from high-kill shelters, owner abandonment, and other less than ideal scenarios. For that reason, many of the dogs will need rehabilitation before being placed with a new family. Your dog will be socialized and medically treated, if necessary, before being placed on the list of adoptable pups. Dogs are spayed or neutered, wormed, and vaccinated.
If you have questions about the care of your Portuguese water dog, contact the rescue! Your baby is their baby, too, and the team of volunteers wants to make sure their dogs stay safe and healthy for a lifetime!
Mayflower Portuguese Water Dog Club Details
- Address: Massachusetts
- Website: Mayflower Portuguese Water Dog Club
- Email: [email protected]
3. Peace of Mind Dog Rescue
Peace of Mind Dog Rescue is an all-breed dog rescue organization committed to reducing the number of euthanized dogs in shelters. Millions of dogs are euthanized yearly because they have no place to call home. This pet rescue organization saves as many dogs as possible, taking them into foster care and finding new, permanent homes.
This non-profit was founded in October 2009 and has saved thousands of senior dogs since then. They focus mainly on older dogs at a higher risk of being euthanized. Their mission is to be an advocate and resource for senior dogs in California’s Central Coast.
Peace of Mind Dog Rescue focuses on helping dogs and people from Santa Cruze, Monterey, and San Benito counties. The organization finds fosters and forever homes for Portuguese Water Dogs and other dog breeds whose guardians can no longer provide or care for them.
While seniors are their main focus, they also save abused, abandoned, and homeless puppies and adult dogs who need a comfortable and safe environment to call home. One unique thing about this organization is that they help both senior people and senior dogs.
They provide volunteer and financial assistance to enable seniors to keep their dogs with them as long as possible. Peace of Mind Dog Rescue has a lifetime commitment to all dogs under its care. The dogs will either be adopted into responsible forever homes or will live out their lives in foster homes.
Other great services they provide include:
- Helping senior citizens pay for vet care for their dogs when they can no longer afford medical services
- Providing temporary foster care for hospitalized dogs
- Dog-walking for people who are no longer able to walk their dogs
The organization is led by an incredible staff and dedicated board members. They are fully committed to helping these dogs and giving them a second chance at life. Some of their dogs are from shelters in and around the state. Any dog in their program is handed over to a vet for proper vet care.
The dogs are diagnosed and medically treated for any health condition they might have. After the treatment, they are brought up-to-date on immunization, dewormed, heartworm tested, and microchipped.
As is the case for most shelters, this rescue offers post-adoption support. You will not be raising your new friend alone, as the shelter will provide lifelong support to all their adopters.
Peace of Mind Dog Rescue Details
- Address: 615 Forest Avenue, Pacific Grove, CA 93950
- Website: Peace of Mind Dog Rescue
- Phone: (831) 718-9122
- Email: [email protected]
4. Portuguese Water Dog Club of Northern California
Last on our list of the top Portuguese water dog rescues in the US is the Portuguese Water Dog Club of Northern California. As you may have guessed, this rescue focuses its efforts on Californian dogs and pups in the surrounding states. Dogs that come into the system are owner surrenders, victims of abuse or neglect, or former residents of high kill shelters. Some have been advertised for sale in local papers but were bred in puppy mills and may be unhealthy.
The Portuguese Water Dog Club of Northern California takes on the responsibility of providing pups with all they need for a fresh start. All dogs are spayed or neutered – you will not be permitted to breed your rescue dog. In addition, your dog will be spayed or neutered, wormed, and vaccinated. This is done while your dog is in foster care awaiting permanent placement.
Volunteers, foster families, and vets evaluate the behavior and temperament of the dogs to find the perfect homes for them. The organization does its best to ensure the dogs are placed in suitable homes. They ensure the dogs’ unique needs and personal traits align with that of the adopters before pairing them.
Should your adoption not work out for any reason, the Portuguese Water Dog Club of Northern California will accept “returns.” You will not be refunded your adoption fee, but the team will ensure that the dog is matched with a suitable family.
Portuguese Water Dog Club of Northern California Details
- Address: Northern California
- Website: Portuguese Water Dog Club of Northern California
- Email: [email protected]
Conclusion For The “Best Portuguese Water Dog Rescues in the United States”
Portuguese water dogs have amazing little personalities. They’re active, affectionate, and highly trainable due to their intelligence. However, the breed isn’t for everyone. The dogs grow to be up to 50 pounds and need a lot of grooming and exercise! Unfortunately, many owners don’t take this into account before they buy their pets. Therefore, Portuguese water dog rescues exist to match the dogs with more suitable owners.
You can find your next forever friend at one of the shelters on our list, or you can do a bit of research to seek out your own. In any event, we wish you the best as you search for your new Portuguese water dog!
For more guides similar to this list of Portuguese Water Dog rescues in the United States, you can check out these other rescue shelter recommendations from our team:
- Best Shiba Inu Rescues in the United States
- Best Vizsla Rescues in the United States
- Best Bullmastiff Rescues in the United States
Before you adopt a Portuguese Water Dog companion from a rescue shelter in the United States, you can learn more about this dog breed by watching “Everything You Need to Know About Portuguese Water Dogs,” down below:
Dr. Sabrina Kong graduated from the Royal Veterinary College in England in 2016 and has been working at a small animal clinic in Northern California since then. She grew up in the Bay Area and got her bachelor’s degree from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. She also became a Certified Canine Rehabilitation Practitioner through a program at the University of Tennessee.
When she isn’t in the clinic taking care of her four-legged patients, she enjoys traveling and trying new foods with her friends and her three-legged dog, Apollo. She adopted Apollo from her clinic when he was a puppy with numerous health issues. Dr. Kong truly cares about taking care of animals.