Are you considering adopting a dog?
Both small and large dog rescues can be found across the state.
If you are located in Washington State then finding a dog rescue to adopt from should be a top priority.
There are many dog rescues to choose from who are located across the state.
Continue reading for a list of great options you can choose from!
Homeward Pet Adoption Center (Woodinville, WA)
Contact Information:
13132 NE 177th Place Woodinville, WA 98072
(425) 488-4444 – [email protected]
Website
Homeward Pet Adoption Center was established in 1990 with the objective to find all adoptable animals a forever home.
After an animal arrives at the facility, they receive complete veterinary attention and are provided with treatment, immunizations, and are spayed or neutered and microchipped before being adopted.
Once adopted, their behavior is assessed in order to provide the best training and support.
Not only do they offer services for rescues, but they also run programs that conduct low-cost spay and neuter campaigns as well as provide food assistance for families that need some help with feeding their pets.
Ginger’s Pet Rescue (Seattle, WA)
Contact Information:
PO Box 28518 Seattle, WA 98118
(206) 698-8800 – [email protected]
Website
Ginger’s Pet Rescue is one of Washington State’s biggest NPOs.
They concentrate their work in dogs who will inevitably face death if not rescued.
Their objective is to provide otherwise hopeless dogs with a chance to be placed in a loving home.
The group does not have a physical site and mainly relies on volunteers who foster and rehabilitate the dogs.
Ginger’s Pet Rescue supports foster homes through the donations they receive until they find a permanent home.
The organization prides themselves in receiving all dogs despite of their age, breed, size, or health circumstance.
Seattle Humane Society (Bellevue, WA)
Contact Information:
13212 SE Eastgate Way Bellevue, WA 98005
(425) 649-7563
Website
The Seattle Humane Society is a registered non-profit organization that has been serving the vulnerable pet population for 125 years.
It was created in 1897 with the goal to promote bonding between people and animals through rescue efforts.
In addition to rescuing and rehoming, they also offer services to the community such as assistance with veterinary care, feeding pets from low-income families, support with the transition from foster home to permanent home, and affordable spays, neuters, medical care, vaccinations, and microchipping.
Forgotten Dogs Rescue (Seattle, WA)
Contact Information:
PO Box 80054 Seattle, WA 98108
[email protected]
Website
Forgotten Dogs Rescue has been an active rescue organization since 2011.
They are a non-profit relying on tax-deductible donations, volunteers, and fosters to carry out their work.
The institution rescues dogs who have been abandoned and are being detained in a shelter within the Washington area.
Oftentimes, they are removed from abusive or neglectful places or are given up by their owners.
Forgotten Dogs Rescue focuses on rescuing bully-breed dogs such as Pit Bulls, purebred and mixed, as they are the most common breed that end up in shelters and are much more likely to be euthanized.
When rescued, the dogs are placed with fosters where they are cared for and socialized before being adopted.
Health care, training, and anything else that is necessary is provided.
Old Dog Haven (Oak Harbor, WA)
Contact Information:
P.O. Box 1409 Oak Harbor, WA 98277
(206) 280-7614 – [email protected]
Website
Old Dog Haven provides caring homes for the geriatric dog population who is at risk of being put to sleep at shelters.
The organization does not have a facility.
Instead, they have a network of volunteers who open their homes to either foster the dogs or provide a permanent, loving environment until their passing.
They accept dogs that are 8+ years, typically from local shelters, and sometimes those who find themselves in dire circumstances such as when the owner passes away, is placed in a nursing home, is no longer able to financially care for them, or don’t have the time to properly care for them because of work, small children, etc.
Old Dog Haven states that conducting this type of work can be difficult, but is very fulfilling and well worth it.
Emerald City Pet Rescue (Seattle, WA)
Contact Information:
2962 First Ave South, Suite B Seattle, WA 98134
(206) 557-4661 – [email protected]
Website
Emerald City Pet Rescue was established in 2013 with the purpose of saving dogs and other animals, rehabilitating them, and giving them any veterinary care that is required.
They also work with those that have any behavioral issues or traumas to give them a better chance of being adopted.
The adoption process involves meeting people in person, getting references, and going to the person’s home to check if the environment and family members can properly accommodate the pet.
Emerald City Pet Rescue is of the mind that “Love Can Save Lives”.
Kitsap Animal Rescue & Education (Silverdale, WA)
Contact Information:
PO Box 994 Silverdale, WA 98383
(360) 602-6717
Website
KARE has been providing the community with educational and rescue support since 2003, with a count of about 500 animals being rescued to date.
Unlike many organizations, they don’t focus on a specific location and are open to saving pets that are found in shelters throughout the country.
In addition to rescuing, KARE also promotes education on pet care via programs such as Camp Canine, where kids between the ages of 8 to 12 years can enjoy themselves while learning how to be responsible and properly look after their dog.
Whatcom Humane Society (Bellingham, WA)
Contact Information:
2172 Division Street Bellingham, WA 98226
(360) 733-2080 – [email protected]
Website
WHS has a long history of rescuing and caring for animals in their county that dates back to the 1900s.
They are an open-admission center, meaning they don’t reject any animal in need, with no restrictions on age, behavior, breed, or any health problems they may have.
They also receive about 4,500 farm and wild animals in their facility each year.
You are welcome to adopt or participate in their various fundraising events to help them continue their work.
They also operate a thrift shop with proceedings going towards the needs of the animals that they rescue.
Pasado’s Safe Haven (Sultan, WA)
Contact Information:
PO Box 171 Sultan, WA 98294
(360) 793-9393 – [email protected]
Website
The creation of Pasado’s Safe Haven was inspired by heart-wrenching story of a donkey that was cruelly beaten and killed by three teens in 1992.
The organization now combats animal cruelty by saving animals from abuse and neglect, as well as investigating crimes against animals.
After being rescued, the animals are housed, rehabilitated, and adopted out.
Their main mission is to save dogs, cats, farm animals, and birds and help expand compassion towards all animals.
Dog Gone Seattle Rescue (Seattle, WA)
Contact Information:
PO Box 27424 Seattle, WA 98165
(206) 384-8115 – [email protected]
Website
Dog Gone Seattle is a non-profit institution that focuses on saving dogs that are at a considerable risk for being euthanized in shelters within Seattle and throughout Washington.
If there is a need for it, the group will also sometimes receive canines from other states.
They are able to conduct their work thanks to a group of volunteers who foster and work with the rescues.
On arrival, the dogs are provided with veterinary attention, spayed or castrated, microchipped, and groomed.
This ensures that the dogs are adopted out clean and healthy.
Burien C.A.R.E.S (Burien, WA)
Contact Information:
909 SW 151ST St Burien, WA 98166
(206) 812-2737 – [email protected]
Website
The formation of C.A.R.E.S came about in 2011 from the need to reduce abandoned, neglected, and homeless pets.
Together with the community businesses and residents, they help manage the issues that arise from irresponsible ownership.
Some of the services provided by the group include adoption programs, facilitation of spays and neuters, and auditing reports of abuse or neglect.
Dogs are available for adoption all year long.
Why Should You Go To A Washington State Dog Rescue?
Like many states in the country, Washington too suffers from a dog overpopulation problem.
What happens to all of those dogs that are abandoned and taken in by shelters?
If not adopted within a certain time frame, they end up being euthanized.
According to Oasis for Animals, about half of the dogs received by shelters in Washington State are killed.
Many of these rescue organizations make it a priority to save dogs that are on “death row”, as they would otherwise have no chance of surviving.
By adopting from these places, you are allowing them to continue their labor.
What Is The Difference Between A Washington State Dog Rescue And Dog Shelter?
There are several types of organizations that deal with animal welfare.
Rescues focus on rehabilitating and housing until the dog is adopted, while shelters typically apply euthanasia if the pet is not rehomed within a certain time period.
There are also no-kill shelters, but of course, their space and time is also limited, and they may not always have the resources to provide all animals with the attention and medical services that they need.
There are also sanctuaries, where animals are housed and can live the rest of their lives in peace.
Animal Shelters In Washington State
Adopting from animal shelters is also a wonderful way to do your part in saving dogs from a hostile environment (small cage, little exercise, stress, anxiety, depression), and of course, from death.
Finding a place is not an issue, as there are a variety of pet adoption groups in Washington State to choose from.
The important thing is that by adopting, you are helping combat the issue of strays and overpopulation.
