If you are in Colorado and thinking about adopting a dog, you might be wondering where to adopt from.
There are several dog rescues in Colorado that are looking to match their dogs with the right owner.
At Charity Paws, we will always advocate adopting rather than going through a dog breeder or puppy mill.
By adopting a dog you are not only saving a life but also making room for additional dogs to be saved.
Below we have put together a great list of dog rescues in Colorado who have dogs just waiting to be adopted.
1.) San Nicola Dog Rescue (Westminster, CO)
San Nicola Dog Rescue wants to see every dog that comes to them find the perfect home.
The dogs that come to them are often found as strays, and they also partner with high-kill shelters to remove dogs at risk of euthanasia and offer them a second chance.
San Nicola Dog Rescue gives all the dogs in their care medical treatment like spaying, neutering, and vaccinations.
They also take in dogs that have behavioral issues and provide necessary training and rehabilitation.
The volunteers at this rescue understand that even dogs with fear or reactivity issues can make wonderful pets with time and training.
If you would like to adopt a dog from the rescue, find their adoption application here. You will have to download their application, fill it out and email it back to them.
- You can view their available dogs for adoption here.
Rescue and Adoption Details
- Address: Westminster CO 80021
- Phone: (720) 381-7358
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: sannicoladogrescue.com
- Social Media: Facebook
2.) Mile High Labrador Retriever Mission (Broomfield, CO)
Labrador retrievers are one of the most popular dog breeds. They are active, loyal, loving, and playful.
Sadly, because of unethical breeding and the pet overpopulation issue, many Labs wind up in shelters.
Mile High Labrador Retriever Mission aims to reduce the amount of homeless and unwanted Labs.
They take in Purebred Labs as well as Lab Mixes and take these dogs out of high-kill shelters, many of which are out of state.
They coordinate the transportation of these animals and place them in foster homes in Colorado where these dogs get the support they need.
If you would like to adopt a dog from this rescue, you will need to fill out an adoption application here.
There will be an adoption fee to pay which varies based on whether or not the Lab is purebred and how old the Lab is.
You can view their available Labs for adoption here.
Rescue and Adoption Details
- Address: PO Box 1975 Broomfield CO 80020
- Phone: (720) 989-1522
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: sites.google.com/view/mile-high-lab-mission
- Social Media: Facebook | Instagram
3.) Rocky Mountain Puppy Rescue (Broomfield, CO)
Rocky Mountain Puppy Rescue specializes in helping younger dogs, though they do accept adult dogs into the rescue as well.
Since their original founding, they have helped thousands of puppies and dogs find loving forever homes and get much needed support.
This rescue understands the need to save dogs from unethical breeding practices that have caused overcrowding at local rescues and shelters.
Additionally, pet parents who have not spayed or neutered their dogs can also contribute to this overpopulation problem.
This is why Rocky Mountain Puppy Rescue runs a Spay It Forward program, which provides spaying and neutering services to prevent these overpopulation issue from becoming worse.
If you are looking for a puppy, you can view them here. They list their available adult dogs for adoption here.
Rocky Mountain Puppy Rescue charges an adoption fee between $200 – $400, which is based on the specific dog. This fee is easily viewed under the dog’s bio section.
You can find their adoption application form here.
Rescue and Adoption Details
- Address: Broomfield, CO
- Phone: (303) 521-3194
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: rmpuppyrescue.org
- Social Media: Facebook | YouTube
4.) Ho-Bo Care Boxer Rescue (Denver, CO)
This Boxer specific rescue takes in dogs from a variety of backgrounds.
Some of their dogs come from shelters where they are at risk of euthanasia.
Others are surrendered by owners who can no longer care for them.
In many cases, the Boxers that Ho-Bo Care Boxer Rescue accepts have been neglected and require care and vetting to get them back on their feet.
They also try to offer advice and support to owners considering giving up their Boxer.
The volunteers at this rescue know that sometimes owners have no choice but to surrender an animal.
However, they will always try to help these pet parents find alternative solutions when possible.
You can find their adoption application here.
You will pay a fee for adoption based on the dog’s age:
- Puppies 6 months and under: $450
- Dogs 7 months to 7 years: $350
- Dogs 8 years and up: $250.
- Adopters age 60+, the adoption fee is $200
You can view their available Boxers for adoption here.
Rescue and Adoption Details
- Address: Denver CO 80209
- Phone: (303) 744-8329
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: hobocare.org
- Social Media: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter
5.) Red Fern Animal Rescue (Denver, CO)
Red Fern Animal Rescue is a registered non-profit based in Denver, though most of their dogs come from Texas.
Pet overpopulation is a major concern in Texas, and many shelters in that state face overcrowding and understaffing problems.
Once the dogs are rescued from shelters where they are at risk of being euthanized, they are sent to the rescue’s foster homes throughout Colorado.
This is an all-breed rescue that carefully assesses the needs of both the dogs and potential adopters to help find the perfect match.
Every animal available through Red Fern Animal Rescue is microchipped, spayed or neutered, and gets their important vaccinations.
To adopt from this rescue, first fill out their adoption application form here.
- You can find their available dogs for adoption here.
Rescue and Adoption Details
- Address: Denver CO 80220
- Phone: (720) 470-3079
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: redfernanimalrescue.org
- Social Media: Facebook | Instagram
6.) Doggy Dog World Rescue (Littleton, CO)
Doggy Dog World Rescue was established in 2008.
Founder Shelley Osgood, who also runs a local dog grooming salon, saw that local shelters were in desperate need of further support.
Doggy Dog World Rescue was established to remove dogs from shelters and match them with loving owners.
The dogs stay in safe foster homes which many dogs find more comfortable than a shelter environment.
Here, the dogs receive the medical care they need, as well as any rehabilitation that might be required to prepare them for adoption.
Currently, the rescue is also trying to raise money to build their own shelter so they can take in as many animals as possible.
To adopt a dog or become a foster for the rescue, you can find those applications here.
- You can view their available dogs for adoption here.
Their adoption fees start off at $250 and will vary based on age and medical needs.
Rescue and Adoption Details
- Address: 4550 S Kipling St. #14 Littleton CO 80127
- Phone: (720) 280-6979
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: doggydogworldrescue.com
- Social Media: Facebook
7.) Brighter Days Dog Rescue (Boulder, CO)
Brighter Days Dog Rescue accepts all dogs.
When the volunteers receive a message that a dog is at risk of being put down in a shelter, Brighter Days Dog Rescue coordinates the removal of these dogs and places them in foster homes.
The dogs they rescue come from all over the United States.
Brighter Days Dog Rescue has a particular passion for helping dogs that are often overlooked.
Their Hospice Foster Dog Program aims to take in senior dogs who have been abandoned in shelters.
With the rehabilitation they receive from the rescue, these senior dogs receive the help and support they need to find loving families.
- View their available dogs for adoption as well as their adoption application form here.
Dogs will have an adoption fee ranging from $300 to $800.
Rescue and Adoption Details
- Address: Boulder CO 80305
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: brighterdaysdogrescue.com
- Social Media: Facebook | Instagram
8.) Big Dogs Huge Paws (Aurora, CO)
Big Dogs Huge Paws Rescue focuses on taking in dogs in need.
They also provide their community with important support and outreach programs.
Big Dogs Huge Paws knows that education and outreach are some of the best ways to prevent animals from becoming homeless.
This rescue takes in large breeds that can have difficulty finding adopters because of their size.
Some of the breeds they work with specifically include:
- Great Danes
- Anatolian Shepherds
- Mastiffs
- Irish Wolfhounds
- and many other large breeds
For owners in the community that have big dogs, this rescue offers important resources on nutrition, training, and the overall health of these dogs.
Once you adopt a dog from this rescue, you can always count on getting support from them.
- View their available big dogs for adoption here.
Fill out their adoption application here.
The fee that you pay will depend on the dog’s age, with a minimum fee of $425 for adults.
Rescue and Adoption Details
- Address: PO Box 460699 Aurora CO 80046
- Phone: (303) 322-4336
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: bigdogshugepaws.com
- Social Media: Facebook | Instagram
9.) Sunshine Canyon Dog Rescue (Boulder, CO)
Although this rescue is based out of Boulder Colorado, they work with volunteers across the country to take in dogs from high-kill shelters.
They are entirely foster based and do not have a physical shelter.
Their fosters provide comfortable homes where the dogs receive rehabilitation in preparation for being adopted.
When you adopt a dog from Sunshine Canyon Dog Rescue, you can trust that the dog has received all the basic vet care their need like vaccinations, spaying and neutering, and deworming.
If you decide to adopt from this rescue, there will be a mandatory 1-week foster period.
This helps to ensure that you and the dog are a good match for each other.
There will also be an adoption fee of $395.
This fee covers the cost of transporting the dog to Colorado if they came from out of state, as well as all the vet care they received.
You can find their adoption application here.
View their available dogs for adoption here.
Rescue and Adoption Details
- Address: Boulder CO 80301
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: sunshinecanyondogrescue.org
- Social Media: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter
10.) Denver Samoyed Rescue (Longmont, CO)
This rescue is part of the Denver Samoyed Association.
Since 1993, Denver Samoyed Rescue has taken in Samoyeds in need of new homes and provided them with rehabilitation and support.
They also educate the Longmont community on general animal welfare, as well as how to care for a Samoyed specifically.
This breed can sometimes require particular care, which many new owners may not be aware of.
By offering educational resources, Denver Samoyed Rescue ensures that owners are prepared to look after their Samoyeds.
The rescue accepts dogs from shelters, as well as dogs that have been neglected or abandoned.
They also accept surrendered dogs from those who can no longer care for them.
The volunteers understand what a difficult decision surrendering an dog is, and they will make the process as easy on you as possible.
They also provide tips for Samoyed care, like grooming and training.
Check out their adoption application here to get the process started.
- You can view their available Samoyeds for adoption here.
Rescue and Adoption Details
- Address: 205 Ken Pratt Blvd Ste 102 PMB122 Longmont CO 80501 (Mail only)
- Phone: (303) 453-1360
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: denversamoyedrescue.org
- Social Media: Facebook
11.) Soul Dog Rescue (Fort Lupton, CO)
Soul Dog Rescue is a non-profit rescue that accepts dogs of all ages, breeds, and temperaments.
They work hard to provide every dog that comes to them with all the medical and rehabilitation services they need so they can be successfully adopted.
Soul Dog Rescue also does a lot to help promote animal welfare within their community.
They run a low-cost spay and neuter clinic, which means owners can get their dogs fixed for an affordable price.
Doing this helps prevent unwanted pregnancies in dogs and reduces the number of homeless animals.
One of the most important things that Soul Dog Rescue does is work with reservations in Colorado.
Many reservations face issues with dog overpopulation.
By providing spaying and neutering services to these areas, the rescue reduces the number of stray dogs and helps residents in the area, as well as their animals, stay safe.
Soul Dog Rescue even has international programs that help animals around the world.
They also run a thrift store. All proceeds from their thrift store go towards caring for their animals.
Check out their available dogs and find their application to adopt here.
They charge an adoption fee ranging from $350 to $450 depending on the age of the dog.
Rescue and Adoption Details
- Address: 1245 Factory Circle Fort Lupton CO 80621
- Phone: (303) 857-6789
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: souldog.org
- Social Media: Facebook | Instagram
12.) Rocky Mountain Cocker Rescue (Parker, CO)
Cocker Spaniels make excellent family companions.
Rocky Mountain Cocker Rescue is a breed specific rescue that takes in unwanted, abused, and abandoned Cocker Spaniels.
At present, this rescue is the only rescue licensed by The Pet Animal Care Facilities Act in Colorado.
This act aims to protect the rights and safety of companion animals.
They are also a registered non-profit and run with the help of donations and volunteers.
Rocky Mountain Cocker Rescue accepts both Purebred Cocker Spaniels as well as Cocker Spaniel Mixes.
To save as many dogs as possible, they partner with other rescues throughout Colorado as well as rescues in Kansas and Missouri.
If you have a Cocker Spaniel you can no longer care for, the rescue does accept surrenders.
Rocky Mountain Cocker Rescue knows this is a challenging time for owners, and they will offer you the support you need.
Find their adoption application form here.
Dogs under 2 years cost $350 to adopt, while dogs between the ages of 2 to 8 cost $300. Senior dogs have a fee of $150.
View their available Cocker Spaniels for adoption here.
They do have other breeds from time-to-time such as, Boxers, German Shepherds, Poodles and Terriers.
Rescue and Adoption Details
- Address: PO Box 482 Parker CO 80134
- Phone: (303) 617-1939
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: rockymountaincockerrescue.org
- Social Media: Facebook | YouTube
Final Thoughts On Adopting From Dog Rescues In Colorado
Adopting a dog from a rescue is a great way to save a life and welcome a new companion into your home.
Although many rescue dogs come from difficult backgrounds, the love you provide your rescue dog will make a world of a difference.
If you are in Colorado, there are plenty of rescues to consider.
Any of the above dog rescues in Colorado can help you find the type of dog, breed and temperament you are looking for.
If you cannot adopt, consider donating, fostering, or volunteering at any of these rescues in Colorado.