Animal Shelters

Animal Shelters Near You — Give a Pet a Second Chance

Every year, millions of dogs, cats, and other animals end up in shelters across the United States — many of them healthy, loving, and eager for a forever home. Petzooie makes it easy to connect with local animal shelters so you can explore adoptable pets, volunteer your time, or donate to support the animals in your community.

Why Adopt from a Shelter?

Adopting from a shelter is one of the most rewarding decisions a person can make. You are not just gaining a companion — you are directly saving a life and making room for another animal in need. Shelter pets come in all sizes, breeds, ages, and personalities. Many are already house-trained, spayed or neutered, vaccinated, and microchipped, which can significantly reduce your initial costs.

What to Expect When Visiting a Shelter

  • An intake process where you complete an adoption application
  • Meet-and-greet sessions with animals to find the right personality match
  • Transparent health history and behavioral assessments for each animal
  • Adoption fees that typically cover spay/neuter, vaccines, and microchip
  • Post-adoption support from shelter staff

Types of Animal Shelters

Municipal (Government-Run) Shelters

These are operated by local governments and often accept all animals regardless of space. They are open-admission facilities and typically serve the widest geographic area.

Private Nonprofit Shelters

These organizations raise their own funding and often have more resources for animal enrichment, behavioral rehabilitation, and long-term care. Some are no-kill facilities.

Rescue Organizations

Rescues are typically foster-based and specialize in specific breeds or species. They operate without a physical shelter, placing animals in temporary homes until adoption.

Beyond Adoption: How You Can Help

  • Fostering — temporarily house animals while they await adoption
  • Volunteering — walk dogs, socialize cats, assist with events
  • Donating — food, blankets, toys, and financial contributions are always needed
  • Spreading the word — sharing adoptable animals on social media saves lives

Find Shelters on Petzooie

Browse local shelters and rescues using the search tool above. Filter by location, type of animals available, and services offered. Whether you are ready to adopt, want to volunteer, or simply want to know what is available in your area, Petzooie connects you to the resources you need.

11. Pets Love Us Safe Haven

Time:
  • MondayClosed
  • Tuesday03:00 PM - 08:00 PM
  • Wednesday03:00 PM - 08:00 PM
  • Thursday03:00 PM - 08:00 PM
  • Friday03:00 PM - 08:00 PM
  • Saturday08:00 AM - 04:00 PM
  • SundayClosed

Pets Love Us Safe Haven is a compassionate animal shelter committed to rescuing and caring for pets in need. Our mission is to provide a safe and loving environment where abandoned and neglected animals can heal and thrive. We offer adoption services to help these pets find forever homes, as well as ongoing pet care support for new owners. At Pets Love Us Safe Haven, we believe every animal deserves a second chance at a happy life. With a dedicated team of caregivers, we ensure each pet receives the love, care, and attention they deserve while waiting for their new families.

12. Baba Kennels Forever

Time:
  • Monday24 Hours
  • Tuesday24 Hours
  • Wednesday24 Hours
  • Thursday24 Hours
  • Friday24 Hours
  • Saturday24 Hours
  • Sunday24 Hours

We are building families and we will stay in touch with the puppies. Established Generation of Family Dogs. Mom and Pop and puppies of 2 litters. 

13. Lake Martin Humane Society

Time:
  • MondayClosed
  • TuesdayClosed
  • WednesdayClosed
  • ThursdayClosed
  • FridayClosed
  • Saturday10:00 AM - 02:00 PM
  • SundayClosed

To educate people about the duties of pet ownership in order to reduce the number of dogs and cats in our neighborhood. We also want to provide a clean, stress-free temporary home for stray dogs and cats through our animal shelter.

14. Happy Cat Pet Sitting

This beautiful cat had health issues her family couldn’t take care of, so she came to us, and we quickly found her a place in our shelter.

15. Paws and Claws Animal Adoption and Care Center Inc

Time:
  • MondayClosed
  • Tuesday11:00 AM - 03:00 PM
  • Wednesday11:00 AM - 03:00 PM
  • ThursdayClosed
  • Friday11:00 AM - 03:00 PM
  • Saturday11:00 AM - 03:00 PM
  • SundayClosed

For whatever reason, animals that have lost their family frequently form strong bonds with new, loving families very quickly. With the right care and attention, the majority of animals who leave abusive homes usually have a complete emotional recovery. These animals have the potential to develop into being just as devoted and loyal as those who have not experienced abuse. Strays and "seniors" also adjust well to their new surroundings and are appreciative of it. Animal rescue groups devote a lot of time to caring for and getting to know the animals. The animals receive instruction, medical attention, rehabilitation, food, housing, and, most importantly, compassion. These initiatives make choosing to adopt a rescue animal when seeking for a pet desirable.

16. Red Desert Humane Society. We are open by appointment only.

The Red Desert Humane Society is a nonprofit organization that places animals in new, loving homes after they have been abandoned.

17. Milwaukee Area Domestic Animal Control Commission

Time:
  • Monday10:00 AM - 07:00 PM
  • Tuesday10:00 AM - 07:00 PM
  • Wednesday10:00 AM - 07:00 PM
  • Thursday10:00 AM - 07:00 PM
  • Friday10:00 AM - 07:00 PM
  • Saturday10:00 AM - 05:00 PM
  • Sunday10:00 AM - 05:00 PM

To offer animal control and care services that safeguard Milwaukee County residents' health, public safety, and welfare.

18. Lincoln County Humane Society, Merrill Wisconsin

Time:
  • Monday12:00 PM - 04:00 PM
  • Tuesday12:00 PM - 04:00 PM
  • Wednesday12:00 PM - 04:00 PM
  • Thursday12:00 PM - 04:00 PM
  • Friday12:00 PM - 04:00 PM
  • Saturday12:00 PM - 04:00 PM
  • Sunday12:00 PM - 02:00 PM

We work hard to maintain a No-Kill facility, a shelter for the mistreated, abandoned, or abused animals of Lincoln County and neighboring counties, a safe haven for healthy adoptable animals, a temporary home for the homeless.

19. Homeward Trails Adoption Center

Time:
  • MondayClosed
  • TuesdayClosed
  • WednesdayClosed
  • ThursdayClosed
  • FridayClosed
  • Saturday10:00 AM - 04:00 PM
  • Sunday10:00 AM - 04:00 PM

A non-profit 501(c)(3) group called Homeward Trails Animal Rescue offers pet adoption in the states of Virginia, Washington, DC, and Maryland. We find homes for dogs and cats rescued from low-income, rural animal shelters or whose owners can no longer care for them; abandoned hunting dogs who are dumped in woods or left at shelters; owned pets whose owners can no longer care for them; and animals who have been injured, abused and neglected.

20. German Shepherd Rescue Of Sacramento Valley

The goal of German Shepherd Rescue of Sacramento Valley (GSRSV), a charitable organization that is tax-exempt (501-c-3), is to place German Shepherd Dogs (GSDs) and GSD mixes that are at risk of being housed in shelters in loving homes.