If you want to adopt a rescue dog, but are finding it difficult to navigate all of the different dog shelters, we’re here to help. Below we’ve featured 10 of the best dog rescues in Ohio.
Click to Open Table of Contents>>>>>
1. Franklin County Dog Shelter & Adoption Center (Columbus)
The Franklin County Dog Shelter & Adoption Center is located in Columbus, Ohio. This dog rescue brings in abandoned or stray dogs who need to be re-homed. This is a government service that is also responsible for investigating complaints about dangerous dogs and educating the public to be more responsible dog owners.
Franklin County Dog Shelter & Adoption Center cares lovingly for each dog that ends up in the shelter, providing everything they need until they can either be claimed or adopted. If you’re looking to adopt, you can view their available dogs here. If you would like to make a donation, click here.
2. Cleveland Animal Protective League (Cleveland)
The Cleveland Animal Protective League is based in Cleveland, OH, and has helped dogs across the city find their forever home since 1913. This not for profit organization offers many great programs for animals in need, including reduced cost veterinary clinic services, trap and neuter services for feral cats.
If you’re interested in adopting a dog from the Cleveland Animal Protective League, you can view their available pooches here. There are additional fees and costs associated with adoption, but adoption does include free follow-up veterinary care. To donate to the Cleveland Animal Protective League, click here.
3. Humane Society of Greater Dayton (Dayton)
The Humane Society of Greater Dayton was established in 1902 and is based in Dayton, Ohio, and is a no-kill shelter that helps animals throughout the Miami Valley. They offer several services, including investigating animal cruelty claims, enforcing relevant laws, and rescuing animals who are being abused or neglected.
This non-profit organization relies solely on volunteers and fundraising efforts to provide their valuable services. Across Dayton, the Humane Society of Greater Dayton has two main shelters and ten offsite adoption facilities. View their available dogs here, or donate to the shelter.
4. Toledo Animal Rescue (Toledo)
Based in Toledo, Ohio, Toledo Animal Rescue offers shelter to animals in need. They provide temporary or lifelong care for abused, neglected, or abandoned cats and dogs with the ultimate aim of finding a loving family to welcome these animals into their lives. They promote animal welfare education programs, sponsor preventative veterinary measures, and have a mandatory spay/neuter program.
Located in South Toledo, the rescue has been helping animals since 1927 and has re-homed countless animals in the 90+ years since. View the dogs available for adoption here. As Toledo Animal Rescue is a non-profit without government funding and heavily reliant on volunteers, consider making a donation.
5. CHA Animal Shelter (Columbus)
Located in Northeast Columbus, the CHA Animal Shelter is a nonprofit organization funded entirely by donations and fundraising efforts. They have paid veterinary staff on-site, but also rely heavily on the contributions of dedicated volunteers every day. The shelter provides care for abandoned or neglected dogs and cats and offers spay/neuter programs and community education.
Established in 1975, the center regularly hosts fundraising events to engage the community and promote their work. You can view the dogs available for adoption here, or make a donation to the CHA Animal Shelter here.
6. Secondhand Mutts (Cleveland)
Secondhand Mutts is based in Cleveland, Ohio. This cage-free adoption facility offers love and care for abandoned or abused animals. They have a range of foster homes where dogs can rehabilitate and recover, and also provide veterinary care to the dogs who need it. Dogs are socialized under supervision, allowing them to learn from each other and develop the necessary skills to make them great lifelong companions.
Before being listed for adoption, all dogs are deemed friendly towards other dogs and people, temperament tested, undergo a veterinary health check, have all their necessary vaccines, and are spayed/neutered. View available dogs here, or donate to the facility here.
7. Cincinnati Animal CARE (Cincinnati)
Cincinnati Animal CARE is based in Cincinnati and offers support for neglected or abandoned animals across Hamilton County. Cincinnati Animal CARE was opened in 2020 by the same team running the highly successful Clermont Animal CARE shelter, which was formed in 2018. Since 2018, Clermont Animal CARE shelter has tripled their care capacity, launched numerous community programs, increased the center’s adoption rate by 64%, and is now able to extend its reach and impact even further through Cincinnati Animal CARE.
Besides animal rescue, Cincinnati Animal CARE offers several pet services, including microchipping, dog licensing, and more. View their adoptable dogs here, or click here to donate to Cincinnati Animal CARE.
8. Puppy Pals Rescue (Dayton)
Puppy Pals Rescue was founded by a group of friends who had bonded over their love of dogs. Based in Dayton, Ohio, the team at Puppy Pals Rescue provides foster care for abused or neglected dogs. Because these dogs are in their homes and receiving personalized care from those behind the organization, they develop a strong understanding of each dog’s unique personality and can match their dogs to the most suitable adopting family.
They host various dog shelter events to raise the funds necessary to care for their rescued dogs and are always on the lookout for families or individuals who may be able to foster dogs. If you’re interested in adopting from Puppy Pals Rescue, view their dogs here. Or, donate to the shelter here.
9. Maumee Valley Save-A-Pet (Toledo)
Maumee Valley Save-A-Pet first began in 1977 as a solution to help reduce the growing population of abandoned and stray cats and dogs throughout Toledo, Ohio. Save-A-Pet is a nonprofit organization with a network of over 450 members who provide support and foster care to these rescued animals.
Since their humble beginnings in the 1970s, Maumee Valley Save-A-Pet has successfully rescued and re-homed thousands of cats and dogs with loving, caring families. They provide spay/neuter help, educate the public regarding responsible pet ownership, and ensure their pets will only go to the best possible home. View their adoptable dogs here, or donate to the center here.
“Emily is an avid writer and dog lover who usually prefers the company of pets over people. Based in Los Angeles, when not stuck in traffic she spends her days reading in the sunshine, relaxing at the beach, or planning her next adventure.”