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The Best Indianapolis, IN Dog Rescues & Shelters in 2024

David Adams

June 25, 2024

Dog Rescues & Shelters

This list showcases the top dog rescues & shelters in Indianapolis, IN. These remarkable organizations have been recognized for their unwavering dedication to the well-being of countless dogs. We've compiled this list by gathering heartfelt testimonials from both the Sniffspot community and the wider public, ensuring a comprehensive perspective on these exceptional shelters.

Helping Paws, Inc.
#83 in United States, #2 in Indiana, #1 in Indianapolis
Indianapolis
Helping Paws is a foster-based rescue run 100% by volunteers. We do not have a facility, so all pets are fostered in loving homes until they find their forever families! We deal in all breeds and ages of pets, but we do have a soft spot for medical cases.
"There was a very special dog that Helping Paws had available for adoption for about a year. She is a..."
— maggie b.
Adoptee
"Helping Paws pulls many medical cases from our local high intake city shelter. I have volunteered and adopted from this..."
— melissa h.
Adoptee, Volunteer / foster

Northern Lights Sled Dog Rescue
#98 in United States, #3 in Indiana, #2 in Indianapolis
Indianapolis
"I have no personal experience, but have seen their name many times as a rescuer at a kill shelter...."
— teressa b.
Fan
"NLSDR is an amazing rescue. They kept our boy Rufus safe for 3 years before we adopted him! The adopters..."
— amy m.
Adoptee

Medical Mutts Service Dogs
#98 in United States, #3 in Indiana, #2 in Indianapolis
Indianapolis
Our Mission: Training Shelter Dogs as Service Dogs As a leading authority in medical alert assistance dogs, Medical Mutts is dedicated to training rescued dogs to be service dogs and to promoting collaboration between dogs and people through science, education, and ethical training. Originally, Medical Mutts was a business, but became a non-profit in 2019. We rescue approximately 90 dogs per year and 30 of them graduate to become service dogs. The other 60 are adopted out to loving homes. Over the course of 11 years, we have graduated 131 service dogs and rescued over 460 shelter dogs.
"Medical mutts is an amazing organization. They rescue dogs and give them a new life by learning to by a..."
— keelie b.
"I personally have no experience with this group, but consistently see their name as a rescuer pulling dogs from a..."
— teressa b.
Fan

Indianapolis animal care services
#99 in United States, #4 in Indiana, #3 in Indianapolis
Indianapolis
Animal Care Services protects and promotes the health, safety, and welfare of pets and livestock in Marion County. The agency works with animal rescue organizations both locally and nationally. If you are thinking about surrendering your pet, please consider using our rehoming resources to help find a new home for your four-legged friend. Rehoming your pet on your own keeps it from entering the stressful shelter environment and keeps a kennel open for pets who need it the most. IACS works with Rehome by Adopt-a-pet.com to promote animals available for adoption that are not in the shelter. Visit this link to create a quick and easy profile and share your pet's story with thousands of potential adopters.
"IACS needs this help the most. They are bombarded daily with animals and could desperately use the resources. The public..."
— meagan.
Supporter

Humane Society for Hamilton County
#99 in United States, #4 in Indiana, #3 in Indianapolis
Indianapolis
The Humane Society for Hamilton County is one of very few open-admission, truly no kill shelters in the country. We believe every animal deserves a chance to live, love and be loved regardless of age, breed, special medical needs, or disabilities.
"Hamilton County Humane Society is one of the few rescues that are truly no kill. They pull animals from other..."
— teresa b.
Adoptee, Volunteer / foster, Supporter, Fan

IndyHumane
#100 in United States, #5 in Indiana, #4 in Indianapolis
Indianapolis
Committed to helping central Indiana's pets in need since 1905. Find your new best friend today.

Leann's Animal Rescue
#100 in United States, #5 in Indiana, #4 in Indianapolis
Indianapolis
All of our rescues are rehabilitated for behavioral issues as well as all medical needs taken care of so that they may have the greatest opportunity for success with their new family. If at any time the family decides that the new addition is not working in their family they are able to bring them back to the rescue, we understand life happens & the animal always has a safe place to be returned. I do however strive for life long homes. I keep in contact with all previous adopters to offer support if needed or just to share in the joy that adoption brings to the animals as well as the new families. I’m trusted in the area & have the animals well being and best interests at heart.

Rushville Animal Shelter
#100 in United States, #5 in Indiana, #4 in Indianapolis
Indianapolis
We are a small, rural, city-funded shelter located in Rush County, Indiana. We approach each potential adoption with an open mind and focus on informing and educating adopters. We may say no if we feel the shelter animal, another animal, or human being is at unreasonable risk of serious injury or death. Our goal is to provide animals with a quality life with freedom from hunger, thirst, discomfort, pain, injury, disease, or stress.

Friends of Indianapolis Dogs Outside
#100 in United States, #5 in Indiana, #4 in Indianapolis
Indianapolis
FIDO is a non-profit, animal advocacy organization formed in 2005 that works with dog owners to improve the quality of life for their outside dogs with a focus on dogs living isolated on the end of a chain. FIDO partners with Indianapolis residents to find alternatives to continuous chaining as a method of dog containment while promoting the Indianapolis Dog Care & Treatment ordinances. One of our goals is to make it easier and more convenient for owners to bring their dogs inside the home to be part of the family. Our areas of focus are the marginalized, under-served neighborhoods of Indianapolis. The citizens we meet often just need information and access to available resources to provide a more humane level of care. Many of the dogs we help have never been to a veterinarian and spend most of their lives outside. Outreach and sharing humane education is a large part of the work we do at FIDO. We offer supplies and services to residents who are interested in working with us to improve their dogs' quality of life. FIDO partners with other organizations to provide spay/neuter assistance, which we require, for the dogs we serve. Our services are provided for free or at a nominal fee.

Roo's Relief
#100 in United States, #5 in Indiana, #4 in Indianapolis
Indianapolis
Non Profit Animal Rescue for the Mistreated and Misunderstood Founded in 2022, Roo's Relief is a pet rescue that has made tremendous impact thanks to the help of members and volunteers in the community. The rescue takes pride in helping animals that need a second chance. Roo's Relief also strives to help the community with providing education and tools to best care for their pet and others.

Sketchy Mutts and Underdogs Rescue
#100 in United States, #5 in Indiana, #4 in Indianapolis
Indianapolis
We moved into our new location in Haughville in December and currently have 12 dogs there The location has 3 outdoor play yards, an indoor play yard, and each dog has his/her own bedroom (or might share with a good friend). We have started incorporating volunteers into our daily schedule and are busy putting our Field Trip policies in place.

What's the Sniffspot Indianapolis Top Dog Rescue & Shelter List About?

Welcome to the 2024 Indianapolis, IN Sniffspot Top Dog Rescue & Shelter List, highlighting the top rescues and shelters in Indianapolis, IN chosen by the Sniffspot community and the public.

This list is sponsored by Sniffspot, the largest global network of private dog parks. Sniffspot offers 10 private dog parks in the Indianapolis area, including fenced, water, indoor, and beach parks. As a hub for rescue dogs, our sponsorship underscores our dedication to supporting shelters and rescues. Explore Indianapolis dog parks on Sniffspot's platform.

Get safe exercise for your dog by renting a private dog park near you

See The Best Dog Rescues & Shelters In Other Cities Near Indianapolis

See The Best Dog Rescues & Shelters In Other States

Ordered alphabetically, only included states where there is enough data to compile a list

Sniffspot Indianapolis Dog Rescues & Shelters Frequently Asked Questions

How many dog rescues and shelters operate in Indianapolis?

There are 10 in Indianapolis. Outside of Indianapolis, there are 4 located in Indiana.

What are the most reputable dog rescues and shelters in Indianapolis?

There are many reputable rescues in Indianapolis, the top 3 on our list are: Helping Paws, Inc., Medical Mutts Service Dogs, Northern Lights Sled Dog Rescue.

How can I adopt a rescue dog in Indianapolis?

Using our list of the top dog rescues and shelters, you can find a reputable shelter in Indianapolis. The adoption policies of each shelter varies and you can find information on the shelter profile page. Here is an example adoption policy:
Potential adopters need to fill out an adoption application that needs to be approved by our adoption coordinator. We also require home visits to ensure the pets are going to be living in safe conditions. All current pets in the homes must be spayed/neutered and up to date on regular vetting - including vaccines and heartworm prevention (for dogs).

Are there any breed-specific dog rescues and shelters in Indianapolis?

We do not have any record of breed specific rescues and shelters in Indianapolis, but there are the top breed-specific rescue and shelter types in nearby metro, Fort Wayne Pit Bull Coalition (FWPBC)

Get your dog the safe enrichment they need by renting a Sniffspot

David Adams

June 25, 2024

Dog Rescues & Shelters

David Adams

About the author

David Adams is a man of many passions, but his love for dogs stands above all. He is not only a dog lover, but also the founder of an innovative platform called Sniffspot. This unique platform connects dog owners with private property owners who are willing to rent out their space for off-leash playtime. While the idea of Sniffspot was initially conceived by his wife, Rebecca, David has been the driving force behind its remarkable success, tirelessly overseeing its growth and development. David's dedication to providing safe and enjoyable spaces for dogs to play, explore, and socialize is evident in his unwavering commitment to Sniffspot. He strongly believes that dogs need ample space and opportunities to stretch their legs and have fun. As a result, he has worked tirelessly to build a network of private property owners across the country who share his vision and are willing to offer their space for the benefit of dogs and their owners. Despite his busy schedule, David always finds time to indulge in his passion for the great outdoors. He loves nothing more than exploring new hiking trails and embarking on thrilling outdoor adventures. Whenever he is not working on Sniffspot, he can often be found hiking or visiting multi-acre fenced sniffspots with his two beloved dogs, Soba and Toshii. He is an avid outdoorsman who enjoys the fresh air, breathtaking scenery, and the sense of freedom that comes with being in nature. David is based in Salem, MA.

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The Best Indianapolis, IN Dog Rescues & Shelters in 2024

Helping Paws, Inc.

Northern Lights Sled Dog Rescue

Medical Mutts Service Dogs

Indianapolis animal care services

Humane Society for Hamilton County

IndyHumane

Leann's Animal Rescue

Rushville Animal Shelter

Friends of Indianapolis Dogs Outside

Roo's Relief

Sketchy Mutts and Underdogs Rescue

What's the Sniffspot Indianapolis Top Dog Rescue & Shelter List About?

See The Best Dog Rescues & Shelters In Other Cities Near Indianapolis

See The Best Dog Rescues & Shelters In Other States

Sniffspot Indianapolis Dog Rescues & Shelters Frequently Asked Questions

How many dog rescues and shelters operate in Indianapolis?

What are the most reputable dog rescues and shelters in Indianapolis?

How can I adopt a rescue dog in Indianapolis?

Are there any breed-specific dog rescues and shelters in Indianapolis?

David Adams

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