The Best Iowa Dog Rescues & Shelters in 2025

Dogs Forever of Iowa (DBA DOGS FOREVER)

Dogs Forever is dedicated to rescuing homeless, abused, and neglected dogs of all breeds, sizes, and ages with a special emphasis on those deemed ‚hard-to-place. As an Adoption Guarantee shelter, all dogs will stay in our care until we have found their forever homes.

A Purposeful Life Animal Rescue

A Purposeful Life Animal Rescue & Sanctuary is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit volunteer-based animal welfare organization dedicated to rescuing homeless dogs and cats directly within our community, overcrowded shelters and other unforeseen circumstances. We were founded in 2022 by a small group of animal advocates in Iowa, after recognizing the need to support not only strays and relinquished animals in our area, but areas all across the country. Our startup mission is to offer support to the many local animals in need of homes, by partnering with area shelters and rescues. In addition, we are committed to providing behavioral, medical and low cost resources to people who are considering surrender, in an effort to keep their pets in their homes and out of the shelter system

The Animal Rescue League of Iowa, Inc

The ARL serves people and pets from across the state of Iowa through its programs, which include pet adoption, humane education, pet behavior training, spay/neuter, animal cruelty intervention and much more. The Animal Rescue League is dependent on individual and corporate contributions to care for its animals.

AHeinz57 Pet Rescue and Transport

AHeinz57 Pet Rescue & Transport, Inc. is a 501(c)3, non-profit, foster-based animal rescue organization, headquartered in De Soto, IA. Our main purpose is to care for the homeless companion animals in our community and surrounding areas. We also provide much needed services to the pet owners in our area thru food assistance, low cost spay/neuter clinics, and TNR services. In addition to our own community, we strive to bridge the gap between traditional animal shelters and no-kill rescues throughout the central United States in 2 different ways: 1) By pulling dogs out of traditional shelters that are on death row and placing them in foster homes and forever homes through our organization; and 2) By providing free transportation for dogs from traditional shelters to other no-kill rescues all over the Midwest and Canada

Safe Paws

Safe Paws is an independent 501(c)(3) non-profit animal rescue dedicated to finding safe, permanent homes for animals who have set dates to be euthanized.

Boone Area Humane Society

The Boone Area Humane Society was founded in 1977. We believe that because people domesticated animals, we have a responsibility to ensure their welfare. To ensure humane treatment, we respond to animal neglect and abuse calls, provide animal control for the Boone area, operate an animal shelter for lost, found and unwanted pets and provide humane education. We provide animal control services for Boone County and the cities and towns within. We also provide a safe place for people to bring in their unwanted pets. “Unwanted pets” come to the shelter for a variety of reasons. Some owners have exhausted their efforts to find homes for litters. Some owners may need our help due to health problems or when relocating. Some pets are abandoned. We ask for a nominal fee when relinquishing your pet to us. This is to help cover the cost of care- food, vaccinations, medical assessment, loving care, etc. while they are in our facility. We have a volunteer program and an orientation once a month for those who are interested in giving a little of the free time to the homeless animals. We also take donations of money, and high-quality food.

Animal Protection and Education

Poweshiek Animal League Shelter (PALS)

At PALS, a no-kill animal shelter located just south of Grinnell, IA, we change lives. We provide a safe haven and veterinary care to homeless cats and dogs, and we match them with individuals and families who benefit from the companionship, spontaneity, and joy they bring to a home. PALS relies entirely on donations and is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. PALS works hard to provide our county with a shelter for animals in need. We care for our cats and dogs 365 days a year. Prior to our opening, the only option for stray animals picked up by city police and sheriff’s departments in Poweshiek County was a 7-day stay at local veterinary clinics. If owners or an adopting family were not found in that short period of time, the animals were then euthanized. PALS has stepped in not only to provide a safe haven for these homeless animals, but to also ensure they receive responsible vet care including spay/neuters, shots, deworming, and flea/tick control, as well as addressing any emergency medical concerns. We began with a network of foster homes in 2004, and we began our licensed shelter in 2007 after a generous donation from an anonymous source. We purchased 7 acres south of Grinnell, which is the animals' current home. We are happy to report that we have helped over 3000 cats and dogs find loving homes! Read more about our life-saving statistics. We rely entirely on donations. Unlike most animal shelters in Iowa, PALS receives no public funding of any kind. PALS is a 501(c)(3) non-profit. We are licensed by the Iowa Department of Agriculture.

Animal Rescue League of Marshalltown

Animal rescue League of Marshalltown is a no-kill animal shelter dedicated to rescuing and rehabilitating animals in need. The Animal Rescue League of Marshalltown is dedicated to rescuing and rehoming lost, homeless, and abused companion animals. Our mission is to reunite pets with their families, find new loving homes for adoptable animals, and strengthen the bond between humans and their animal companions.

Atlantic Animal Shelter

Cedar Valley Humane Society

The CVHS has spent more than 100 years working to be at the forefront of animal sheltering and welfare. It is also a regional leader in helping at-risk families with pets stay together. In the last two years, the shelter has helped over 8,000 animals that might otherwise be surrendered to a shelter through its low-cost vaccine clinics and free pet food bank. It also provides many unique services such as the Humane Education Program. This program provides staff and volunteers the ability to educate students both in and out of the classroom and engage the leaders of tomorrow about the humane treatment of animals. ​ The CVHS provides animal control services to cities and towns in Linn, Johnson and Benton Counties as well as the unincorporated areas of Linn County. Bypassing the traditional “dog catcher” model of other shelters, the CVHS instead works closely with the communities it serves to quickly reunite lost pets with their families at a more economical cost than city or county-run animal control services. HISTORY The Cedar Valley Humane Society (CVHS) was established in 1901 as the Humane Society of the City of Cedar Rapids. The original shelter was located on Griffith Farm, and early cases involved cruelty and abuse of women, children, the elderly, horses, cattle, dogs, and cats. Investigations involving women, children, and the elderly were eventually dropped from society’s list of objectives, and in 1921, the organization changed its name to the Linn County Humane Society.​ By 1923, the need for a permanent shelter became apparent, and a fundraising campaign began. In 1928, a property was purchased at 700 C Avenue NE for $3,000. This served as headquarters for the society until 1968, when the organization built its current facility at 7411 Mt. Vernon Rd SE. In 1991, the organization changed its name again, this time to the Cedar Valley Humane Society.

Dogs Forever of Iowa

Dogs Forever is a great organization, run entirely by volunteers. We are passionate about our dogs and work tirelessly to take great care of them, and also to make sure their next home is their forever home. When we take a dog in, we take care of them as long as is necessary to find them the right match in terms of family and environment. Dogs Forever is dedicated to rescuing homeless, abused, and neglected dogs of all breeds, sizes, and ages with a special emphasis on those deemed “hard-to-place”. As an Adoption Guarantee shelter, all dogs will stay in our care until we have found their forever homes. At Dogs Forever we need your support so we can: • Find homes for great dogs. • Raise enough money to cover the expenses for the shelter (vet care, food, rent and electric bills). • Grow our programs and events and expand our role in the pet rescue community.

Critter Crusaders of Cedar Rapids

Critter Crusaders of Cedar Rapids is a 501c3, all volunteer non-profit organization that has been in operation since 2008 and is made up of a Board of Directors and volunteers. Critter Crusaders provides advanced medical and surgical treatment with life and limb saving procedures to restore health and adoptability for the local homeless animals. We also work with rescues and shelters to facilitate placements for homeless animals as an alternative to euthanasia.

Cedar Rapids Animal Care & Control

Cedar Rapids Animal Care & Control is an "open admission" shelter with a small staff and corps of volunteers who help care for more than 3,000 animals per year. The shelter accepts all animals brought to us from the city of Cedar Rapids. We work collaboratively with foster and rescue teams to ensure that our animals are either reunited with their owners or are placed in new, loving homes. You can view a list of the many wonderful pets we have available for adoption by visiting our PetFinder website at http://www.petfinder.com/shelters/IA125.html. Cedar Rapids Animal Care & Control has partnered with Hill's!!! We are pleased to announce that Cedar Rapids Animal Care & Control has partnered with Hill's Science Diet and their Food, Shelter, Love Program. Cedar Rapids Animal Care & Control will now be able to provide high quality Science Diet food to all of our animals at an affordable cost! Please read more about this exciting program and Science Diet foods by clicking on the logos in the upper right.

Clinton Humane Society

”WE BELIEVE … in the Clinton Humane Society and its ongoing mission to care for the less fortunate animals in our community. It’s 75 years of experience makes a difference and provides a vital service to the community. WE BELIEVE … that no animal is disposable and that they are all valuable. All animals deserve a good home with loving and caring owners. WE BELIEVE … that we must provide a voice for the animals that cannot speak out and ask for help themselves. WE BELIEVE … that the Clinton Humane Society is a place of hope and compassion. Its mission to provide and care for suffering and homeless animals, to prevent cruelty to all animals, and to advance humane education, is as vital today as it will be one week, one month or one year from now. Our greatest reward is when an animal is reunited or adopted to go home to a loving family. We are an open admittance shelter. This means we will never turn away a stray or an injured animal from citizens or members of the police departments in our area. This does mean that if an owner is wanting to surrender their pet, we do have a waiting list. We try to allow owner surrenders as often as we can, but it really all depends on how full we are from strays that are brought in by citizens. Being an open admittance shelter, this means we unfortunately are not a “no-kill” shelter. A “no-kill” shelter is one that publicly announces that they will not euthanize a pet at their facility. Most of the time, they are also a selective admittance shelter. This means that they can pick and choose which animals they allow to come in. We cannot help but question what happens when a “no-kill” shelter is full, what do those owners or citizens do with the pets they have found, or no longer want? Do they search for alternate shelters? Turn their pet loose? What alternatives does that person have? By the Clinton Humane Society being an open admittance shelter, we can feel confident that we are serving our area to the best of our means. This means that we have guidelines that our potential adoptable pets have to meet before being put on our adoption floor. We require all adoptable dogs to pass our Behavior Assessment and Reactivity Checklist (BARC test), along with being a happy, healthy, adoption prospect

K9 Kindness Rescue, Inc.

K9 Kindness Rescue, Inc. is a non-profit organization started in April, 2004. All of our dogs are up to date on shots, on heart worm preventative, flea and tick preventative and are altered. Any other veterinary care that they need is done before the dogs are placed in homes. There are many ways to help K9 Kindness and the dogs! If you are interested in becoming involved with our rescue group, please email us for more information! And we always need more people to help care for our dogs until they find their forever homes. For information on this program, email us, too! We are a 501(c)3 non-profit organization and are licensed per State of Iowa Code 162. A Brief History K9 Kindness Rescue, Inc. was started in March of 2004 by founder Debbie Fraker who has now retired from rescue. The rescue was originally the size of a few friends and three foster homes in Davenport, De Witt, and Blue Grass. The rescue's name was a play on K9 Child Dog Daycare who worked closely with the rescue. In 2013, we placed our 1,000th dog in a furever home. In 2014, we pulled our first dog from Puerto Rico. We also celebrated 10 years of serving the Quad Cities and the Tristate region. Currently, the President is Kimberly Patterson and the rescue has around 20 foster homes.

King's Harvest Pet Rescue

It's estimated 600,000 families and 1.35 million children experience homelessness in the United States. 63% of those families and individuals have a pet. There are often impossible decisions pet-owners face when losing their homes. Do I give up my pet at a shelter or rescue? Do I leave my pet in a foreclosed house? Can I keep my pet and survive on the street while trying to provide food and shelter for myself, my family and my pet? Sadly, most shelters in the US are not pet friendly. Those who end up homeless with pets have trouble in giving up their pets because of the bond they have formed with them. There exists an unconditional love that pet guardians understand. Their pets are non-judgemental, offer comfort, provide an emotional bond of loyalty and in some cases they provide the homeless with protection and warmth. King's Harvest Pet Rescue's assistance programs provide free pet food, pet surrender opportunities, temporary homes for pets and low cost spaying/neutering for the homeless and low income families in the Quad Cities and surrounding areas.

One Dog Rescue

One Dog Rescue is an IRS-recognized 501c3 organization. Our EIN is 30-1365288. Every dollar you donate to our life-saving rescue is tax-deductible, and every dollar goes directly to our mission. We are entirely foster-based and all-volunteer. One Dog Rescue emphasizes the rescue of sick, orphaned, abandoned, and emaciated animals. We pull animals specifically from euthanasia lists, and particularly animals in shelters where heart stick euthanasia is practiced. We literally strive to save both animals' lives and the emotions of shelter staff who must perform euthanasia.

Hero's Haven Animal Rescue

Hero was a dog who lived in Delaware County who was subject to extreme neglect prior to being dumped in a remote area with his sister, Honor. He had a massive tumor on the side of his face. Hero and Honor were rescued by one of our original team members, Lois Richardson. Along with her husband, Lois fostered and took care of Hero and he was able to experience love, kindness, and family prior to passing away. Our rescue, which was formed in 2019, is named in Hero's memory and honor. Hero lives on through Hero's Haven and the work we do. Hero's Haven Animal Rescue is a foster-based rescue with foster homes across Eastern Iowa. We do also have cats and kittens available for adoption at the the PetSmart in SW Cedar Rapids. We are a non-profit, 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization and licensed with the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship.

Fur Fun Rescue

Fur Fun Rescue - Dog Rescue and Adoption in Cedar Rapids and Eastern Iowa Fur Fun Rescue is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, foster-based dog rescue centered in Eastern Iowa and founded in September 2014. Our goal is to match dogs in need, fosters who care, and homes that are looking for the perfect addition. Fur Fun relies on the help of volunteers and fosters who are willing to open their hearts and homes to dogs waiting to find their furever homes. At any given time we have between 40 and 60 dogs in our care. Most of our dogs have come from overcrowded shelters and are in danger of being euthanized. We also take dogs from owners who can no longer keep their dog and local stray dogs. In our care all dogs are given rabies and parvo/distemper vaccinations, are microchipped, spayed or neutered and heartworm tested. We also address any other medical needs they might have. Our dedicated foster homes work with the dogs on basic home manners and obedience. When our dogs are ready to find their forever homes, we match them with carefully screened adopters so they are never homeless again.

It Takes A Village Animal Rescue & Resources

It Takes A Village Animal Rescue & Resources is so much more than an animal rescue. Our organization is built around the idea of community, the belief that working together, we can be a force of goodness and positive change in the world of animal welfare. Founded in 2021, ITAVARR immediately began building a network of dedicated volunteers who would prove essential to our success. Our love of animals united us and inspired us to push ourselves to do more and to be more. With this amazing team backing us, we’ve grown and expanded to include a shelter and quarantine facility, we found loving forever homes for over 700 homeless pets in two short years. We’ve gone on rescue trips to save animals from hurricanes, from floods, from certain death in overcrowded high-kill shelters. Through it all, we’ve remained loyal to our name and our beliefs. We're not just a source of goodness; we’re a resource for doing good. We’ve held free vaccine and microchipping clinics and speak publicly on animal welfare topics, we feed hungry animals in our community and actively work to solve the animal overpopulation crisis by spaying and neutering stray and feral cats. We helped end the discriminatory breed ban in our city. We firmly believe that our village is changing the world, one animal life at a time.

Des Moines County Humane Society

Friends of the Animals Shelter

Friends of the Animals (FOA) employees a limited number of employees and is mostly operated through a network of volunteers who work together to make sure that every animal receives a loving, lifelong home. Most of us are involved in animal work for our love of the animals and their well-being. We are a non-profit and the only shelter in Cedar County located in Tipton, Iowa. All the money and donations we take in are used to help canine and feline directly or to fund our organization (buying supplies, shelter expenses, supporting a website, medical funding for animals, a new facility etc.). FOA takes in animals from owner surrenders, strays. other shelters/rescues etc. We take in all ages of animals from adults, who have outgrown their puppy or kitty cuteness to animals with special needs and seniors in need of furever homes to live out their lives. After FOA accepts an animal, it is given a veterinary exam to make sure that it is healthy. We also update the animal’s immunizations, spay or neuter if the procedure hasn’t previously been done. Spaying and neutering not only prevents pet overpopulation, but also lowers the animal’s risk of contracting reproductive diseases later in life. Then we microchip the animal in FOA’s name. Typically, after the animal comes to the shelter it is kept at the shelter or placed in a foster home. The foster home provides temporary care for the animal until a new owner can be found. The foster home also evaluates the animal’s temperament and behavior, so we can find the right family that fits the animal. If the animal has special needs, we do our best to find them a foster home. We believe they need to be kept comfortable and have one-on-one attention to regain their health and/or help them to adjust to find what needs they may have and see that they are understood and met. That allows us to help the animal to find its new family and have a successful adoption. When an animal is being fostered only, we ask them to help assist FOA to find the adoptive family that fits the animal. The foster family will most like have a family, friend or person they know see the animal while they are fostering and have them apply for foster to adopt application. While we are searching through our applications, we have on file. Usually when a family comes into the shelter it is love at first sight! One of the Adoption Coordinators or the Facility Administrator will sit down with the potential family to talk to them about the fur baby and the steps to adoption. FOA requires most animals to be placed in a foster to adopt process before we will adopt them to the family. The process usually takes two (2) weeks, but this is guideline and if FOA feels more time is needed we will adjust this timeline. This process allows FOA to help the animal and family to adjust to each other and iron out questions you may have and provides guidance for the family and animal. Once the adoption is finalized, we will wait a few days and do a follow up with the adoptive family to provide support with any remaining questions you may have on your new family member. We want to make sure that both the family and animal are doing well. Our goal is to have a successful adoption that has a smooth transition for the animals and family.

Iowa City Animal Care and Adoption Center

Homeward Bownd Siberian Husky Rescue

Homeward Bownd is a non-profit Siberian Husky shelter and rescue located south of Dubuque, Iowa. We pride ourselves in the well-being of huskies and finding them a ‘forever’ home.

Humane Society of Scott County

The Humane Society of Scott County is a non-profit, open admission animal shelter in Scott County, Iowa. We serve Davenport, Bettendorf, and other cities in Scott County primarily, but we also adopt out and provide services to anyone in the Quad Cities area and beyond!

Humane Society of Northeast Iowa

The Humane Society of Northeast Iowa (HSNEI) began operations in Decorah, Iowa in 1995. We help people, cats, and dogs in need across our 5-county area (Allamakee, Clayton, Fayette, Howard, Winneshiek). Creating the best possible outcomes for cats and dogs in our care and in our communities: we improve quality of life through quality care, adoption matches, and pet family & community services. HSNEI improves quality of life through quality: 1. Care for dogs and cats in need--in our custody and in our community. We provide the best possible animal care, considering the animals’ mental, physical, and emotional wellbeing; current situations; and available resources. 2. Adoption and foster matches--we match families with pets who fit their homes, personalities, and lifestyles. We work hard to find the best match for our animals. We partner with other organizations to find homes for as many animals as possible, including sanctuaries, behaviorists, extended networks, and other animal welfare organizations. We place animals in foster homes when we can while awaiting their forever homes, with a focus on animals who do poorly in a shelter environment. 3. Services for our pet families and community members. We are continuously learning what helps people in our neighborhoods and which services provide the most-needed support. We do our best to understand and help where we can. Current services include pet adoptions, animal surrenders, humane education, neighborhood spay/neuter and microchip & nail trim clinics, and pet owner support. HSNEI is a private nonprofit organization governed by a volunteer board of directors. We are not affiliated with or funded by any national group, nor do we receive financial aid from the United Way, local, state, or federal government. We do receive and appreciate service-supported funding from city and county governments in our 5-county area. We support operations and programs through donations, bequests, grants, special events, adoption fees, service fees, and merchandise sales. HSNEI is a tax-exempt organization as recognized by the IRS (EIN: 42-1447461). No goods or services are provided for donations. Please consult your tax advisor regarding specific questions about your deductions.

Denison City Pound

The Denison City Pound is located in Denison, Iowa. We work to care for animals, big and small, and work to place them in loving and permanent homes. We are an impoundment facility for the City of Denison and also for Crawford County. The animals that are brought in are picked up for running loose or just pain homeless. Because of this we usually have no background information on our animals. If the animal is not claimed within 7 days it is then up for adoption. We get so many wonderful animals that are in need of a good home.

Furry Friends Refuge

Furry Friends Refuge is a nonprofit humane organization serving the animals of central Iowa. Furry Friends is a 501(c)3 tax-deductible organization and has created the first no-kill community in the Des Moines metro area. Until July 1, 2023, Furry Friends provided open admission services to pets in need for West Des Moines, Clive, and Urbandale. Furry Friends continues to serve all animal welfare needs for animals in Clive and Urbandale. We are currently assisting area shelters who are open admission and at or beyond capacity due to the current sheltering crisis being seen in Iowa and nationwide. Once we are able to provide sufficient support to stabilize those populations, we will expand our target jurisdictions to other neighboring communities who share our vision of building humane communities with a safety net for all animals in need. West Des Moines decided to terminate its partnership with Furry Friends as of July 2023 against the wishes of many citizens. Please contact the city manager Tom Hadden at tom.hadden@wdm.iowa.gov if you have a pet in West Des Moines who no longer has anywhere to go because of the city’s decision or if you are left waiting for hours or days with a stray animal due to the appointment only system for accepting stray animals the city has implemented in its new city run and taxpayer funded program. Furry Friends seeks to assist all area animals in need through a variety of programs including adoptions, spay and neuter, community outreach, and humane education. Additionally, the organization has partnered with Polk County Animal Control to provide housing, reunification, and adoption programs for stray animals in Clive and Urbandale. Furry Friends relies heavily on volunteers, and all donations go directly to the programs that serve the animals.

Heartland Pet Hospital & Mobile Practice, P.C.

The Heartland Pet Hospital location has been a veterinary office for more than 40 years. Drs. Bright and McClatchey purchased the practice in 1998 and added Dr. Bright's house-call service to the business at that time. In 2007, the building was enlarged and remodeled to better serve our clientele. High quality in-house lab and x-ray provide results right away so treatment can be started immediately. In January of 2015, Dr. Bright became the sole owner of Heartland Pet Hospital.