The Best Wichita, KS Dog Rescues & Shelters in 2025

Hutchinson Animal Shelter

The Animal Control Department enforces City of Hutchinson ordinances that govern the housing and care of animals. Those enforcement activities include returning stray dogs to their owners, investigating animal cruelty or neglect and violations of dangerous animal laws. An Animal Control Officer is on regular duty Tuesday through Saturday 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Animal control is on an emergency basis on Sunday and Monday and after hours.

Valley Center Animal League

The Valley Center Animal League, Inc., was founded in 2009 when the local animal shelter was shut down. Our original goal was to prevent impounded animals from being transported to the Wichita Animal Shelter after 3 days. From there we evolved into a licensed “Group Home Shelter” in order to establish a network of individual foster homes.

Alex's House

We are a non-profit dog rescue in the Rosalia, KS area. We began as a small senior center / hospice but have grown and now rescue dogs that are scheduled to be euthanized. We believe all good dogs deserve a second chance. Please read our story and check out our adoptable pets and our adoption stories. If you think you might be interested in adopting one of our pets or if you would like to help us in our endeavor to save unwanted pets, please contact us. The House That Alex Built In the summer of 1991, a colleague at Southwestern College convinced me to be a foster parent for a dog at the Winfield Animal Shelter. I went to the shelter and there were so many that I just pointed at the first one I saw: a cocker spaniel jumping up on the cage door. This dog had already been spoken for by a member of the local law enforcement, so I decided I really should take a longer look and there I saw her-a small brown puppy, sitting in the middle of the kennel. She was the only dog not jumping up and down and barking. She just sat there looking lost and confused. I thought, "We have a lot in common" and home she went. A week later I returned to the shelter and adopted little Alex. Miraculously she survived her first year of life living with a senior in college who had some not so bright friends that would try to feed her everything from all the pepperoni off a large pizza to chocolate brownies. And I must admit, I left a glass of peppermint schnapps down one night. She moved about 10 times during her life and although always afraid of being left the first few days in a new place always adjusted. In 1994, Alex and I added a new member to the family, when I married John -- that June we sent out invitations for a wedding reception/graduation party/belated birthday party for Alex. We were married in the backyard of our rental in Manhattan. Alex sat on my sister's lap. Some children I had babysat for when I was younger and who had adopted my parents as grandparents, brought balloons, a tablecloth and presents for Alex. So there at the wedding reception was Alex's little birthday table. In 2002, Alex was diagnosed with cancer. She put up a valiant fight but died two months later. During those two months, she went to work with me everyday and when I was in class, colleagues kept an eye on her. At the time I was also a member of the team negotiating the new contracts for the teachers at Butler Community College. This team included five other faculty, one dean, four VPs and the president of the college. Alex went to all the meetings during those two months, becoming an unofficial mascot. Right after finals week, we went to my parents' house, so that they could see Alex. My sister and her boyfriend drove down from Manhattan to see her too. Whenever we were at my parents' house, my dad would always share part of his hashbrowns with the doggies. Unfortunately when Alex was younger, she was diagnosed with bladder stones and had to go on a special diet, so dad could then only sneak her the tiniest of a piece. That last Saturday morning, he asked me if Alex could have hashbrowns and I told him she could eat whatever she wanted. I think he may have bought a separate order just for her. Dad was so happy the breakfast tradition could be reinstated. That night we went to sleep and Alex woke me at about 2 AM to go outside. We came back in and went to sleep. At about 3:30, John and I heard her cry out. We got to her and she tried to roll over from her side to lie on her stomach, but she couldn't. I reached for her head. She wagged her tail and then her little head rested in my hand. As always Alex took care of me. She waited until my semester was over, until I was surrounded by family and then she made the decision, so I wouldn't have to. We decided then that we would move to the country to help other dogs. It has taken six years, but we finally made it. Alex's House was initially envisioned as a place for old and sick dogs who had been abandoned by their owners at area shelters to go to ensure that their remaining time was a happy and comfortable one, but we quickly realized that dogs of all ages in this area are in need of rescue and so we opened our home to as many as we could.

Kansas K-9 ResQ

Kansas K-9 ResQ was founded in 2001 by Shadow's foster mom and the couple that adopted him. Inspired by Shadow, this group formed their desire to help other unwanted dogs. The founders vowed that a dog in their rescue would never go without proper and timely veterinary care, as Shadow had. With a handful of members and a very tight budget, only four dogs were adopted into forever homes that first year. Since that time, our group and our budget have grown substantially. In addition to the generosity of donations, our group members work tirelessly to raise funds to help dogs in need. We hold raffles, microchip clinics and a vast variety of other fund raisers. Over the years we have saved the lives of many hundreds of dogs. The dogs in our program are typically unclaimed strays from the Wichita Animal Shelter. A vet promptly sees all dogs that are taken into our program and their medical needs are attended to immediately. The dogs in our care live in foster homes where they are crate and house trained and assessed as to what kind of permanent home would best suit them. They live with their foster families until their forever home is found. We are proud of scripting happy endings for many once-discarded animals. The original founders continue their work with the rescue, and over the years they have inspired many other people to join them in their efforts. We now have a nine-member Board of Directors and dozens of foster parents and volunteers. Our group includes members who come from all walks of life, and are united with a common love for dogs and the desire to help animals in need. Kansas K-9 ResQ volunteers are extremely dedicated and through their hard work funds have been raised to help many animals in need. No longer having to scrape by, we regularly help dogs with special needs, such as those who have been confiscated in hoarding cases, cruelty cases, and in puppy mill raids; dogs that have been hit by cars; dogs with severe skin issues; dogs with heartworms; and dogs that have had major leg and joint injuries. We take in dogs of all ages and all breeds. Kansas K-9 ResQ volunteers work hard to continue Shadow’s legacy. His memory inspires the members of this group to continue our mission of “Making the world a better place…one dog at a time.”

Cowley County Humane Society

Cowley County Humane Society is committed to providing compassionate care, nutritious food, medical care, and comfortable housing to animals. Since the early 2000's, we have been dedicated to caring for and promoting the rights of animals through numerous initiatives. Our main goal is to educate and improve the treatment of animals around the world.

Beauties and Beasts, Inc.

Since our inception in 2014, Beauties and Beasts has been working tirelessly to break the cycle of abuse and neglect of cats and dogs through awareness and education campaigns, advocating for and saving animals at risk of euthanasia at our local shelters, and through community outreach. Beauties and Beasts is 501(c)3, nonprofit organization that is volunteer led and is 100% dependent on generous donations from individuals, corporations and foundations. We currently maintain a private boarding facility for approximately 50 adoptable dogs, while the remainder of animals in our care are in foster homes. 300-350 animals are routinely in our care and our capacity is only limited to the number of active fosters. We do not discriminate against breed, age, medical needs, or behavior. We love ALL animals and breeds the same, and believe they all deserve a chance to become happy, healthy adoptable companion pets.

Kansas Humane Society of Wichita

Helping Animals & Saving Lives Since 1888 For over 133 years, the Kansas Humane Society has been committed to helping the abandoned and homeless animals in our community. Our animal shelter has helped hundreds of thousands of Wichita’s pets by providing them care, comfort, hope, and most importantly, a second chance at a new life. The Kansas Humane Society is a community resource for pets and people. We offer an array of services that promote the human/animal bond, including pet adoption, behavior consultation, pet supplies, social media outreach, spay/neuter, end of life services, classroom field trips, youth education and community outreach. The Kansas Humane Society is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization and receives no federal, state or local tax dollars, support from the Humane Society of the United States, is not a United Way agency, and depends entirely on private donations and fees for service.

McPherson Animal Shelter

The McPherson Animal Shelter was built in 2006 and opened its doors to the public on January 1, 2007. The building is able to house 16 dogs at one time. We are funded by the City of McPherson. We only take in dogs that are found running at large in the city limits; we also take surrender dogs that live in the city limits of McPherson. We keep them for 6 days to give the owner a chance to claim his/her pet. If they are not claimed after 6 days, we put them up for adoption.

Wichita Animal Action League

Wichita Animal Action League, or WAAL, is a state-licensed rescue and 501c3 nonprofit organization. We are a foster-home-based rescue and do not operate a full time facility. Our goal is to fill the gap created from the financial and personnel constraints of local governments resources. We fulfill our mission with three main branches of service: 1. Adoption 1. Saving animals at risk of euthanasia at local shelters 2. Providing rehoming services to owners to prevent pets from entering the shelter system 2. Spay/Neuter Services 1. Spay It Forward, a voucher program designed to stop unnecessary pet euthanasia by combating its source: overpopulation 2. TNR services 3. Community Outreach 1. Providing welfare checks for neglect/cruelty concerns 2. Emergency rescue responding when others say, “We don’t do that,” including saving cats in trees, ducklings in storm drains, and starving horses 3. Assisting the city shelter with vet care costs for medical-emergency cases 4. Donating supplies to owners in need 5. Assisting owners with vet bills 6. Empowering the community with vaccination and supply clinics 7. Providing food for community per food banks 8. Providing low cost microchips for the community 9. Offering dog training grants for low-income owners We are 100% reliant on donations to provide these life-saving services. We need your help to carry out our mission! Whether you are called to volunteer, foster, adopt, or donate, we need you, and so do the animals!

Kingman County Humane Society

The Kingman County Humane Society in Kingman, KS was established in 2001. It is operated by volunteers dedicated to finding permanent, loving homes for the animals under their care. Until permanent homes can be found, our animals are cared for in our shelter or in foster homes where they can be assessed for temperament, and given lots of attention. Our mission is to create and support meaningful connections by enhancing the lives of dogs, cats and the people in our communities who love them. We strive to reduce animal population through mandatory spay/neuter of all adoptable pets. We do not euthanize healthy or treatable animals, reserving euthanasia for terminally ill, severly injured or animals that are a danger to the public. Our ability to maintain a "humane shelter policy" requires the support and committment of adopters, volunteers, and the communities we serve. Your donations, along with adoption fees, are our primary means of financial support. We do not receive government support. We thank our amazing volunteers and donors for sharing their generosity and talent year around.