The year is coming to a close, and it’s a good time to get in some last minute charitable donations that you can write off when you’re doing your taxes. If you’re like me, you’re always looking for a way to help dogs in need.
The non-profit groups on this list help dogs get the care and forever homes they need. You can find easy-to-follow links to make a donation to any group you choose.
Here are ten non-profit dog rescue groups that stand out and deserve your charitable donation.
1. Hope For Paws
You’ve probably seen some of Hope For Paws’s amazing rescue videos on YouTube, and we regularly shine a spotlight on them at DogTime because we couldn’t be happier and more impressed with their work.
They bring animals who are suffering–often from abuse, neglect, or injuries–off the streets and provide medical care. They also work to find forever homes for these animals.
If you haven’t seen what they do yet, watch some of their videos and bring some tissues because you’ll probably break down in tears.
You can find out more about Hope For Paws here and make a donation here.
2. American Pit Bull Foundation
The American Pit Bull Foundation works to educate and change the perception and stereotypes surrounding Pit Bulls. They want the public to see that these dogs are deserving of love despite how they are usually portrayed in the media.
The foundation has Pit Bulls available for adoption to loving forever homes, and they have a program called Operation Sidekick that trains rescued Pit Bulls to be service dogs for veterans with PTSD and depression.
You can find out more about the American Pit Bull Foundation here and make a donation here.
3. Animal Aid Unlimited
Animal Aid Unlimited was founded by a family from Seattle who moved to India. They saw animals suffering in the streets, but there are very few animal hospitals in India. So they founded Animal Aid Unlimited, and the organization has grown rapidly.
They take animals off the street who need medical attention and provide them with the care they need. Most of the treatment they provide is for minor wounds or illnesses, but you can see some of their more extreme cases on YouTube. Although they are based in India, they accept donations from the United States.
You can find out more about Animal Aid Unlimited here and make a donation here.
4. Angels Among Us
Angels Among Us is a group that focuses on rescuing dogs and cats from high-kill shelters. You may remember the viral photo of two shelter pups hugging each other from a while back. They found their forever home thanks to Angels Among Us.
This group operates through a network of volunteers and fosters, and they regularly post photos and stories of animals on social media so that they can find forever homes and get out of the shelters before it’s too late. They also post success stories of pets who go to loving families.
You can find out more about Angels Among Us here and make a donation here.
5. House With A Heart
House With A Heart is a sanctuary and forever home for senior dogs and cats. The animals are often left behind when an owner dies, and because of their age and medical needs, they usually have a slim chance of adoption.
House With A Heart takes care of all the animals’ needs for the rest of their lives, and most importantly, they get plenty of love and affection from a team of volunteers–even until the moment they pass away.
You can find out more about House With A Heart here and make a donation here.
6. Best Friends Animal Society
Best Friends Animal Society is a group dedicated to bringing an end to the killing of shelter animals. They also run the nation’s largest no-kill animal sanctuary for companion animals.
Through adoption events, education campaigns, and fundraisers, they work with other rescue organizations to find forever homes for dogs, cats, and other animals in need and raise awareness. They even helped several of the dogs involved in Michael Vick’s dogfighting ring get the care they needed.
You can find out more about Best Friends Animal Society here and make a donation here.
7. Jameson Animal Rescue Ranch
DogTime interviewed our friends and Jameson Animal Rescue Ranch (JARR) earlier this year, and we were so impressed with their work. Not only do they rescue and find homes for dogs, but they care for cats, horses, chickens, and lots of other animals, as well.
JARR has several programs to benefit the community, too. They offer assistance to low-income families with animals, people displaced by natural disasters, victims of abuse, senior citizens, and more. Swing by if you’re ever in Napa Valley and give them a hello from DogTime!
You can find out more about JARR here and make a donation here.
8. Muttville Senior Dog Rescue
Muttville Senior Dog Rescue is dedicated to finding homes or hospice for older dogs in need of help. They also spread information to the public about senior dogs and work to change the perception of old pups as undesirable–a perception which leads to many seniors being put down instead of being adopted.
Older dogs are often the first to be euthanized in shelters to make space for more adoptable puppies and young dogs, but Muttville sees owners coming back for their second or third senior dog. Their success stories are truly heartwarming.
You can find out more about Muttville Senior Dog Rescue here and make a donation here.
9. Friends Of Retired Greyhounds
Friends of Retired Greyhounds works to place retired racing Greyhounds in loving forever homes that will teach them the joy of being beloved pets and family members instead of working dogs. They also accept Greyhounds from farms and shelters.
The organization is very thorough in making sure that the right dog finds the right adopter. Friends of Retired Greyhounds also has a program that allows inmates at a correctional facility to assist with the rehabilitation of racing dogs. The program benefits the Greyhounds, the inmates, and everyone involved in so many ways.
You can find out more about Friends of Retired Greyhounds here and make a donation here.
10. American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) was the first humane society to exist in North America. They regularly assist in rescuing dogs from dog fighting rings, puppy mills, hoarding cases, and other neglectful or abusive situations.
You’ve probably heard about their work already, but if you’d like to read more, you can check out this story about how the ASPCA rescued more than 50 dogs from a puppy mill or this story about how the ASPCA saved 23 Pit Bulls from a dog fighting organization.
You can find out more about the ASPCA here and make a donation here.
Do you know of any other amazing organizations that help dogs? What other rescue groups should people donate to? Let us know in the comments below!
