Types of animal shelters and rescues
Each listing is assigned a type, animal focus or feature only when the source record, the IRS record or the organization's official name supports it. Here is what each category means and how many listings we have confirmed in it.
Organization types
Humane Societies
1,582Humane societies are independent, mostly nonprofit organizations that shelter and rehome animals. Local humane societies are not branches of the Humane Society of the United States.
SPCAs
288An SPCA (Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) is a local animal welfare organization. Each SPCA is independent; they are not chapters of the ASPCA.
Animal control and animal services agencies are run by a city or county. They take in strays, enforce local animal laws, run the municipal shelter and often handle pet licensing.
Animal Rescues
2,928Animal rescues pull animals from shelters or take them in directly and place them in foster homes until adoption. Many have no public building and adopt by appointment.
Sanctuaries give animals a permanent home instead of placing them for adoption. Many care for farm animals, horses, exotic animals or animals that cannot be rehomed.
Licensed wildlife rehabilitators treat injured, sick and orphaned wild animals and release them back into the wild. They do not adopt out animals.
By animal
These organizations focus on dogs, from breed-specific rescues to shelters that take in only dogs.
These organizations focus on cats and kittens, including cat-only shelters, cat cafes with adoptable cats and community cat programs.
Horse and equine rescues take in horses, donkeys and mules that are surrendered, seized or at risk, and rehome or retire them.
Bird rescues care for parrots and other companion birds, which can live for decades and often need a new home after their owner can no longer keep them.
These rescues take in rabbits, guinea pigs and other small companion animals.
Farm animal sanctuaries give pigs, goats, cows, chickens and other farm animals a permanent home.
Confirmed features
These organizations state in their name or confirmed record that they are no-kill, which usually means they save at least 90 percent of the animals they take in.
These organizations are registered with the IRS as tax-exempt animal welfare charities, so donations are usually tax-deductible.
These organizations run a confirmed spay and neuter clinic open to the public, often at a reduced price.