Instructions
Look in your local animal shelter. Animal control officers catch roaming dogs and bring them to shelters. Then one of three things can occur: The owner picks up his pet; a rescue organization takes the dog for foster care; or an individual adopts the animal. If the dog is not claimed by its owner or adopted, it may be euthanized.
Go to your local humane society, which also takes in abandoned dogs. Like most municipal shelters, the humane society charges an adoption fee to help pay for shots and veterinary care.
Locate a pure-breed rescue organization in your area. Most veterinarians have a list of organizations that rescue pure-breed dogs. You can also find information on particular breeds that need rescue through humane societies and animal shelters, as well as online.
Contact the SPCA. The SPCA accepts dogs from owners no longer able to care for their pets.
How to Find Rescue Dogs
Rescue dogs can make excellent pets. You can find a prospective companion in city or county shelters or through organizations dedicated to saving dogs' lives. Taking in an animal that you have rescued might require an extra effort, because some of these dogs have been abused or have had to live on the street. As a result, they can be nervous and shy. But many rescue dogs adapt well to their new surroundings and become faithful members of the family.