The Best Rescues & Shelters in San Diego, CA

Last updated: April 28, 2026

Our Recommended Top 15

We did the research for you!

Licensing User Reviews

San Diego has a compassionate and well-supported rescue and shelter community dedicated to helping animals find safe and loving homes. Across the region, municipal shelters, humane societies, and nonprofit rescue organizations work to provide care, rehabilitation, and adoption opportunities for pets in need. Many groups in the San Diego area also operate foster networks, host adoption events, and offer spay and neuter programs that help reduce pet homelessness while encouraging responsible pet ownership. After reviewing feedback from Google, Yelp, and Facebook, we’ve highlighted the San Diego rescues and shelters that consistently receive recognition for their compassion, professionalism, and dedication to animal welfare. These organizations stand out for their strong rescue efforts, supportive adoption processes, and commitment to helping animals transition into stable homes with caring families throughout the San Diego community.

Animal Rescue Resource Foundation

7040 Avenida Encinas, Suite 104, Carlsbad, CA 92011, Carlsbad, CA

Visit Website

PetCoverage.ai Rating

5.0

Based on 6 reviews

Review Sources

Facebook

5.0(6)

Species Treated

DogsCats

Why choose this provider?

Animal Rescue Resource Foundation serves the San Diego community as a nonprofit organization dedicated to rescuing homeless and abandoned animals and helping them find safe, loving homes. The foundation focuses on giving animals a second chance by...

The Barking Lot

23415 Highway 78, Ramona, CA 92065, Ramona, CA

Visit Website

PetCoverage.ai Rating

4.1

Based on 1438 reviews

Review Sources

Google

3.3(204)

Facebook

4.5(701)

Yelp

3.8(533)

Species Treated

Dogs

Why choose this provider?

The Barking Lot serves the San Diego community as a nonprofit dog rescue organization dedicated to saving dogs from high-risk situations and helping them find safe, loving homes. The organization focuses on rescuing dogs from overcrowded shelters...

San Diego Humane Society

5500 Gaines St., San Diego CA 92110, San Diego, CA

Visit Website

PetCoverage.ai Rating

4.4

Based on 3765 reviews

Review Sources

Google

4.5(3242)

Yelp

3.5(523)

Species Treated

DogsCatsOthers

Why choose this provider?

San Diego Humane Society serves the San Diego community as one of the region’s leading nonprofit animal welfare organizations, dedicated to rescuing, caring for, and rehoming animals in need. With multiple campuses across the county, the...

Joanne’s Furry Friends

4949 Emelene St, San Diego, CA 92109, San Diego, CA

Visit Website

PetCoverage.ai Rating

5.0

Based on 18 reviews

Review Sources

Google

5.0(12)

Facebook

5.0(6)

Species Treated

Cats

Why choose this provider?

Joanne’s Furry Friends serves the San Diego community as a nonprofit rescue organization dedicated to helping abandoned and at-risk dogs find loving, permanent homes. The organization focuses on rescuing dogs from overcrowded shelters and difficult...

The Cat Lounge Rescue and Adoption Center

1006 Torrey Pines Rd, La Jolla, CA 92037, La Jolla, CA

Visit Website

PetCoverage.ai Rating

4.5

Based on 515 reviews

Review Sources

Google

4.5(284)

Facebook

4.5(24)

Yelp

4.4(207)

Associations / Certs

Best Friends Animal Society

Hours Today

12:00 PM - 6:00 PM

Species Treated

Cats

Why choose this provider?

The Cat Lounge Rescue and Adoption Center serves the San Diego community as a nonprofit rescue dedicated to saving cats and kittens and helping them find loving, permanent homes. The organization focuses on rescuing cats from overcrowded shelters...

Helen Woodward Animal Center

6461 El Apajo Road, Rancho Santa Fe, CA 92067, Rancho Santa Fe, CA

Visit Website

PetCoverage.ai Rating

4.3

Based on 2358 reviews

Review Sources

Google

4.4(859)

Facebook

4.6(998)

Yelp

3.6(501)

Species Treated

DogsCats

Why choose this provider?

Helen Woodward Animal Center serves the San Diego community as a nonprofit animal welfare organization dedicated to rescuing animals, promoting responsible pet ownership, and strengthening the bond between people and pets. Known for its...

SPOT - Saving Pets One at a Time

3784 Mission Ave Ste 148-356 Oceanside, CA 92058, Oceanside, CA

Visit Website

PetCoverage.ai Rating

5.0

Based on 59 reviews

Review Sources

Facebook

5.0(55)

Yelp

4.3(4)

Species Treated

CatsDogs

Why choose this provider?

SPOT or Saving Pets One at a Time serves the San Diego community as a nonprofit animal rescue organization dedicated to helping homeless and at-risk dogs and cats find loving, permanent homes. The organization focuses on rescuing animals from...

The Rescue House

1150 Garden View Rd., #231336 Encinitas, CA 92023, Encinitas, CA

Visit Website

PetCoverage.ai Rating

3.3

Based on 108 reviews

Review Sources

Yelp

3.3(108)

Species Treated

Cats

Why choose this provider?

The Rescue House serves the San Diego community as a nonprofit cat rescue organization dedicated to saving homeless and abandoned cats and kittens while helping them find loving, permanent homes. The organization focuses on rescuing cats from...

Friends of Cats

15587 Olde Highway 80 El Cajon, CA 92021, El Cajon, CA

Visit Website

PetCoverage.ai Rating

4.4

Based on 312 reviews

Review Sources

Google

4.6(188)

Facebook

4.5(54)

Yelp

3.7(70)

Hours Today

10:00 AM - 4:00 PM

Species Treated

Cats

Why choose this provider?

Friends of Cats serves the San Diego community as a nonprofit cat rescue and sanctuary dedicated to protecting and caring for abandoned, stray, and feral cats. The organization focuses on providing a safe and supportive environment where cats can...

Rancho Coastal Humane Society

389 Requeza Street, Encinitas, CA 92024, Encinitas, CA

Visit Website

PetCoverage.ai Rating

4.5

Based on 821 reviews

Review Sources

Google

4.4(273)

Facebook

4.8(421)

Yelp

3.6(127)

Hours Today

Closed

Species Treated

DogsCatsOthers

Why choose this provider?

Rancho Coastal Humane Society serves the San Diego community as a nonprofit animal rescue organization dedicated to saving, caring for, and rehoming pets in need. The organization focuses on rescuing dogs and cats from overcrowded shelters and...

The National Cat Protection Society

9031 Birch Street Spring Valley, CA 91977, Spring Valley, CA

Visit Website

PetCoverage.ai Rating

4.5

Based on 105 reviews

Review Sources

Google

4.7(82)

Yelp

4.0(23)

Hours Today

12:00 PM - 4:00 PM

Species Treated

Cats

Why choose this provider?

The National Cat Protection Society serves the San Diego community as a nonprofit feline rescue organization dedicated to protecting, sheltering, and rehoming abandoned and homeless cats. With a mission focused on compassionate care and responsible...

Thrive Animal Rescue

13875 Old El Camino Real, San Diego, CA, 92130, San Diego, CA

Visit Website

PetCoverage.ai Rating

4.0

Based on 23 reviews

Review Sources

Google

4.4(21)

Species Treated

Dogs

Why choose this provider?

Thrive Animal Rescue serves the San Diego community as a nonprofit organization dedicated to rescuing dogs from high-risk shelters and helping them find safe, permanent homes. The rescue focuses on giving dogs a second chance by providing medical...

Crafty's Crew Dog Rescue

13640 Agsten Lane, Poway, CA 92064, Poway, CA

Visit Website

PetCoverage.ai Rating

5.0

Based on 11 reviews

Review Sources

Google

5.0(11)

Hours Today

8:00 AM - 6:00 PM

Species Treated

Dogs

Why choose this provider?

Crafty’s Crew Dog Rescue serves the San Diego community as a nonprofit organization dedicated to rescuing dogs from high risk shelters and helping them find loving, permanent homes. The rescue focuses on saving dogs that may be at risk due to...

A New Life Rescue

3525 Del Mar Heights Road #1897, San Diego, CA 92130, San Diego, CA

Visit Website

PetCoverage.ai Rating

4.5

Based on 184 reviews

Review Sources

Google

3.9(7)

Facebook

4.2(15)

Yelp

4.5(162)

Species Treated

DogsCats

Why choose this provider?

A New Life Rescue serves the San Diego community as a nonprofit animal rescue organization dedicated to helping homeless and abandoned dogs find safe and loving homes. The organization focuses on rescuing dogs from high-risk shelters and difficult...

Second Chance Dog Rescue

4284 Cass Street San Diego CA 92109, San Diego, CA

Visit Website

PetCoverage.ai Rating

4.4

Based on 197 reviews

Review Sources

Google

4.5(151)

Yelp

3.9(46)

Species Treated

Dogs

Why choose this provider?

Second Chance Dog Rescue serves the San Diego community as a nonprofit organization dedicated to rescuing abandoned, neglected, and at-risk dogs and helping them find loving forever homes. The rescue focuses on saving dogs from overcrowded shelters...