ANIMAL RESCUES & RESOURCES
If we aren't able to take in the dog or cat you have found, please refer to the resources, rescues, and Facebook groups below. Keep in mind that our availability changes regularly, so feel free to reach out to us again in two weeks if you still need help.
NOTE: While we wish every animal could find a loving, indoor home, the reality is there just aren't enough shelters, rescues, fosters, and resources to help every animal. If you don't get a response from the groups on this list or none of them can help you right now, please be patient and keep trying. We are all doing the best we can.
General Resources
Cat & Dog Rescues
Most of these groups take in both cats and dogs from the greater Houston area, but there are a couple of cat- or dog-specific rescues which are labelled accordingly. Please keep in mind that rescues get dozens of phone calls, emails, and tags every day, so while you are waiting on a response from any of the groups below, please post on any of the applicable Animal-Related Facebook groups. Many rescues, fosters, and independent rescuers monitor these groups for any animals they can help.
A Life to Live (Baytown - Dogs & Cats)
www.facebook.com/adopttosave.org
support@adopttosave.org
adopttosave.org/
A #teamferal Cat Rescue and Adoption (Spring - Cats)
Friendly or feral cats
www.facebook.com/teamferal1
info@teamferal.org
teamferal.org
Austin Pets Alive (Austin - Dogs & Cats)
*If APA agrees to take the animal you have, we can help arrange transport*
Dogs, Parvo, Cats, Feline Leukemia, Feral Cats
www.facebook.com/austinpetsalive
(512) 961-6519
Contact Austin Pets Alive
austinpetsalive.org/
Austin Siamese Rescue (Austin - Siamese cats and kittens including litters of kittens where at least one kitten is Siamese)
*If ASR agrees to take the animal you have, we can help arrange transport*
www.facebook.com/austinsiameserescue
(512) 354-7875
loveasiamese@gmail.com
austinsiameserescue.org/
Bay Area Pet Adoptions (San Leon - Dogs & Cats)
www.facebook.com/BayAreaPetAdoptions
info@bayareapetadoptions.org
(281) 339-2086
BayAreaPetAdoptions.org/
Cypress Luck Mutt Rescue (Houston - Dogs)
www.facebook.com/luckymuttrescuecypress
cypressluckymuttrescue.org/
luckymuttrescuecypress@gmail.com​
Doggedly Dog Rescue Society (Houston - Dogs)
www.facebook.com/doggedlyhtx/
woof@doggedly.org
doggedly.org/
Friends for Life (Houston)
www.facebook.com/FriendsForLifeHouston/
Cady Jaquish (cats) - cady@friends4life.com
Sharon Spencer (dogs) - canine@friends4life.org
friends4life.org
(712) 347-5241
Fuzzy Texan Animal Rescue (Austin/San Marcos - Dogs & Cats)
Mostly special needs animals
*If FTAR agrees to take the animal you have, we can help arrange transport*
www.facebook.com/FuzzyTexan/
fuzzytexaninfo@gmail.com
fuzzytexan.org
Gulf Coast Tiny Paw Rescue (League City - Dogs & Cats)
www.facebook.com/gulfcoasttinypawsrescue
(832) 572-0665
gulfcoasttinypawsrescue@gmail.com
gulfcoasttinypawsrescue.org
Homeless Pet Placement League (Webster - Dogs & Cats)
www.facebook.com/HomelessPetPlacementLeague
(713) 862-7387
hppl@hppl.org
hppl.org
Houston Cares Animal Rescue (Dogs & Cats)
www.facebook.com/HoustonCaresRescue/
houstoncaresrescue.org/
info@houstoncaresrescue.org
Lifeline of Galveston County (Dogs & Cats)
*not exclusive to Galveston County*
www.facebook.com/lifelinegalvestoncounty
(409) 797-6033
info@lifelinetx.org
lifelinetx.org/
Never Nix'd Rescue Initiative (Kittens)
Orphaned & special needs kittens
www.facebook.com/nnrescueinitiative
www.nnrescueinitiative.org/
Ranger's Reach (League City - Dogs)
www.facebook.com/RangersReach
rangersreach@gmail.com
rangersreach.org
S.A.V.E Rescue Coalition (Santa Fe - Dogs & Cats)
www.facebook.com/SaveRescueCoalition
Cynthia Ford - cford@saverescue.org
Wendy Wilkins - wendy@saverescue.org
saverescue.org
Save a Purrrfect Cat Rescue (Houston - Cats)
www.facebook.com/savea.catrescue/
saveacat@comcast.net
(832) 930-1CAT (1228)
saveacatrescue.org/
Scout's Honor Rescue (Houston - Dogs & Cats)
www.facebook.com/scoutshonorrescue/
info@scoutshonor.org
scoutshonor.org/
Second Chance Pets (Clear Lake)
www.facebook.com/AdoptSecondChancePets
Jenny Culver (dogs) - jenny.culver@gmail.com
Sara (cats) - pets2adopt@yahoo.com
secondchancepets.org
Special Pals (Katy - Dogs & Cats)
www.facebook.com/SpecialPalsTX
Becky French - becky@specialpals.org
(509) 386-0370
specialpalsshelter.org
Straight Outta Texas (Dogs)
www.facebook.com/groups/732017290895796
straightouttatexas2020@gmail.com
straightouttatexas.org
Wag Again Rescue (Pearland - Dogs)
www.facebook.com/wagagaindogrescue
info@wagagain.dog
(361) 298-0720
wagagain.dog/
Wags to Whiskers (Dogs & Cats)
www.facebook.com/WagsToWhiskersTX
(832) 527-9370
info@wagstowhiskerstx.com
Who Rescued Who (Montgomery - Dogs)
www.facebook.com/adopt.wrw/
adopt.wrw@gmail.com
WhoRescuedWho.us
A more comprehensive list of rescues can be found at the links below. We did not create these lists so we cannot vouch for their accuracy.
Greater Houston Area Cat Rescues
Greater Houston Area Dog Rescues
Breed-Specific Dog Rescues
These groups are added as we gather their contact information to help citizens find help for dogs they found or must surrender. If you have personally worked with, volunteered for, or adopted from a breed-specific dog rescue in Texas, please send us their name and contact information so we can include it.
American Boston Terrier Rescue & Rehabilitation (North Texas)
Specializes in senior and special needs Boston Terriers
www.facebook.com/AmericanBTRescueRehab
americanbostonterrierrescue.org/
info@abtrr.org
Austin Boxer Rescue
Ill, injured, or in need of emergency medical assistance ONLY: (512) 968-1343
Rehoming/Found animals:
Owner surrender form must be filled out at https://austinboxerrescue.com/rehoming/ for all owned animals including found animals that have been in your posession for more than 7 days. For any questions, email the intake coordinator at os@austinboxerrescue.com. Email must include pictures of the animal and any medical history (vaccines, flea treatment, heartworm status, etc) as well as date and location found and the length of time you are able to foster the animal.
Greater Houston German Shepherd Dog Rescue
www.facebook.com/GHGSDR/
ghgsdr.org/index.php
info@ghgsdr.org
Sauver Des Chiens German Shepherd Dog Rescue (Houston)
www.facebook.com/SauverDesChiens/sauverdeschiens.org/
Southeast Texas Labrador Retriever Rescue
www.facebook.com/txlabrescue/
txlabrescue.org
info@txlabrescue.org
Rhodesian Ridgeback Rescue
Marlene Strandt (rescue coordinator) 469.740.0866
Texas Independent Rhodesian Ridgeback Rescue
www.facebook.com/tirrrescue
(817) 454-6023
tirrrescue@gmail.com
A more comprehensive list of breed-specific rescues can be found at the links below. We did not create these lists so we cannot vouch for their accuracy.
https://dogtales.wordpress.com/breed-specific-rescue-groups-tx/
http://pawsitivelytexas.com/resources-for-pet-owners/texas-rescue-groups-purebred-dogs/
Animal-Related Facebook Groups
Please keep in mind that rescues get dozens of phone calls, emails, and tags every day, so even if you post on the appropriate Facebook groups below, please call or email the groups in the Cat & Dog Rescue tab above as well.
Greater Houston and surrounding areas:
Houston Felines
Houston Area Cats and Kittens
Lost and Found Pets of Houston
Houston Save-a-Pet and Pet Support
Houston 911 Stray Animals In Need of Emergency Treatment
Saving Animals In Houston and Around the Houston Because We Care (Cats)
Rehoming Pets Houston and Surrounding Areas
Houston Area Dogs - Foster/Rescue/Community Outreach
Special Needs
FIV and FeLV Kitties of Houston
Houston Area Bottle Feeders and Orphaned Kittens
Alvin/Brazoria County
Animals of Alvin
BC Pet Updates
Brazoria County Lost and Found Pets & Pet Resources
Friendswood
Heritage Park & Friendswood Pet Page
Friendswood Paws
Galveston County
Rehoming Pets/Lost Pets in Santa Fe Texas/Galveston County
Friendswood Paws
Southbelt and surrounding areas
Resources for Found Animals
Trapped, Injured, and Abused/Neglected Animals
Think Lost, Not Stray! Not every roaming animal is unwanted. Beloved pets can quickly become fearful, dirty, ill, or injured if lost even for a short period of time. Pets can also find themselves very far from home due to human intervention including a Good Samaritan picking them up or the pet hitching a ride in an unsuspecting human's engine or truck bed.
Check out these tips on what to do when you find a dog/cat.
SPCA Ambulance - If you see an animal who is injured or in distress, please call (713) 880-HELP (4357).
Roto Rooter Pet Rescues:
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Friendswood: https://www.rotorooter.com/friendswoodtx/
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Find a location near you: https://www.rotorooter.com/locations
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"Roto-Rooter is often called upon to save pets and wildlife stuck in precarious and oftentimes dangerous situations. Our expert technicians use state-of-the-art machinery, drain/sewer video cameras and even industrial excavation equipment to save the life of an animal in danger. We do all of this work for free when called upon, seeing it as our duty to the communities we serve."
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Animal Cruelty or Neglect should first be reported to the animal control responsible for the area where the animal lives. If they cannot help, proceed to the appropriate organization below.
Harris County Animal Cruelty Task Force
Houston SPCA Animal Cruelty
Safe, Local Shelters
If you are located within the city limits of the following areas, please contact your local municipal animal shelter FIRST for any animals who are friendly enough to be handled by strangers. These organizations are either no-kill (meaning they have a live release rate over 90%) or we have worked closely with them and know that they are a safe place for stray and abandoned pets. For feral or very fearful cats or dogs, please continue on to the form below.
Alvin (city limits) - Alvin Animal Adoption Center (no-kill) (281) 388-4331
Clute - SPCA of Brazoria County (no-kill, nonprofit) (979) 285-2340
Freeport - SPCA of Brazoria County (no-kill, nonprofit) (979) 285-2340
Friendswood (Galveston County side) - Friendswood Animal Control (91% live release rate in 2020) (281) 996-3390
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for the Harris County side of Friendswood, please contact Friendswood Animal Control to find out if you are within their jurisdiction or Harris County's
Harris County (unincorporated areas) - Harris County Pets (96.1% live release rate in 2022) (281) 999-3191
Lake Jackson - SPCA of Brazoria County (no-kill, nonprofit) (979) 285-2340
League City - League City Animal Shelter (no-kill) (281) 554-1377
Montgomery County - Montgomery County Animal Services (95.1% live release rate in 2022) (936) 442-7738
Pearland (city limits) - Pearland Animal Control (93.4% live release rate in 2022) (281)-652-1970
If you live in unincorporated Brazoria County or Galveston County, you cannot find a rescue willing to take in the animal you have found, and:
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The animal is sick or injured and you cannot afford to take it to a vet
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The animal is in danger where it is
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The animal is a friendly cat or dog that can be picked up and handled by strangers
Please call your local animal control. While these animal control facilities are not no-kill, for the above situations this is the animal's best chance. If the animal is not in danger, sick, or injured, or it is a feral (unsocialized and cannot be handled by strangers) cat, please leave it where it is and continue to reach out to rescues for help.
Once the animal is in animal control's care, please get its ID number and the date its stray hold is up. Post this information across as many of the animal-related Facebook groups listed above as you can (and email to us as well) so rescues can tag the animal as soon as possible. Both Brazoria and Galveston County send out regular email pleas to rescues so we will monitor the situation that way as well.
Brazoria County (unincorporated areas) - Brazoria County Animal Control (979) 864-2365
Galveston County (unincorporated areas) - Galveston County Animal Resource Center (409) 948-2485
Wildlife Rescue/Rehab
For other counties in Texas, please click here. For other states, please click here.
What to Do If You Find a Litter of Kittens
The Kitten Lady
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Kitten season practically lasts all year in Texas. Warm weather leads to a longer breeding season, and lax spay/neuter laws lead to an overwhelming number of kittens born. One of the ways you can help support your local animal shelter is by offering to bottle feed infant kittens (those under 4 weeks old) until they are old enough to be weaned. If you've never bottle or syringe fed kittens, chances are your local shelter can help you learn, but the Kitten Lady is a great additional resource. [more]
Kittens under 4 weeks old cannot survive on their own. They need to stay with their mother or they must be bottle fed around the clock. If you find a litter of kittens in your yard/shed/garage LEAVE THEM ALONE unless they are in immediate danger, sick, or injured. Since mother cats often go off to hunt for hours at a time, you can't assume a litter of kittens has been abandoned. Instead, WATCH & WAIT from a distance. If the mother cat doesn't return within 6 hours, then reach out to your local animal shelter for advice.
If you find kittens that are 6 weeks old or older and their mother is not friendly enough to be touched by humans, the best option is to humanely trap the mother so she can be spayed, then remove the kittens and place in foster so they can be socialized and adopted. For help determining a kitten's age, go to: alleycat.org/kittenprogression
Community, Neighborhood, and Feral Cats
Are you feeding community or feral cats in your area? Perhaps we can help.
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Studies have shown that euthanasia of feral cats does nothing to quell the cat overpopulation problem. In fact, it can even lead to colonies growing in size because the remaining cats breed more to replenish the colony. TNR is a great option for not only saving the lives of feral cats, but also reducing the feral cat population in your area. [more]
Resources for Pet Owners
Adopting a New Pet
A New Owner's Guide to Adopting a Cat
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We'd love to thank Amelia for bringing this article to our attention! It's a wealth of information not just on bringing home your new cat, but thoughtfully preparing the space and caring for your cat over the course of it's life. [more]
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Bringing Home a New Cat/Kitten
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Start small, take things slow, and remember: new animals can take a few weeks to a few months to adjust to their new homes. Please be prepared to give your new pet ample time to get used to the new sights, sounds, and smells of home. [more]
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Bringing Home a New Dog/Puppy
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What you expose your new dog or puppy to now can impact their personalities for life and can be key to preventing unwanted or destructive behaviors. [more]
Cat Care Basics
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Vet visit schedules, vaccination requirements, behavioral correction, and more for adopters bringing home new cats or kittens. [more]
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Supply List for New Adopters
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What you'll need and what you'll want when you bring home your new cat, kitten, dog, or puppy. [more]
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Introducing Your New Pet to Your Children
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Animals adopted to homes with small children can, without proper introduction, become fearful and skittish as adults. If you want your new pet to bond with your child, take things slow and follow these steps. [more]
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Introducing a New Cat to Your Current Cat
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One of the top reasons we see adopted cats returned is because they don't get along with the adopter's resident cat. Introducing a new cat to your household can be tricky for some, while other cats because best friends right away. How well the introduction goes is based largely on two factors - the personalities of each cat, and the way in which you introduce them. [more]
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Introducing a New Dog to Your Current Dog
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Although dogs are social animals that tend to love the company of other dogs, there are times when introducing a new dog into the family can be tricky. First impressions are very important, especially if your resident dog is used to being the only dog vying for your attention. [more]
Low-Cost Veterinary Clinics
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SNIP - League City
SNAP - Pasadena
Emancipet - multiple locations
Animal Alliance - La Marque
Houston Humane Society - Houston
Pearland Canine Resource Center - Pearland (they treat cats too!)
*Please also check out Care Credit below*
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Payment Plans Options for Veterinary Care
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Care Credit
From routine appointments to emergency situations or surgeries, the CareCredit card gives pet owners the peace of mind needed to care for pets big and small.
Scratch Pay/Take 5
Scratchpay provides you with simple, friendly payment plans that won't affect your credit score while Take 5 lets you break up your bill into 5 easy payments.
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Pet Food Pantries
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Houston Humane Society - check out their "Pet Pantry" events located throughout the Houston area
Farm Gals (Alvin) - low cost veterinary services & free pet food days
Friends 4 Life - call them today to schedule a pick-up appointment
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Spay/Neuter Vouchers and Discounts
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Texas Litter Control offers low-cost veterinary services as well as FREE vouchers for spay/neuter surgery
Laurel's House hosts free and discounted spay/neuter clinics around the Houston area
Low-Cost Veterinary Clinics
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SNIP - League City
SNAP - Pasadena
Emancipet - multiple locations
Animal Alliance - La Marque
Houston Humane Society - Houston
Pearland Canine Resource Center - Pearland (they treat cats too!)
*Please also check out Care Credit below*
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Payment Plans Options for Veterinary Care
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Care Credit
From routine appointments to emergency situations or surgeries, the CareCredit card gives pet owners the peace of mind needed to care for pets big and small.
Scratch Pay/Take 5
Scratchpay provides you with simple, friendly payment plans that won't affect your credit score while Take 5 lets you break up your bill into 5 easy payments.
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Pet Food Pantries
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Houston Humane Society - check out their "Pet Pantry" events located throughout the Houston area
Farm Gals (Alvin) - low cost veterinary services & free pet food days
Friends 4 Life - call them today to schedule a pick-up appointment
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Spay/Neuter Vouchers and Discounts
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Texas Litter Control offers low-cost veterinary services as well as FREE vouchers for spay/neuter surgery
Laurel's House hosts free and discounted spay/neuter clinics around the Houston area
Are Allergies Forcing You to Give Up Your Cat?
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One of the most common reasons for rehoming (aside from moving) we see is that someone in the home develops allergies to the cat. While allergies can vary in severity from mild discomfort to life-threatening, generally we see pet owners or their family who aren't getting relief from OTC allergy meds.
In February of 2023, one of our rescue cats, Momo, went home on a trial adoption to a family where the husband was allergic to cats, they just weren't sure how allergic. Within 48 hours it was clear his allergies were bad enough to require daily OTC medication, but even that wasn't enough to eliminate the symptoms. The family had already fallen in love with Momo, so they decided to give Purina's Pro Plan LiveClear food a try. After a little over 2 weeks on the food, the husband was able to stop his allergy meds and live symptom free with Momo!
Check out this Pet Age article by Amy Castro with more information about Purina's LiveClear food.
“Purina scientists have researched cat allergens for more than a decade and discovered a breakthrough approach that can safely and significantly reduce allergens in cat hair and dander. Pro Plan LiveClear, which is available now, is the first and only cat food shown to reduce allergens in cat hair and dander by an average of 47 percent starting with the third week of daily feeding,” according to Dr. Kurt Venator, chief veterinary officer at Purina. [more]
Rehoming Help
If you have exhausted all other options and are now faced with rehoming or surrendering your pet, please explore the rehoming options below then begin reaching out to rescue groups and posting your pet on animal-related Facebook groups.
Houston SPCA Rehoming Center - Call (713) 869-7722 for appointment times.
Houston Humane Society - Get on the wait list as soon as possible.
Texas Litter Control - They WILL NOT take your pet, but can offer a number of resources and references to help you.
Rehome by Adopt-a-Pet - You can post your pet for rehoming through Rehome by Adopt-a-Pet.
Get Your Pet from one home to another - FREE for owners to list their pets for rehoming and includes a free vet exam for the adopter.
Galveston County Animal Resource Center - If you live in unincorporated Galveston County, Bayou Vista, Hitchcock, La Marque, Texas City, or Tiki Island, Galveston County ARC may be able to post your pet for rehoming and email to their rescue partners.
If your only option is to rehome the pet yourself, please read this article from Best Friends with great tips on how to advertise your pet, where to post, what to ask potential adopters, and other steps to take to ensure your pet is going to the best possible new home.
Keeping Your Pets Safe While Driving
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Travel season has arrived, and many pet owners are preparing to take their furry friends on their next vacation. However, traveling with pets requires more than just letting Fido hop into the passenger seat. Keeping your pet safe while driving isn’t difficult; with proper supplies, your pet can stay safe while driving and enjoy the ride. [learn more]
Tips for Finding a Missing Pet
Post your pet to pawboost.com which will trigger alerts for local rescues and shelters (those who have signed up) and will automtically post to Facebook.
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If your pet is microchipped, call the microchip company to report your pet as missing.
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Contact your local animal control facility and those in surrounding areas to report your pet as missing. It's a good idea to visit the shelter in person, if possible, to make sure none of the recent intakes are yours.
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Post your pet as missing on the animal-related Facebook groups, not just in your immediate area, but in surrounding areas in case your pet hitched a ride in someone's vehicle or was picked up by someone on their way home.
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Put up flyers around your neighborhood with a picture that is big enough for someone to see from their car as they're driving past.
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Check out Kim Freeman's LostCatFinder.com for tips on finding your missing cat.