17 Best Dog Rescues in Michigan

Zack Keithy, our author, is a certified veterinarian technician (UC Blue Ash) for over 6 years (contact him here). The articles written here are based on his expertise and experience, combined with a review by our expert vet reviewers including Dr M. Tarantino. Learn more about us here.

Trying to find the best dog rescues in Michigan? Here is a list of all the places where you can do your part by volunteering, adopting, or fostering.

Quick note here: The main difference between dog rescues and shelters is that rescues are typically privately run and funded through donations, while shelters are organized by local government.

Dog rescues are not listed in any particular order. Check out other excellent dog rescues in other states here.

Related searches:

Animal rescues in Michigan

Dog rescue Grand Rapids MI

Dog rescue West Michigan

Michigan dog rescue groups

1. Michigan Animal Rescue League

Location: 790 Featherstone, Pontiac, MI 48342.

The Michigan Animal Rescue League (MARL) is a long-standing animal shelter in southeast Michigan, having served the community since 1953.

Their history and experience, together with a regular assessment of trends in animal welfare and sheltering, have made them a valuable and well-respected asset in their community.

The Michigan Animal Rescue League’s mission is to provide dogs and cats with the best possible quality of life through rescue, medical care, socialization and behavioral support, short- and long-term sanctuary, adoption, and community education and outreach.

At MARL, they think that the quality of “the wait” for a forever home can have a significant impact on an animal’s future.

As such, they don’t just provide an animal with food and a roof over their head and call it a day.

Find out how you can help this Detroit animal rescue league here.

2. New Hope Pet Rescue Michigan

Location: 815 N Sheldon St, Charlotte, MI 48813

The mission of New Hope Pet Rescue-Michigan (NHPR) is to assist people and animals in need.

They hold themselves to a high standard, one that considers both their animals’ physical and mental well-being.

Their purpose is to provide a way for unwanted, adoptable animals to be placed in suitable, loving homes.

Prior to adoption, all animals that come into the rescue are fixed, vaccinated, tested, and microchipped, and all potential adopters are screened to guarantee a good match.

By doing so, they hope to help the community by offering a way to place unwanted healthy, adoptable pets in loving homes, as well as to raise public awareness about animal issues such as care, welfare, and the dangers of overpopulation.

You can check their FAQs to find more answers.

3. Friends of Michigan Animals Rescue

Location: 51299 Arkona Rd, Belleville, MI 48111

FMAR is a non-profit dog and cat rescue that began in April 2003 with the help of wonderful volunteers and supporters.

They developed far faster than anyone expected, necessitating the need for greater space.

Over the years, the organization has grown by leaps and bounds and has helped lots of needy animals.

To trace back, FMAR is the realization of Pete and Marcy’s vision, which has grown and thrived thanks to the dedication and hard work of all of their dedicated board members and volunteers.

They have been lucky enough to initiate a few vital projects in their neighborhood, such as feral cat spay/neuter (TNR), where they have spayed/neutered and returned over 1500 felines, as well as taken in kittens who were too young to spay/neuter, socialized them, and found them new loving homes.

Dog trainers and behaviorists have also worked with their volunteers and board members to improve their dogs’ ability to be loving, adoptable pets.

They have also introduced a children’s program for schools, scouts, church groups, and other organizations to come out and see what they are all about.

You can get involved here.

4. Humane Society Of West Michigan

Location: 3077 Wilson Dr. NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49534

This organization has been an integral part of dog rescue in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

When it comes to helping the animals, you can do your part by fostering.

They offer all of the supplies needed to care for the animals, so fostering is completely free for you! All you need is to provide them a place to live for a while, as well as your love, care, and compassion.

You will have a terrific support network while fostering with them.

You will have access to a foster coordinator and a foster veterinary technician who will assist you in educating yourself and caring for your animal, whether it is sick or not.

A veterinarian, a licensed veterinary technician, an LVT in training, and another vet tech make up the FVT’s vet team.

In addition, you may join their foster Facebook community to interact with other foster parents and gain their advice as well!

Learn more here.

5. Detroit Dog Rescue

Location: P.O. Box 806119, St. Clair Shores, MI 48080 (mailing only)

After the city of Detroit declined to provide access to a network television series that would have shown the lives of stray dogs fighting to survive in an abandoned urban setting, Detroit Dog Rescue (DDR) was created in February 2011.

In the city, particularly in the neighborhoods, there is a stray dog plague, as there is in many other places across the United States that have had to contend with economic downturn, shrinking populations, and abandoned structures.

They know that if other animal lovers across the world saw what they witnessed every day on the streets of Detroit, they would join DDR in making a difference in this city, one dog at a time.

At any given time, Detroit Dog Rescue serves between 80 and 120 dogs.

Detroit Dog Rescue inaugurated the first no-kill shelter in the city of Detroit on May 1, 2014.

Their organization is known for rescuing animals that most people consider unadoptable and investing the time and resources necessary to rehabilitate and rehome them.

You can read more about them here.

6. Last Day Dog Rescue Michigan

Location: P.O. Box 51935, Livonia, MI 48151-5935 (mailing only)

LDDR is a non-profit organization with a straightforward mission: to save animals.

Last Day isn’t simply a name to them; it’s a predicament that all of their animals have to deal with.

They are a no-kill animal rescue centered around Livonia, Michigan, with foster volunteers scattered around the state.

By foster, they mean people who are willing to take in these lovely transient creatures and do their best to provide them with safety, stability, and love.

Thousands of dogs and cats have been saved from euthanasia over the years, many of which were euthanized due to their breed, age, physical limitations, or illnesses.

This is at the heart of all they do.

While they welcome healthy puppies and dogs, their priority is to save those that are most likely to be discarded, abandoned, or neglected.

This organization was created on the belief that every life is valuable and deserves to be loved, cherished, and cared for.

Wanna donate? Or simply visit their site to learn more.

7. WAG Animal Rescue

Location: P.O. Box 222, Wyandotte, MI 48192-0222 (mailing only)

WAG Animal Rescue is an all-volunteer, non-profit domestic companion animal rescue organization dedicated to finding permanent, loving, and responsible homes for stray dogs, cats, puppies, and kittens.

Since 1988, they have been assisting animals all around Michigan.

Animals from shelters and owner surrenders are accepted into WAG’s adoption program.

Because WAG does not operate a shelter, they rely on a small number of foster care providers to meet the needs of homeless animals until a permanent home can be found.

These extraordinary volunteers are in charge of providing love and attention to the animals in their care, as well as transporting them to veterinary visits and adoption events.

WAG covers the required veterinary care and works with a number of local veterinary hospitals and is always on the lookout for more responsible foster parents.

You can volunteer here, or check out their site for more info.

8. Almost Home Animal Rescue Michigan

Location: P.O. 250602, West Bloomfield, MI 48325 (mailing only)

Gail Montgomery Schwartz and Lauren Montgomery Anchill started the Almost Home Animal Rescue League in 1999.

While working at numerous animal shelters, the mother and daughter pair became discouraged by what they encountered.

They were upset by the constant euthanasia conducted just because animals were born homeless and society felt there was no place for them.

To them, they adhered to the “never kill” attitude.

Gail and Lauren wanted to make a significant difference in the lives of their animals.

Almost Home was the first non-profit animal rescue group to receive a 501(c)(3) designation. It’s a place where dogs and cats may feel safe as well as be safe.

Be sure to check out their website for more info.

9. I Heart Dogs

Location: 2415 Groesbeck Highway, Warren, MI 48089

The goal of I Heart Dogs is to establish a safe haven for dogs that provides them with shelter, food, water, medical care, friendship, and affection.

They want to provide the greatest medical care for spaying and neutering, as well as disease prevention and treatment.

Besides that, they want to design specific training programs to accommodate each dog’s unique needs and prepare them for their future loving homes while caring for them.

Finally, they provide communal living and playtime for the dogs in order to encourage socialization, emotional and physical development, enrichment, bonding, and fear-reduction.

Learn more about their team and what they do on their website now!

10. NBS Animal Rescue

Location: 35 West Square Lake, Troy, MI 48098

Aaron Fortin, Rebecca Akins, and Jaime Wolfe launched NBS (No BS) Animal Rescue on October 12, 2011.

The rescue is a foster-based canine rescue dedicated to rescuing, rehabilitating, and placing healthy, well-balanced dogs and puppies with loving families.

Their main objectives are to rescue and rehabilitate needy animals, educate their community about proper pet care, and participate in neighborhood youth outreach initiatives.

The following are some crucial elements of their rescue mission:

Every rescue dog is spayed or neutered to help break the cycle of an unwanted litter

They treat each dog as if it were their own so that it receives the respect, love, and dignity that it deserves

Every dog we come into contact with receives the highest level of care, including the best veterinary treatment, housing, love, training, and compassion

Do your part here!

11. Wishbone Pet Rescue Alliance

Location: 2293 33rd St., Allegan, Michigan, 49010 (Allegan Shelter); 165 Blue Star Highway, Douglas, Michigan, 49406 (Wishbone House)

Chance, a lovely black lab, was abused, poisoned, and hanged by his owner in Dorr, Michigan, in 2008.

Chance survived the ordeal and went on to become a symbol of animal preservation in Allegan County, Michigan.

Around the same time that Chance’s tale surfaced in the press, a group of people concerned about the health, treatment, and quality of life of all pets in West Michigan formed Wishbone Pet Rescue Alliance in the Saugatuck-Douglas area.

Wishbone enthusiastically agreed to assist Allegan County Animal Control with Chance’s treatment and rehabilitation.

Hundreds of lovely people showed their support while they cared for Chance and documented his rehabilitation.

It became a fully incorporated nonprofit organization, working to provide shelter and safety for pets within communities where few options exist.

You can apply to adopt a dog here.

Other Dog Rescues in Michigan Worth Mentioning

There are several other dog rescues in Michigan that are in need of your help, but unfortunately, we are unable to cover every single one of them.

Through online reviews and friends’ recommendations, here are 6 more you can visit and support:

• Do Only Good Animal Rescue (Oakland)
• Michele’s Rescue (Grand Rapids)
• BestPals Animal Rescue Center (Holland)
• Paradise Animal Rescue (Lapeer)
• The Devoted Barn (Holly)
• Waggin’ Tails Dog Rescue (Southeast Michigan)