Houston Dog Rescue & Fostering

I’m privileged to work with an amazing group of dog rescue networkers across the country at part of Urgent Shelter Pets Houston.

Posting videos is just the start, and that’s handled by local Houston peeps.

But behind the scenes, each video has a chat. and volunteers from across Texas (and across the country!) monitor comments. If there is foster and rescue interest, we work to connect the two.

We also tabulate donation pledges, and connect potential donors to rescue groups.

Follow Urgent Shelter Pets Houston on Facebook to see videos posted daily! Then share to help save these dogs!

logo for facebook page Urgent Shelter Pets Houston




How many stray dogs are there in Houston?

No one really knows. Estimates range from 200,000 to 1 million. Drive down any street in the 3rd ward, 5th ward, and the corridor of cruelty and you will see stray dogs, foraging for their meals.

How can we help end the stray dog epidemic in Houston?

We can’t rescue our way out of our stray dog issue. We can’t transport our way out of our stray dog issue. Cooperative efforts by city officials, rescuers, and spay/neuter events can help address the issue. And here are ways you can help.

  • Adopt Don’t Shop. Don’t support breeders, and never buy a dog off Craigslist or Facebook. If dog flippers and backyard breeders have no customers, they have no business.
  • Spay & Neuter your personal pets. Preach the gospel of spay and neuter wherever you go.
  • Support Rescues. Donate, volunteer, network.
  • Support Low Cost Spay/Neuter events in the community.

The Empty Shelter Project holds 5-6 free spay and neuter events annually. To support their fundraising, you can donate via Paypal. Indicate “For TESP” in your donation.

Do you have a list of dog rescues that transport?

There are many dog rescues that transport out of Houston. After all, there are hundreds of street dogs here, and the rescues and shelters are full. Meanwhile, there are waiting lists for dogs in other states.

If you have a dog that needs help, and you can provide a foster for 1 to 4 months, reach out to these rescues. These are rescues that regularly transport out of state. Most fostering for transport is 2-6 weeks. However, if a dog is HW positive, they must be 1 month past fast kill treatment, which means a 4 month commitment.

Some of these rescues transport to receiving rescues or shelters. Others transport directly to pre-screened and approved adopters.

Rescues always need fosters. And while you are fostering, it helps to do some basic training with a puppy or dog.

(The list below is courtesy of April Bowermann, amended by HoustonDogMom. Any concerns about these rescues, or any additions, email [email protected])

🐾 BELLES BUDS RESCUE (transports to North East) 💌 [email protected] https://www.facebook.com/BellesBudsRescue/ https://www.facebook.com/BellesBudsNorthEast/

🐾 BEST FRIENDS ANIMAL SOCIETY* Let them know you want to Foster for Transports* [email protected]

🐾 CAITIE’S FOSTER FAM

🐾 CHANCES DOG RESCUE AND RELOCATION (transports to New England) https://www.facebook.com/ChancesRescue

🐾 DAWGS FIGHT BACK (based out of Massachusetts but uses Houston Fosters) 💌 [email protected] https://www.facebook.com/dawgsfightback/

🐾 DIZZY DOG ANIMAL RESCUE (based out of North Carolina but uses Houston Fosters) 💌 [email protected]https://www.facebook.com/Dizzy-Dog-Animal-Rescue-100791705311887/

🐾 FORGOTTEN COAST ANIMAL RESCUE* 💌 [email protected] https://www.facebook.com/ForgottenCoastAnimalRescue/

🐾 HEART OF THE UNDERDOG 💌 [email protected] https://www.facebook.com/HeartOfTheUnderdogRescue/

🐾 HOMELESS TO HOME HUSKY RESCUE (Also helps other breeds) (based out of Pennsylvania but uses Houston Fosters) 💌 [email protected] https://www.facebook.com/Homeless-to-Home-Husky-Rescue-101335264556226/

🐾 HOUSTON PETSET* https://www.facebook.com/houstonpetset/ 💌 [email protected]💌 [email protected]

🐾 HUSKY HOUSE (based out of New Jersey but uses Houston Fosters)* https://www.facebook.com/HuskyHouseNJ/

🐾 K-9 ANGELS RESCUE

🐾 LIBERTY’S DREAM ANIMAL RESCUE (based out of Wisconsin but uses Houston Fosters) [email protected]

🐾 LOLA’S LUCKY DAY DOG RESCUE🚚 Volunteer Transport Drivers needed! They pay for gas, food & hotel. Drive to Arkansas on a Saturday morning return to Houston on Sunday afternoon. Must have Dog Handling experience. Email Mandy [email protected] [email protected]https://www.facebook.com/lolasluckyday/

🐾 LUCKY LAB RESCUE & ADOPTION (based out of Indiana but uses Houston Fosters) 💌https://www.luckylabrescue.com/contact-us-texashttps://www.facebook.com/luckylabrescueadoption/

🐾 MILE HIGH LABRADOR (based out of Denver, Colorado but uses Houston Fosters) 💌 [email protected]https://www.facebook.com/MileHighLabMission/

🐾 MOLLY’S MUTTS RESCUE INC https://www.facebook.com/MollysMutts20/💌 [email protected]🎯 FOSTER APPLICATION ➡️https://form.jotform.com/200886183993165

🐾 MONTANA PITTIE PROJECT (based out of Montana but uses Houston Fosters) https://www.facebook.com/MontanaPittieProject/💌 [email protected]

🐾 PATH OF HOPE RESCUE (based out of Washington state but uses Houston Fosters)* https://www.facebook.com/pathofhoperescue/ 💌 [email protected]

🐾 RED DOG RESCUE (based out of Ontario, Canada but uses Houston Fosters) 💌 [email protected]https://www.facebook.com/reddogrescue/

🐾 RESCUED PETS MOVEMENT* https://www.facebook.com/rescuedpetsmovement/😺💌 [email protected]🐶💌 (for dogs) [email protected]🎯 FOSTER APPLICATION ➡️https://rescuedpetsmovement.org/foster/

🐾 RUFF START RESCUE (based out of Minnesota but uses Houston Fosters) Dogs under 30 pounds. 💌 [email protected] https://www.facebook.com/ruffstart/

🐾 SAFE WITH US ANIMAL RESCUE (based out of Massachusetts but uses Houston Fosters)* 💌https://www.safewithusanimalrescue.org/become-a-foster/ https://www.facebook.com/safewithusanimalrescue/

🐾 TAILWAGGERS 911 DOG RESCUE (based out of Wisconsin but uses Houston Fosters) 💌 [email protected] https://www.facebook.com/Tailwaggers911DogRescue/

🐾 THIS IS HOUSTON (adopts locally and transports.

🐾 THREE LITTLE PITTIES ALL BREED RESCUE* 💌 [email protected]https://www.facebook.com/threelittlepittiesrescue https://www.facebook.com/ThreeLittlePittiesRescueSavingKitties/

🐾 UP PUP AND AWAY RESCUE (based out of Colorado but uses Houston Fosters) 💌 [email protected]https://www.facebook.com/uppuprescue/

🐾 WAG AGAIN RESCUE 💌 [email protected] https://www.facebook.com/wagagaindogrescue/

How to Get a Dog Into Rescue Group

The most common dog in Houston, the pit mix, is the hardest to place. There are still breed restrictions in some areas of the country. For best results in having a dog accepted into rescue, provide the following when you reach out:

  1. Dog age, spay/neuter status, heartworm status, weight and breed guess.

2. Video of the dog walking on a leash, taking a treat from your hand, allowing you close to his/her face, and interacting with another dog.

3. Information on behavior. How is the dog with men, women, children, cats, dogs? Kennel trained? House trained? Obedience/commands?

4. Circumstances of how you got the dog and why it needs a new home.

5. Foster name and time commitment. How long will the foster keep the dog? Rescues can’t help you without a committed foster!

What are the best dog rescue groups in Houston?

There are hundreds of dog rescues in Houston, both breed-specific and breed-inclusive. Some of my favorites are listed below:

Also in Houston is Friends for Life a no kill animal shelter in Houston, and outside of Houston kudos to Yolo County Animal Services in CA for its net zero energy building and no-kill approach.