You’ve made a decision to add a pet to your family. Now comes the fun part: finding that special pet! There are many places to “shop” for a pet, but often the best pets are awaiting rescue from a nearby animal shelter.
Your local shelter offers mixed breeds of all sizes and colors, purebreds, puppies, kittens and older dogs and cats in need of love and affection. There are also bunnies, guinea pigs, rats, hamsters, ferrets and other creatures just waiting for a loving home to call their own. Many rescue and no-kill organizations offer breed-specific pet adoptions.
READ MORE: RAK articles about family pets.
ABC Animal Rescue
3111 E St John Rd, Phoenix
602-867-2169
Cat and dog adoptions. Volunteer opportunities and boarding (if space allows).
Arizona Animal Welfare League (AAWL) & SPCA
25 N 40th St, Phoenix
3111 W Chandler Blvd, Chandler
602-273-6852
Cat and dog adoptions. Volunteer and foster opportunities. Veterinarian services, vaccination and microchip clinics, training classes, dog sport classes, birthday parties, camps, educational classes for kids and teens, community events.
Arizona Humane Society
9226 N 13th Ave, Phoenix
1521 W Dobbins Rd, Phoenix
602-997-7585
Cat, dog and critter (rats, bunnies, hamsters, etc.) adoptions. Volunteer and foster opportunities. Working cats program (pest control for warehouses, ranches, mills or barns), veterinarian clinics, stray animal resources, shelter tours, workshops, day camps, summer camps, Petique (adoptable pets and retail products), thrift stores.
Foothills Animal Rescue
23030 N Pima Rd, Scottsdale
480-488-9890
Cat and dog adoptions. Volunteer and foster opportunities. Adoptions at multiple locations of PetSmart, PETCO, Choice Pet Market. Operates a resale boutique.
HALO Animal Rescue
2500 S 27th Ave, Phoenix (inside Maricopa County Animal Care and Control)
602-971-9222
Cat and dog adoptions at main shelter, Metrocenter Mall adoption center, PetSmart Deer Valley. Cat adoptions only at PETCO in Avondale and Glendale. Volunteer opportunities and HALO thrift boutique.
Home Fur Good
10220 N 32nd St, Phoenix
602-971-1334
Cat and dog adoptions. Volunteer and foster opportunities. Walk-in low-cost vaccine and microchip clinic.
Maricopa County Animal Care and Control
2630 W Rio Salado Pkwy, Mesa
2500 S 27th Ave, Phoenix
602-506-PETS (7387)
Cat and dog adoptions. Volunteer and foster opportunities. Dog licenses, affordable spay, neuter and vaccine clinics, lost & found information.
More family resources in Arizona.
Raising Arizona Kids magazine provides resource directories as a community service and a starting place for your research. We do not independently evaluate nor do we imply endorsement by including particular organizations. If you know of additional resources we should list, please contact us.