Best Dog Rescues in Ottawa (2023) – Top 7 Picks

If you are looking for a new furry friend, consider adopting a dog from one of the many great rescues in Ottawa. There are so many dogs in need of homes, and by adopting one you can help reduce the number of animals that are euthanized each year. This list provides information on some of the best dog rescues in Ottawa, so you can find the perfect one for your family.

How to Find Reputable Dog Rescues Centre in Ottawa?

If you are looking for a dog or puppy to adopt, then it is important to find a reputable dog rescue center. There are more than a hundred animal rescue centers across Ottawa. It can often be hard to select the right one. To help you on your quest, we have compiled a list of the Best Dog Rescue Centers in Ottawa that will help you to find your new furry friend.

Note: There are a wide variety of dog breeds available for adoption, but the rescue we have put together isn’t exclusively specific breed rescue centers. In fact, many dogs who need homes end up at general animal shelters. If you’re looking to adopt a specific breed of dog, it’s important to contact breed-specific rescues as well as your local animal shelter to see if they have any dogs in need of homes.

Dog Rescues List

  • 1. Ottawa Dog Rescue
  • 2. Ottawa Humane Society
  • 3. Freedom Dog Rescue
  • 4. Rocky Road Rescue
  • 5. Homes for Paws Dog Rescue
  • 6. Keshet Kennels/Rescue
  • 7. Marshall Dog Rescue

1. Ottawa Dog Rescue

The top one on our list for the dog rescue in Ottawa is Ottawa dog rescue. It is one of the organizations in Ottawa that is dedicated to rescuing dogs. This organization was founded in August 2013 by a group of experienced rescuers who are also dog lovers.

These rescuers rescue foster-based all breeds in the capital city. Their love for dogs has made them dedicated to helping abused, surrendered, and abandoned dogs. They find these dogs and look for the best-suited homes for them where they can spend their life happily. This dog rescue organization is located in Ottawa and rescue dogs are located in this area.

Moreover, it is a non-profit organization that strives to be accountable and transparent. The organization has a proper team including local veterinarians, committed volunteers and foster homes for rescued dogs as well.

The veterinarians take care of the health of dogs and they are kept in foster homes for a temporary period. They are carefully matched with homes where they are loved properly and are taken care of.

This organization provides education and training as well for providing awareness to be responsible for the pet owner. They also provide training on how to rescue dogs and to do rescue in the right way.

The team is working hard on saving the lives of dogs in the Ottawa area and providing public awareness because many dogs lose their lives due to a lack of resources and awareness. More than 1406 dogs have been adopted from this organization since September 2013 and the organization is still finding homes for rescued dogs.

Dog Rescue Info:
Location: Ottawa, Canada
Email: admin@ottawadogrescue.com
Website: Ottawa Dog Rescue
Facebook: Ottawa Dog Rescue

2. Ottawa Humane Society

Ottawa’s Humane Society is a non-profit, community-based organization that is focused on helping sick and injured animals in Ottawa. The hardworking volunteers on their board of directors are drawn from their supporters and the community at large. Since 1888, they have been the leading animal shelter in Ottawa for abandoned pets or those animals who need immediate care due to health concerns.

They provide shelter and medical aid to injured and sick animals. Each year, the Ottawa Human Society leadership cares for around 8,000 sick, injured, and homeless animals. Building a better future by providing leadership in animal welfare and helping their community with compassionate care that leads to a brighter tomorrow.

Dog Rescue Info:
Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Email: ohs@ottawahumane.ca
Phone: 613-725-3166
Website: Ottawa Humane Society
Facebook: Ottawa Humane Society

3. Freedom Dog Rescue

Another dog rescue organization in Ottawa is Freedom dog rescue is involved in saving the lives of dogs and providing them health care and foster homes.

It is a registered charity and non-profit organization that was started in February 2015. If you are looking for an organization to adopt a dog, then you should contact Freedom dog rescue organization.

This is a size and all-breed foster-based rescue organization that operates in Ottawa and its surrounding areas. The people involved in this organization are all dog lovers and they strive hard to save the lives of dogs that are abandoned or abused. They provide a home to homeless dogs.

Moreover, they also take care of those dogs whose owners can no longer take care of their dogs. All these things are done with the help of a dedicated team that involves trainers, local veterinarians, and committed volunteers.

With all these facilities, they rescue dogs, provide them health care and loving home where they can live temporarily until they find a perfect family for that dog. By foster homes, it means that these dogs are not placed in a kennel environment rather they are provided with a homely environment. The foster families provide proper love and attention to these dogs so they feel loved.

You can also provide donations to freedom dog rescue so they can provide proper health facilities to the rescued dogs and can continue to rescue more dogs in the future. The health and safety of rescued dogs are the top priority of freedom dog rescue. They are provided with complete vet care until they are completely well.

Moreover, they also work hard to groom these dogs so it is easy for them to adjust with families that will adopt them.

Dog Rescue Ottawa Info:
Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Email: freedomdogrescue@gmail.com
Website: Freedom Dog Rescue
Facebook: Freedom Dog Rescue FB Page

4. Rocky Road Rescue

Rocky Road Rescue like other organizations, this is also a non-profit organization that is run by volunteers committed to rescuing dogs in Ottawa. This is an all-breed, foster-based organization. All volunteers working in this organization donate their time out of their busy schedules to save the lives of homeless dogs. The dogs are not kept in a kennel environment rather they are treated as a part of the family. They take care of rescued dogs in foster homes until they find a loving and suitable family for it where they can live forever.

All foster families are dedicated to taking care of these dogs. Moreover, with a proper family environment, these dogs are well-groomed and learn to behave well. The organization raise funds through fundraisers and events and these funds are spent to provide a better living environment and home to the rescued dogs. They use funds to provide nutritious food to all the dogs, proper vet care, and general rescue operation of these dogs.

Their main focus is on rescuing dogs that do not have any home, from high kill shelters, owner surrenders, and to providing these dogs with the best loving homes and proper medical care that these dogs deserve.

Another good thing about this dog rescue organization is that they provide public awareness and training for better pet ownership and assist families whenever possible. For puppies, their adoption fee is $750 and for adult dogs, it is $650. This fee includes vaccination of the dog at the time of adoption, microchipping, and neutering or spray as well.

The organization purely relies on donations from businesses and the public and adoption fees and continues providing dogs with training, food, medical care, and continuing to save the dogs.

Dog Rescue Info:
Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Website: Rocky Road Rescue
Facebook: Rocky Road Rescue FB Page

5. Homes for Paws Dog Rescue

Homes for Paws Dog Rescue is a volunteer-based non-profit organization dedicated to giving dogs a second chance at life by providing them with the care and love they need. The organization’s goal is to find the right homes for rescued pooches and offer them a permanent place where they can live.

This organization does not have its own shelter. Instead, it relies on volunteer foster homes in Ottawa-Gatineau which ensures all of its furry friends are getting the loving environment they deserve without having to worry about long-term commitments until a good match is found.

The Adoption fees for senior dogs (8 years and older) are $375, adult dogs (1 year and older) are priced at $500, and young dogs (less than 1-year-old) range from a price of $450 to $550. They do their best to make the adoption process as easy as possible by making sure that each dog has received all necessary vetting along with age-appropriate vaccines including Rabies, deworming, flea preventative and microchip prior to adoption.

Dog Rescue Info:
Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Email: freedomdogrescue@gmail.com
Website: Homes for Paws Dog Rescue

6. Keshet Kennels/Rescue

Debbie Moffat is the founder of a dog rescue called Keshet Kennels/Rescue. Keshet Kennels is a safe and spacious resort for dogs. Not only does Debbie’s company offer rescue services for dogs, but she also offers boarding & daycare services as well as facilities rental and training programs.

Keshet Kennels rescue a dozen of dogs every year. To take care of all of them, Keshet has to make sure that it receives funding from various sources such as from individual sponsors, donations from their customers, and Keshet Kennels’ revenues are used to pay for operational costs like the utilities which help sustain our shelter.

All of the rescue dogs have been fully vetted and are up to date on all shots and seasonal medications. The adoption fee is $500 + tax. If you would like to learn more about the adoption process, visit their website.

Dog Rescue Ottawa Info:
Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Email: info@keshetkennels.com
Phone: 613-850-6212
Website: Keshet Kennels/Rescue

7. Marshall Dog Rescue

The last in our list of dog rescuers in Ottawa is Marshall’s Dog Rescue. Marshall’s Dog Rescue is a charity organization that rescues dogs from families who are no longer able to take care of their pets. Dogs with Marshall’s Dog Rescue are treated as beloved members of their families.

Marshall’s is non-breed specific dog rescue. They accept only healthy dogs and puppies (of all sizes and ages). This dog rescue was created as a result of local shelters running out of space to house dogs due to the high number being abandoned by their owners.

All of their rescue dogs are spayed or neutered before adoption and the process is included in the adoption fee. The adoption fees are non-refundable, as in most cases their money is already used to pay for the care of another rescued dog so it cannot be refunded.

Dog Rescue Info:
Location: Ottawa, Ontario
Email: contact@marshallsdogrescue.com
Website: Marshall Dog Rescue

Rescue Dog Or Puppy?

You might be wondering if you should adopt a rescue dog or buy a puppy. Some people say that the best thing to do is to adopt an older dog, but others will say that it’s better to start with a pup. We’re going to discuss both options and let you know what some of the pros and cons are for each one so that you can make a good decision for yourself.

Puppies: No one can deny that raising a puppy is not an easy task, just like raising children. The thing about getting a puppy is that they’re not easy to train because they’re still young.

Puppies also require much hard work than adult dogs and can’t be left alone for long periods of time without needing any care. However, puppies need lots of attention and socialization when they first come home so it’s important to take the time with them so they grow up well adjusted.

Rescue Dogs: The best thing about rescue dogs is that you’re helping out your favorite furry friends by giving them a second chance at life. Many rescue dogs come with basic training so you don’t have to spend more time on training.

How to Choose Reputable Dog Rescue Centre in the Ottawa?

When looking to adopt a dog, it’s important to do your research and find a reputable dog rescue center. There are many of these centers in Ottawa, but not all of them are created equal. So how do you choose the right one for you and your furry friend? Here are some tips when it comes to finding a reputable Dog rescue center in Ottawa.

Research: Do some research online and ask other people in the area about their experience with different rescues. This will give you an idea of what kind of services they provide and how responsive they are when contacted.

Reviews: Check out reviews before making any donations or signing agreements with them – even if they seem like the perfect match! Rescues often go through financial hardships so be sure to check their website often to see if there has been any change in contact information or hours of operation.

Vaccinations: Make sure you check the vaccinations of any dog before rehoming them, and if they will not be vaccinated it’s best to find another shelter.

Dogs Safe for Rehoming: Rescue dogs are amazing, but they come with some challenges. It can be hard to find a good re-homing center that tests the temperament of their animals before letting them go into homes or foster care.

Reputable centers work hard to ensure that all of the prospective pets they receive have been temperament tested before adoption, providing you with detailed information about each dog as to how it will affect your home environment if you adopt them in as well as any specific requirements needed from owners who adopt these dogs.

Home Checking: All reputable rescue centers will perform a home check before they let you take on any dog. This is because it’s important to make sure your place of residence can accommodate the dog you want to adopt that may be living there. Most rescue centers will expect potential adopters like you who live inside with at least one securely enclosed outdoor area where pets can play without running off too far every day.

Consultation & Support: Some of the best re-homing centers will offer you advice and support throughout your pet adoption process. If you don’t have any experience with adopting dogs, for example – then when taking on a new furry friend home there are certain things that might go wrong in which case you may get any types of help you need.

Thing you should know when Choosing a Rescue Dog:

If you’re thinking about adopting a rescue dog, there are quite a few aspects that need to be considered. The difference between buying a puppy and adopting one is different, so before jumping into anything make sure before that, you should be fully prepared and research the rescue center from which you want to adopt your new dog.

Don’t forget – adoptions don’t come without commitment they take time and patience as well as financial resources, but if all these things fit your needs- adopt today! The dogs rescued from shelters are generally older and have dealt with a lot in their lives. You’ll have to be a little more patient, loving, and understanding with them if they struggle. Being prepared for any situation is the most effective way to make sure that you are able to handle it effectively.

The most important thing is that you should know that most rescue dogs have been mistreated by their previous owners. They might have come from puppy mills where they were mistreated or not properly cared. It is possible that they came from homes where there are too many animals and they are not being properly cared for which they need It’s not easy being adopted.

Some dogs have been abused or neglected by their former owners, but luckily there are caring people out there to save them! These dogs may be angry with humans at first because they’ve had a hard time in the past.

Don’t be deterred by these doodle dogs’ sad pasts, but over time, when you give lots of love and attention to these beautiful dogs. You will become their favorite person and they’ll learn to trust humans again – but it doesn’t happen right away!

Do you Recommend Any Good Dog Rescues in Ottawa?

If you’re a dog lover, you know that there are many dogs out there who need a good home. That’s why we’re asking for your help! Do you know of any great dog rescues in Ottawa?

If so, please let us know in the comments below. We would love to hear from you.

We want to make sure that our list is as comprehensive as possible, it really helps others who are looking to adopt a Dog or puppies in Ottawa.

Conclusion for Dog Rescues in Ottawa:

We hope you enjoyed this post and found it useful in finding a good dog rescue in Ottawa. If you know a friend or relative who is looking for a good rescue center, please share this post with them. Their search will be a lot easier.

Related Articles:

Please watch “How to Prep for a Rescue Dog” below before adopting a dog from a rescue shelter in Ottawa.

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