Best Dog Rescues in Ontario (2023) – Top 9 Picks

In this post, we will provide you with a list of the Best dog rescues in Ontario. These rescues are all dedicated to finding loving homes for their dogs and ensuring they receive the best possible care. So if you’re considering adding a dog to your family, be sure to check out these amazing organizations!

Before scrolling down the list of dog rescues in Ontario, take a look at some of the other suggestions: Dog Rescues in Ottawa & Dog Rescues in Alberta

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.

In addition to spaying and neutering each dog within their program, they provide them with the necessary shots and medications for a certain time period in order to combat the pet-overpopulation epidemic.

This organization’s goal is to save the lives of thousands of shelter dogs who deserve a second chance at life and find them a loving forever home. They are committed to rescuing dogs from any situation of neglect or abuse. And providing them with the love, care, and attention to every single dog they deserve.

If you are interested in adopting dogs from Kismutt Dog Rescue, Be sure to follow them on Facebook to get all the updates.

Dog Rescue Info:
Location: St. Marys, ON
Email: kismutt@xplornet.com
Website: Kismutt Small Dog Rescue
Facebook: Kismutt Small Dog Rescue FB Page

They accept all kinds of dogs regardless of whether they come from a good home or a puppy mill or had issues when they were young. Before being adopted, every dog is given the care and love, exercise, and attention it deserves so that there are positive interactions between the owners and their new pets.

Once these dogs are placed into a loving and caring home, they will make sure to give them all the love in the world. They love each of these dogs like they were their own dogs. Unfortunately, should the dog’s owner no longer be able to care for their companion dog in the future, they will take them back into their rescue without hesitation or question.

Dog Rescue Info:
Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Email: sitwithmerescue@gmail.com | info@sitwithme.ca
Website: Sit With Me Rescue
Facebook: Sit With Me Rescue FB Page

They’re a foster-based rescue, and they operate with a very unique philosophy. All their dogs are fostered in family homes. This means that all their dogs are fostered in family homes which is why they understand the home environment very well. If you get a dog from here, it will be easy for them to adjust to your family life

The goal of this dog rescue is to save the lives of as many dogs as they can regardless of where they are come from. If a dog is in need and they can, they will help.

Dog Rescue Ontario Info:
Location: Oakville, Ontario, Canada
Email: info@niagaradogrescue.org
Website: Niagara Dog Rescue
Facebook: Niagara Dog Rescue FB Page

Denise has been working in the adoption/rescue/ veterinary field for over 30 years. They started with a volunteer position at the Sudbury Humane Society adoption center. Denise believes that every dog deserves to be happy, healthy, and loved. She is truly passionate about pets, which ultimately led her to open a dog adoption center in Ontario, Canada.

Mattie’s Place, a non-profit dog rescue organization accepted approximately 200 dogs into its care last year and mostly came to with dire medical conditions.

Dog Rescue Info:
Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Email: info@mattiesplace.ca
Phone: 416-551-7005
Website: Mattie’s Place
Facebook: Mattie’s Place FB Page

The mission of Dog Tales is to rehabilitate abused, abandoned, and neglected dogs into balanced companions through their innovative boarding, training, and rehabilitation programs.

A pleasing location and an open play area with grooming facilities make the perfect environment for dogs that have been victims of mistreatment or neglect in the past.

Along with medical attention, the team helps the dogs by providing the love and care they need to recover from their difficult past which helps heal their wounds. So that they can move forward in life to find permanent, loving homes.

Dog Rescue Info:
Location: 1405 19th Sideroad, King City, Ontario
Email: info@dogtales.ca
Phone: 905-713-1887
Website: Dog Tales Rescue and Sanctuary

They are constantly on the lookout for abandoned, abused, and surrendered dogs and assist them in finding suitable forever homes. All of their rescue dogs live in a temporary foster home where they receive the love and attention that helps them get ready for their forever homes. They live in foster homes until they find well-matched and carefully screened permanent homes.

All rescue dogs are adopted after being fully vetted, which includes a full intake exam, core vaccinations, rabies vaccination, heartworm testing, and deworming. Prior to adoption, all of their dogs are spayed or neutered.

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

Freedom Dog Rescue was formed in Ottawa in February 2015, when the owner saw that the city was too full of dogs and had no room for more rescue dogs and no one to tend to them either.

Volunteers are the backbone of this organization. The dedicated people they deploy to accomplish their vision for the area of animal welfare are what make everything possible. It’s amazing how with just a few people who do this as a passion, they provide a loving temporary foster home where they care for dogs in need until a carefully screened “forever home” is found.

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

The Project Paws Dog Rescue doesn’t have a shelter, as such all dogs that they rescue are placed in separate volunteer foster homes within Barrie, Ontario. Where they provide a lot of love, attention, and care until they find a loving forever homes. All dogs that are rescued have been fully vetted before being able to be adopted.

Dog Rescue Info:
Location: Barrie Ontario
Website: Project Paws Dog Rescue

The Owner has been in dog rescue for almost 10 years. The Owners care for and foster a variety of dogs from various shelters in the city, as well as rescue and rehabilitate dogs on their own. Their passion for animal welfare has motivated them to focus solely on dog rescue, so they can dedicate more time and resources towards helping dogs to find forever homes. The dog rescue completely relies on donations and sponsors grants to give these amazing dogs the help they need.

Dog Rescue Ontraio Info:
Location: Thunder Bay, Ontario
Email: thunderdogrescue1@gmail.com
Phone: 807-622-6523
Website: Thunder Dog Rescue
Facebook: Thunder Dog Rescue FB Page

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.

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.

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!

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 Ontario.

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