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Two dachshunds waiting to be adopted

Special Needs Dog Rescue Groups

Home » Blog » Special Needs Dog Rescue Groups
February 18, 2022 by Sharon Seltzer
Table of Contents[Hide][Show]
  • Why disabled dogs are surrendered+−
    • Here are points to consider:
  • About the directory
  • The State-By-State Special Needs Dog Rescue Group Directory
  • Canadian Special Needs Rescue Groups
  • International Groups
  • Looking for more information?
Two dachshunds waiting to be adopted

Do you know there are special needs dog rescue groups in nearly every U.S. state? I started making a directory a few years ago after pet owners emailed me with questions about them.

People would ask how to adopt a disabled pet or they wanted to know where they could donate a deceased dog’s belongings. The list came in handy to direct them to a group close to where they lived.

My goal now is to share the state-by-state directory so more pets can find a loving home.    

Most of the special needs dog rescue groups are small volunteer-based nonprofits. And many focus on one specific type of disability like paralysis, blind or deaf pets and senior dogs. My list contains the names of organizations that rehabilitate and rehome dogs with mobility problems or find new families for sweet senior pups.

These amazing groups give dogs who would otherwise be considered unadoptable at a city shelter, a chance to receive medical care, adapt to life with their disability and be adopted.

According to the ASPCA, an estimated 6.3 million companion animals enter U.S. shelters every year. In a municipal shelter where they are required to take custody of every homeless pet, dogs with disabilities don’t receive much attention.

We rely on the special needs rescue groups to give them a second chance.

Why disabled dogs are surrendered

There are many reasons that land special needs pets in animal shelters, but most of them fall into 3 categories: money, time and confidence. If you’re thinking about adopting a disabled dog, you can use these categories as a checklist to see if you’re prepared for the endeavor.

It’s not just a matter of putting a pup into a dog wheelchair and life returns to normal.

Here are points to consider:

Do you have the financial resources to care for a special needs animal?

Tests like MRIs or spinal surgeries are costly, if your vet prescribes them.

Many dogs require ongoing physical therapy, hydrotherapy and laser therapy that have fees involved.

Dog wheelchairs can cost hundreds of dollars, especially for large dogs.

Do you have the time to physically take care of a disabled dog?

Most paralyzed dogs are also incontinent. That means they need to have their bladder manually expressed 2-4 times a day or they might have to wear a diaper that requires regular changing.

Rehab and vet appointments can eat into your time for other commitments, as well.

Dogs should not stay in a dog wheelchair 24 hours a day. Do you have the time to put them into their cart, supervise their exercise and then help them out of their wheels to rest?

How confident are you about learning to be a caretaker?

The first weeks of taking care of a paralyzed dog are filled with angst and worry. It’s normal to be overwhelmed as you learn the skills to be a caretaker. But the job isn’t for everyone. Pet owners should ask themselves if they have the resilience to move forward.

Your dog will look to you to lead the way. If you are confident, your pet will be too.

About the directory

Below are special needs rescue groups listed by state along. To reach an organization, click on the words highlighted in purple and it will take you to contact page for each group. Because some states do not have a dedicated organization, you’ll also see listings, highlighted with an *. These are municipal or private no-kill shelters that provide medical care for pets in their custody.

I’ve also started to include a list of rescue groups in Canada who focus on dogs with disabilities. You can find the first entry at the end of this post.

If you know of a rescue group not listed, please leave their name and website address in the comments section. They will be added to the directory if they meet the criteria.

The State-By-State Special Needs Dog Rescue Group Directory

Dog in a wheelchair at a special needs dog rescue group

ALASKA

*Alaska Dog & Puppy Rescue

ALABAMA

*The Ark

ARIZONA

Mayday Pit Bull Rescue & Advocacy – This group may love Pitbull’s, but they also rehabilitate dogs with paralysis and other mobility problems.

ARKANSAS

Care For Animals

CALIFORNIA

A Purposeful Life Animal Rescue

Amazing Strays Rescue

Dharma Rescue

Marley’s Mutts

Mary S. Roberts Pet Adoption

Two Hands Four Paws

Umbrella of Hope

COLORADO

Golden Growls Senior Rescue

Harley’s Dream

Old Dogs New Digs

Planned Pethood Plus

Red Fern Animal Rescue

CONNECTICUT

Perfect Imperfections

The Simon Foundation

DELAWARE

*First State Animal Center and SPCA

FLORIDA

Big Dog Ranch Rescue

Get Along Dachshund Rescue

Isle of Misfits

Journey’s End Animal Sanctuary

Lovey Loaves Sanctuary

Broken Wiener Refuge

GEORGIA

*Bosley’s Place

HAWAII

*Dog People of Oahu

*Paws of Hawaii

IDAHO

Heath’s Haven Rescue

ILLINOIS

Young At Heart Senior Pet Adoptions

INDIANA

ARF Sanctuary

IOWA

Iowa Farm Sanctuary

KANSAS

S.N.A.R.R. Special Needs Animal Rescue and Rehabilitation

LOUISIANA

*Capital Area Animal Welfare Society

MAINE

Rescue Charlie’s Friends

MARYLAND

Leashes End

Pets with Disabilities

Senior Dog Retirement Home Rescue

MASSACHUSETTS

*Save A Dog Rescue

MICHIGAN

*Michigan Humane Society

MINNESOTA

Rescued Pets Are Wonderful

MISSISSIPPI

*East Mississippi Animal Rescue

MONTANA

Mac’s Mission

*Heart of the Valley Animal Shelter

*Yellowstone Valley Animal Shelter

Two dogs waiting to be adopted
Depositphotos

NEBRASKA

Hearts United for Animals

NEVADA

*Hearts Alive Village

Scoot to the Stars – Reno

Henry’s House Rescue – via Instagram

NEW HAMPSHIRE

Rolling Dog Farm

NEW JERSEY

Special Needs K9

NEW MEXICO

Lap Dog Rescue

*Sunflower Sanctuary Animal Rescue

NEW YORK

SNARR Northeast

The Mr. Mo Project

Willow’s Wings

NORTH CAROLINA

Perfectly Imperfect Pups

Hartman’s Haven

Jan’s Animal Rescue

Misplaced Mutts

NORTH DAKOTA

*4 Luv of Dog

OHIO

Speak for the Unspoken

*Mid-Ohio Animal Welfare League

OKLAHOMA

*Oklahoma Alliance for Animals

OREGON

Senior Dog Rescue of Oregon

*Oregon Dog Rescue

PENNSYLVANIA

Luke’s Hidden Haven

Luckydawg

*Paws Across Pittsburgh

Umbrella of Hope

RHODE ISLAND

*Animal Rescue Rhode Island

*Providence Animal Rescue League

SOUTH CAROLINA

Angel’s Hope

Raintree Jacks

Match K-9 Rescue & Rehab

SOUTH DAKOTA

*B-Squad Rescue

TENNESSEE

*LoveHandlers

Snooty Giggles

TEXAS

Big Dog Rescue Project

Paws R’ Us

Apollo Support & Rescue

Rescuers Without Borders

The PAWerful Rescue

UTAH

*Ruff Patch Rescue

VERMONT

*Passion for Paws

VIRGINIA

Gray Faces Acres

Hotdog Hill Sanctuary

WASHINGTON

Angels With Misplaced Wings

Lily’s Pad Rescue

Ginger’s Pet Rescue

Motely Zoo Animal Rescue

WEST VIRGINIA

*Little Victories Animal Rescue

WISCONSIN

*Albert’s Dog Lounge

*Cocos Heart Dog Rescue

Hoover’s Hause

One Starfish Rehoming Connections

WYOMING

*Kindness Ranch Animal Sanctuary

*Black Dog Animal Rescue

Canadian Special Needs Rescue Groups

Special Needs Animal Rescue League (SNARL)

Rescue Friends Animal Foundation

International Groups

Rescuers Without Borders – Based in Houston, TX, this group rescues disabled dogs in the U.S.A. and in countries overseas.

Looking for more information?

Organizations That Donate Dog Wheelchair To Pet Families

9 Dog Physical Therapy Exercises To Do At Home

The Amazing Normal Life of A Disabled Dog

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About Sharon Seltzer

I’m a blogger, professional writer and co-founder of the Heaven Can Wait Animal Society. I’m also a pet mom who’s raised 9 dogs, 6 cats and lots of other critters. When my dog Sophie became paralyzed in 2008, it was a lonely experience. It took months to find all of the resources to help her live a quality life. My mission is to share those services with other pet owners and to teach people how to care for a disabled dog.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Diandra E Sanphy

    October 7, 2022 at 4:50 am

    I am looking for help with a sweet young female dog in Mission, Texas. She was found on the side of the road lying in a slight ditch. She is paralyzed in her rear hind legs, but is very spry and injury maybe older. I am in NH, and am the Executive Director for US Animal Alliance, Inc., a subsidiary of North of Boston Animal Rescue and Humane Education Society, Inc. While we are unable to take her here, as we do not know the extent of her injuries, we would like to help secure her rescue. Please contact me either way, if you can help or are unable to. She cannot stay with the woman who took her to get her cleaned up and to a vet tomorrow. Please call at 603 918 7191 my name is Diandra Sanphy we are in EST. Thank you very much and I can send photos and video if you’d like.

    Reply
    • Sharon Seltzer

      October 7, 2022 at 7:26 pm

      Diandra, My website is not a rescue group. Your comment is linked to a post I wrote that lists special needs rescue groups throughout the U.S.
      Here’s the link: https://dogwheelchairlife.com/special-needs-dog-rescue-groups/
      You can start by calling some of the bigger groups such as SNARR at https://snarrnortheast.org or contact Wild Hearts https://gowildhearts.org

      Reply
  2. kyle

    May 3, 2023 at 8:57 pm

    Are you aware of fosters/rescues that will take care of disabled dogs in the SoCal area, or beyond?

    I am so glad I found you!

    I am a professional dog trainer and sitter. I had a client abandoned his dog with me 2+ years ago.

    He is a 10 y/o neutered Korean Jindo dog. In the last year he has become 100% incontinent and unable to use his backlegs at all. He needs more time and care than I can provide. can you take Rocky?

    Reply
    • Sharon Seltzer

      May 5, 2023 at 5:08 pm

      Kyle, I hope you had a chance to look through my article Special Needs Dog Rescue Groups. It lists the groups who rescue and adopt dogs with physical handicaps. That said I recommend that you start with Marley’s Mutts as they are one of the larger rescue groups. Best wishes, Sharon

      Reply

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Amazon Affiliate Disclosure

DogWheelchairLife.com is a blog that teaches pet families how to care for their paralyzed dog. As the owner, I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program and the Amazon Influencer Program. These are affiliate programs designed for sites to earn advertising fees (commissions) by linking to Amazon.com. As an Amazon Associate and Influencer, I earn from qualifying purchases. For more details, visit the Affiliate Disclosure page

We Are A Resource for Pet Owners

Dog Wheelchair LIFE teaches pet families how to care for their paralyzed dog. This is not a medical site and I am not a veterinarian. I am a blogger and pet mom who was the caretaker for Sophie, a paraplegic dog. I’m also a co-founder of the Heaven Can Wait Animal Society in Las Vegas, NV and an animal writer who has contributed to websites and magazines.

The information shared on this site is based on my personal experience and the research I do for each story. Please do not use the content from this blog in place of professional veterinary care.

Articles from this site may not be reproduced in whole or in part without written permission from me, Sharon Seltzer.

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