Across Los Angeles, there are thousands of animals in shelters waiting to find a loving forever home. Adopting from shelters provides an ethical option for those wishing to add a new addition to enrich their lives and gives these creatures a second chance.

Wherever you choose to adopt, ensure you thoroughly review adoption policies and fees for each organization. And of course, if you are unable to commit long-term, consider making a difference by volunteering or fostering these animals in need.

Check out these 16 adoption shelters to find your new forever companion. Click the links for addresses  – and... photos that will melt your heart!

🐾❤️Paws for Life k9 Rescue specializes in the rehabilitation of dogs that would most likely be euthanized. After several months of training, dogs are ready for family life after completing their AKC Canine Good Citizen (CGC) certification. Some are trained to become service animals for military veterans with PTSD. Also, Paws for Life’s People and Pet Innovation Center offers free unlimited training and play groups to help the public keep their dogs in the home.

🐾LA Animal Services has six shelter locations with a variety of pets available to adopt or foster, ranging from dogs and cats to rabbits, chickens, and turtles. Their locations are open without appointments on Tuesdays through Fridays from 8 am - 5 pm and Saturdays and Sundays from 11 am to 5 pm.

🐾❤️Dogs Without Borders is a foster-based rescue pulling small breed dogs from LA area shelters and working with international rescue partners to re-home dogs in need from as far as Taiwan and Mexico. They are proud to have placed over 6,000 dogs since its inception.

🐾Wagmor Pets, located in Studio City, is committed to preventing cruelty and promoting kindness to animals. They set out to reduce animal suffering and increase animal well-being, and aim to rehome them to responsible and caring homes. Wagmor Pets also hosts “Cuddle Time,” an animal lover social club, for anyone looking to destress and have a fun time for a 100% tax-deductible donation.

🐾❤️Kitten Rescue LA is a non-profit, volunteer-run organization devoted to finding loving homes for unwanted, homeless cats and kittens. Their KR Sanctuary is a no-kill cat sanctuary located in the Atwater Village. The shelter houses approximately 150 cats at any given time. Many of them are highly adaptable and waiting to find their forever home, while others will spend the rest of their lives at the sanctuary— either because they are feral, have a chronic medical condition, or are elderly and less likely to be adopted.

🐾Downtown Dog Rescue rescues shelter dogs and provides a variety of pet support services. In July 2016, Downtown Dog Rescue partnered with our 2022 grantee Inner City Law Center and LA Animal Services to open the first pet service center for the Skid Row community to provide a variety of services including free neuter vouchers, legal assistance for pet-related housing issues, and medical assistance.

🐾❤️Kitt Crusaders rescue cats and kittens from the streets. As of now, they do not have a physical shelter, so all of the cats live in volunteer foster homes while they wait to be adopted.

🐾❤️Best Friends in Los Angeles leads the No-Kill Los Angeles initiative with their own adoption shelter. In support of veteran and active military adopters, Best Friends partnered with Pets For Patriots to provide fee-waived adoptions to those who qualify. In addition, all pets five years and older are $5 for anyone 55 years or older.

🐾 Wags & Walks is focused on advocating for wrongfully stereotyped bully breeds, medical dogs, and mamas and puppies at risk due to overcrowding. Their adoption center in West LA is a hub for all things rescue — events, volunteering, or searching for your future pup!

🐾The Dawg Squad rescues dogs from the streets, situations of abuse and neglect. Their team provides medical attention, training, rehabilitation, and foster homes until permanent adoptive homes are found.

🐾❤️Angel City Pitbulls was founded in 2010 to address the problem of overpopulation and high euthanasia rate of pit bull terrier-type dogs in Los Angeles shelters. They are a foster-based-only program, run entirely on the support of donations and volunteers, dedicated to creating a better future for pit bulls through education, public advocacy, adoptions, and owner support.

🐾❤️Kitty of Angels’ primary focus is on animals at risk of being euthanized, including underage kittens and animals with health needs. Although they don't operate a physical cat rescue shelter, their foster-to-adopt program plays a crucial role in providing shelter and care for homeless cats and kittens.

🐾❤️Kitty Bungalow Charm School for Wayward Cats is a community cat organization and kitten socialization facility. Kitty Bungalow also provides the community access to free Trap Neuter Return (TNR) services, which allows community cats to be fixed, receive vaccines and flea treatment, and be returned to the people who care for them. They currently have a summer adoption special at just $23.

🐾Wallis Annenberg PetSpace, located in Playa Vista, is an interactive place for pet adoptions, an education center, and a leadership institute. They focus squarely on the mutually beneficial and dynamic bond between people and their pets. (The Annenberg Foundation is a funding partner of the annual LA2050 Grants Challenge.)

🐾Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Los Angeles (spcaLA) has two adoption center locations (located in Hawthorne and Long Beach) that currently shelter around 236 adoptable pets. They also offer training classes, ranging from basic to advanced obedience for dogs and puppies, as well as agility classes.

🐾❤️The Cat Cove is a no-kill cat rescue that takes in and rescues cats and kittens from local animal shelters and  feral colonies. They also have TNR projects where they feed, give fresh water, and monitor the feral cats each day.

Editor’s Note: If you require financial assistance for your pet's wellness, please visit these websites to find resources ranging from animal food pantries, to medical emergency care and hygiene services.

Best Friends Pet Resources

Michelson Found Animals Pet Pantries

LA Animal Services

*❤️ Denotes shelters that currently claim to qualify as No-Kill Los Angeles (NKLA). These shelters meet the minimum 90% save rate benchmark for all animals housed.