Only about 15% of domestic violence shelters and a minority of general shelters accept pets, but a real, growing network does, plus grants and free boarding that hold your dog while you're placed. Start with 211 or HUD's Find Shelter tool, then check the list below. Your dog isn't something you have to give up to get help.
What to do tonight
- Call 211 and say you have a dog at the start of the call. Ask which shelters near you take pets, and whether your dog stays in your room or a kennel.
- Leaving an abusive home? Call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 and ask about pet-friendly shelters, or search SAF-T’s directory by state.
- No pet bed nearby? Ask about short-term boarding. RedRover Relief grants and Safe Havens for Pets can hold your dog while you stay in a shelter that can’t take animals.
- Bring your dog’s papers: a rabies certificate or vet record, a leash, and a crate if you have one. Most pet-friendly shelters check vaccinations at intake.
The first 8 listings below are shelters that take you and your dog together. After them: directories to find one near you, boarding help, and free pet food. Space changes daily, so call before you travel.
South Park Inn -- Pets at the Inn
Shelter · Hartford, CT: accepts guests with a dog or cat if the pet arrives with them at admission and passes a vaccination and behavior check. Call (860) 724-0071.
Visit South Park Inn -- Pets at the Inn website
Breaking Bread Community
Shelter · Upper Darby, PA: 17-bed emergency shelter for adults and the only pet-friendly shelter in its region — guests come with their pets, possessions, and partners. Serves Delaware County residents.
Visit Breaking Bread Community website
The Bridge -- pet kennel program
Shelter · Dallas, TX: free 24/7 recovery shelter with an on-site canine kennel, so your dog gets food, shelter, and vet care while you get housing help. No ID required. Kennel: (214) 670-1507; night shelter: (214) 670-1101.
Visit The Bridge -- pet kennel program website
Family Promise of Greater Phoenix
Family shelter · Phoenix, AZ: keeps families and their pets together, with dog kennels on site; 350+ pets sheltered so far. Call (480) 659-5227.
Visit Family Promise of Greater Phoenix website
NYC Uplift Families Residence
Family shelter · The Bronx: New York City’s first pet-inclusive family shelter, opened May 2024 with 161 units. Apply through DHS PATH intake ((718) 503-6400) or dial 311.
Visit NYC Uplift Families Residence website
Urban Resource Institute -- PALS Program
Domestic-violence shelter · New York City: the city’s only program letting survivors shelter together with their pets, serving 1,000+ families since 2013. Call (646) 588-0030.
Visit Urban Resource Institute -- PALS Program website
Catholic Charities Santa Rosa -- Samuel L. Jones Hall
Shelter · Santa Rosa, CA: low-barrier shelter that has accepted dogs of any size or breed since 2016 (current rabies certificate and spay/neuter required). Its operator’s website no longer lists it, so confirm through 211 before you go.
Visit Catholic Charities Santa Rosa -- Samuel L. Jones Hall website
Safe Space Winter Shelter
Seasonal shelter · Chico, CA: low-barrier, volunteer-run shelter that opens during extreme weather and welcomes pets in limited numbers. No sobriety requirement; couples stay together. Call (530) 399-3187.
Visit Safe Space Winter Shelter website
211 -- National Helpline
Find one near you · Free, confidential helpline for local shelter, food, and crisis referrals. Dial 211 or search 211.org, and say you have a dog at the start of the call.
Visit 211 -- National Helpline website
HUD Find Shelter
Find one near you · Official HUD tool that searches shelter, housing, food, and health resources by zip code.
Visit HUD Find Shelter website
Sheltering Animals & Families Together (SAF-T)
Find one near you · Directory of domestic-violence shelters that specifically accept family pets, searchable by state.
Visit Sheltering Animals & Families Together (SAF-T) website
My Dog Is My Home
Find one near you · National nonprofit tracking pet-inclusive shelters and co-sheltering programs; a good place to ask what exists in your area.
Visit My Dog Is My Home website
RedRover Relief -- DV Safe Escape Grants
If the shelter can’t take your dog · Grants cover up to 45 days of pet boarding so domestic-violence survivors can leave without giving up their animal. Call (916) 429-2457.
Visit RedRover Relief -- DV Safe Escape Grants website
Animal Welfare Institute -- Safe Havens for Pets
If the shelter can’t take your dog · Directory of local boarding and foster programs that hold your pet, often free, while you’re in a shelter. Call (202) 459-2184.
Visit Animal Welfare Institute -- Safe Havens for Pets website
Feeding Pets of the Homeless
Food and vet care · Free pet food and emergency veterinary care through 2,000+ partner vet hospitals nationwide. Call (775) 841-7463.
Visit Feeding Pets of the Homeless websiteFrequently asked questions
How do I find a shelter that will take me and my dog right now?
Call 211 (dial 211 or search 211.org) for local shelter referrals, or search HUD’s Find Shelter tool by zip code. If you’re fleeing domestic violence, SAF-T’s shelter directory lists programs by state that specifically accept pets.
What should I ask when I call a shelter?
Ask directly: is there a pet limit, a breed or size restriction, does my dog stay in my room or a separate kennel, is a vaccination record required at intake, and is there a waitlist. Write down the name of who you spoke with and the date, in case the policy is questioned later.
I'm leaving an abusive relationship and won't leave my dog behind. What resources exist?
You’re not alone in this — as many as 48% of domestic violence survivors delay leaving an abuser out of fear for their pet’s safety, and only about 15% of DV shelters currently accept pets. RedRover Relief’s DV Safe Escape Grants cover up to 45 days of pet boarding so you can leave without your dog, and Urban Resource Institute’s PALS program lets survivors and pets shelter together in New York City.
What if there's no pet-friendly shelter near me right now?
Ask about temporary boarding: RedRover Relief grants and the Animal Welfare Institute’s Safe Havens for Pets directory connect you to local foster or boarding programs that hold your pet, often free, while you’re in a shelter that can’t take animals.
Can I get help feeding my dog or paying a vet bill while unhoused?
Yes. Feeding Pets of the Homeless (775-841-7463) provides free pet food and emergency veterinary care through more than 2,000 partner vet hospitals nationwide, and the MSPCA maintains a directory of Massachusetts pet-food pantries if you’re in New England.
Does a shelter with a "no pets" policy have to let in my service dog?
Yes. Under the ADA, a shelter open to the public cannot turn away a legitimate service dog trained to do a task related to a disability, even with a no-pets policy (see ADA.gov). This does not extend to a regular pet or an emotional support animal — staff can legally ask only two questions: is the dog a service animal required for a disability, and what task is it trained to do.
What is a "co-sheltering" program?
Co-sheltering means the shelter is set up for people and their pets to stay together, rather than requiring you to surrender or board your animal elsewhere. My Dog Is My Home tracks this growing network and can help point you toward local providers.
Are any of the shelters on this list guaranteed to have space?
No — availability changes daily, so call ahead before you travel to any shelter on this list, and confirm their current pet policy since it can change with staffing or space. If one is full, use 211 or HUD’s Find Shelter tool to find the next nearest option.