Homeless Shelters That Accept Dogs

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.