What Are Pet Adoption Agencies?

Organizations that help rescue pets come in many forms and include local humane societies, animal shelters, and online aggregators that help connect people with pets who have been given up by their owners. There are also independent, nonprofit rescue groups, many of which don’t have physical facilities, but instead, house pets in volunteer foster homes until they are adopted. Some adoption agencies are breed-specific and focus on saving certain breeds, or breed mixes.

How Much Does It Cost to Adopt a Pet?

Adoption fees mostly depend on the pet's age, breed, and geographical location, but can range from $50 to $350. Fees typically include necessary vaccinations, spay or neuter, and a microchip. Some shelters run specials for no-cost adoptions, but remember that there’s much more to pet ownership costs than just that initial charge. Consider food, annual veterinary exams, heartworm and flea and tick prevention, and, of course, toys.

What Documents Are Required to Adopt a Pet?

Required documentation depends on the shelter. Some require you to provide records showing that your current pets are up to date on vaccinations and are spayed or neutered. If you don’t own your home, you may also need proof of landlord permission to have a pet. Most groups require identification to prove a minimum age (18, 21, or sometimes older). Some rescues and shelters require you to fill out an application before you meet a pet. Some may even call references. You may also be asked to fill out a questionnaire about your home or lifestyle so adoption counselors can help match you with the best pet. In some cases, you’ll be able to meet and play with a pet that day, and then take them home. However, in certain instances, the process can take longer.

What Do If I Can't Take Care of an Animal?

If you can no longer care for your pet, there are several options to consider. You can ask a family member to take it, rehome the animal, or put it up for adoption. Circumstances that lead to rehoming may include relocation to another state or country, financial hardship, or personal health issues. Never abandon an animal. Instead, take it to a shelter if you can no longer provide for it.

What Are The Cons of Adopting a Pet?

When you adopt a pet, you may not know its exact breed, as most shelters don't run DNA tests; they just guess. You may also not be aware of the pet's history. It could come from a trauma situation and need an adjustment period to get settled. This could certainly cause issues when your new pet is acclimating to its new environment. Often, the shelter will assist you in the transition and, in some cases, switch out the pet for another one should the match not be suitable.

Best Pet Adoption Agencies of 2023

Pets make great companions that provide unconditional love. They are also good for your health. Pets keep you active, ease stress, and may even extend your life. Pets can also help children learn loyalty, trust, compassion, and empathy.

More than six million animals enter shelters yearly, waiting for their forever home. Adopting a pet from an animal shelter, or rescue group, is a thoughtful way to save a life. And when you adopt, you also open up space for another furry friend to be rescued. Adoption is less expensive and more ethical than acquiring a pet from a breeder. To help, we've rounded up the best pet adoption agencies with easy-to-navigate websites offering plenty of choices for a new best friend.

Best Pet Adoption Agencies of 2023

Best Overall: Petfinder
Best Shelter Network: Best Friends Animal Society
Best in New York: North Shore Animal League
Best in Chicago: PAWS Chicago
Best in Los Angeles: Wags and Walks
Best in Texas: Austin Pets Alive!
Best Pet Store-Affiliated: PetSmart Charities

Best Overall: Petfinder

Key Specs

Cost: Free
Animals offered: Dogs, cats, rabbits, horses, birds, fish, and farm animals
Process: Search for animals within 100 miles of your home or anywhere

Why We Chose It

Petfinder isn’t an animal shelter or a rescue group, however, it's the best resource for searching thousands of animal rescue organizations in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.

Pros & Cons

Pros:

Listings from nearly 11,000 shelters and rescue groups in North America
Search online by animal type, breed, age, size, and location
Set up email alerts when a pet that matches your criteria is listed

Cons:

No physical shelter

Overview

Petfinder is one of the most comprehensive pet adoption search tools out there. You can search for pets near you, and also by breed, age, color, and size. You can even make sure the pet is good with kids and other animals.

It isn’t just limited to dogs and cats, either. The company lists birds, horses little furry critters, like hamsters and gerbils, fish and turtles, and farm animals. If you don’t find your perfect match, you can set up an alert with your preferences and receive an email when a pet that matches your description becomes available.

Using Petfinder is free, but there might be an adoption fee if you end up getting a pet from a shelter. Private owners cannot charge an adoption fee using this listing service, however.

Best Shelter Network: Best Friends Animal Society

Key Specs

Cost: $25 for kittens and up to $200 for puppies (fees are waived for long-stay animals)
Animals offered: Dogs, cats, horses, rabbits, and birds
Process: Search for a pet and fill out an adoption application

Why We Chose It

Best Friends Animal Society has regional programs in six U.S. metropolitan areas for easy accessibility.

Pros & Cons

Pros:

Works with 3,200 shelters and rescue partners
One of the leaders in the national no-kill movement
Runs the largest animal sanctuary of its kind in the U.S.
Saving animals for more than 35 years

Cons:

Unlike Petfinder, Best Friends doesn't list pets for adoption by owner

Overview

With the motto “Save Them All,” this well-known animal rescue group has been saving animals for more than 35 years. Best Friends Sanctuary in Kanab, Utah, is the largest sanctuary in the U.S. and is typically home to more than 1,600 animals needing lifelong care.

Aside from the sanctuary, which hosts dogs, cats, horses, goats, parrots, and rescued wildlife, the Best Friends Network works with 3,100 shelters throughout the country, with locations in all 50 states. You can use its online aggregator to search for a pet in a no-kill facility or rescue near you.

Best Friends is one of the leaders of the no-kill movement, providing support and training for shelters and rescues, and mobilizing community awareness to reach a goal of nationwide no-kill status by 2025. The organization's adoption fees are reasonable, and proceeds help benefit its cause.

Best in New York: North Shore Animal League

Key Specs

Cost: $75 for adult cats and up to $375 for puppies
Animals offered: Dogs, cats, rabbits
Process: Search for a pet, make an appointment with a counselor, visit the site

Why We Chose It

North Shore Animal League places more than 18,000 pets each year out of its Long Island and Adirondack, New York shelter locations.

Pros & Cons

Pros:

The largest no-kill rescue and adoption organization in the world
Low-cost spay/neuter and vet services program
Many animals come from partner shelters across the country and around the world

Cons:

Animals can only be adopted from two New York locations

Overview

Located in Port Washington on Long Island, New York, North Shore Animal League is one of the largest no-kill rescues in the U.S. At this high-profile organization, many animals have come from partner rescue groups across the country and around the world.

When you visit their location in person, an adoption counselor will work with you to help find a pet that fits your lifestyle. You’ll spend time meeting the pets you’re interested in until you find your animal soulmate.

Adoption fees range from about $75 to $375, depending on the type of pet and age. Costs include a spay or neuter, and up to 15 days of health care, if needed. North Shore also offers low-cost spay and neuter services and veterinary care to pet owners in the community.

Best in Chicago: PAWS Chicago

Key Specs

Cost: $50 to $150 for cats; $200 to $350 for dogs, plus a $100 training fee for puppies and young dogs
Animals offered: Dogs and cats
Process: Take the compatibility quiz, view animals, schedule an in-person appointment

Why We Chose It

PAWS places thousands of dogs and cats and racks up countless community volunteer hours. It also offers low-cost spay/neuter and veterinary pet care to Chicago-based pet owners.

Pros & Cons

Pros:

Offers a compatibility quiz to find your best pet match
Follow-up training provided
Offers low-cost vet services
Finds homes for thousands of pets each year

Cons:

An extra training class fee for younger dogs

Overview

It can be heartbreaking to walk into a shelter and look at all those cute furry faces. But PAWS Chicago is there to help you find your best match.

Before you search for animals, PAWS suggests taking its online ComPETibility Quiz. It consists of just a few questions about your family and other existing pets in the home, and also asks you about the personality of the dog or cat you’re looking for. You’ll then receive a personalized scorecard to help you find pets that match your lifestyle.

Adoption fees range from about $50 to $350, depending on the type and age of the pet. Dogs under 8 years old also require a $100 training deposit for required classes to make sure you and your pup get off to a good start.

Best in Los Angeles: Wags & Walks

Key Specs

Cost: $450 for dogs over six months and $550 for dogs six months and under
Animals offered: Dogs
Process: Browse pets online, schedule an interview, and meet and greet

Why We Chose It

Wags & Walks focuses on matching dogs to humans by personality traits, and has saved over 7,000 dogs in the LA area since it first launched its services. (It now has a Nashville location, too.)

Pros & Cons

Pros:

Focuses on dog temperament, rather than breed or age
Flexible about adopters' qualifications
Has a 4,000-square-foot facility and a large foster network

Cons:

Adoption fees are expensive

Overview

One of the smaller organizations on the list, Wags & Walks earns its marks for giving overlooked dogs a chance. The rescue was founded in 2011 by a veterinarian’s daughter who was stunned by the number of healthy dogs euthanized each year in overcrowded Los Angeles shelters.

Today, the organization has a 4,000-square-foot facility in West Los Angeles (as well as one in Nashville) that focused on dogs with great temperaments, no matter the breed.

Wags & Walks requires all potential adopters to fill out an online application before meeting potential canine buddies. This allows its staff to screen adopters and make the best dog-to-human match. Wags & Walks' policies are flexible, and don't rule out people who aren’t home full-time or those that live in small spaces.

Best in Texas: Austin Pets Alive!

Key Specs

Cost: Varies depending on age, breed, and/or medical condition(s)
Animals offered: Dogs and cats
Process: Search the website, make an appointment by email, and visit the shelter

Why We Chose It

Austin Pets Alive! is a no-kill shelter that uses its detailed website, plus an in-person matchmaker, to find a pet that fits your family and lifestyle.

Pros & Cons

Pros:

Detailed online search helps find the best pet match
Dogs go through a training and socialization program
Helps train and mentor shelters and rescues transitioning to no-kill status

Cons:

You need to live within 100 miles of Austin to adopt

Overview

Austin Pets Alive! provides the Austin area with access to adoptable pets, and has a comprehensive pet search system on its website. The search encourages you to add information about your household (people, pets, and level of activity). Then, you can further narrow your selection based on the pet's energy level, size, and breed.

The shelter also has an app that lets you search for pets and set up alerts for when a pet matching your criteria comes along. Adoption prices vary, depending on the age and type of pet, and sometimes they run specials.

Training is an important part of socialization for dogs at this shelter. Most take part in playgroups, and some have completed the Canine Good Citizen Training or the Total Obedience Program before being adopted.

Best Pet Store-Affiliated: PetSmart Charities

Key Specs

Cost: Varies by shelter
Animals offered: Cats, dogs, rabbits, birds, reptiles, horses, small animals, and farm animals
Process: Search the website or attend an in-person event, meet for an interview, complete paperwork

Why We Chose It

PetSmart Charities works with more than 4,000 nonprofits and governmental entities and donates a portion of its "finders fee" back to local shelters and rescues.

Pros & Cons

Pros:

Offers adoption events at nearly all 1,660 U.S. stores
Provides an online search for pets
Works with nearly 4,000 nonprofits and government groups

Cons:

May have to travel to adopt
Not all stores host a physical facility

Overview

Instead of selling puppies and kittens at retail, PetSmart teams up with local rescues and shelters to hold adoption events. Some stores even house adoptable pets.

You’ve no doubt seen wagging tails and purring kittens outside the stores, as eager adopters gather around, hoping to add a new member to their family. These events offer great exposure for sheltered pets, especially when small rescue groups don’t have a physical facility.

Two out of every 10 pet adoptions in North America are facilitated through PetSmart Charities. Simply, go to an event, look for pets in the store, or search online at PetSmart’s portal to find a pup near you. Adoption fees vary depending on the pet, shelter, and location.

Final Verdict

We chose Petfinder as the best pet adoption agency because it lets you search options from 11,000 shelters and rescue groups in North America. This online resource helps place dogs, cats, rabbits, horses, birds, fish, and farm animals and the cost to search is free. Plus, you can filter your search to find a pet with certain qualities and set up alerts for certain preferences. While there may be an adoption fee if you choose to adopt from a center, Petfinder does not allow private owners to charge for adoption.

Compare the Best Pet Adoption Agencies of 2023

Company	Cost	Animals Offered	Process
Best Overall Petfinder	Free	Dogs, cats, rabbits, horses, birds, fish, farm animals	Search animals within 100 miles of your home
Best Shelter Network Best Friends Animal Society	$25 for kittens and up to $200 for puppies	Dogs, cats, horses, rabbits, and birds	Search for a pet and fill out an adoption application
Best in New York North Shore Animal League	$75 for adult cats and up to $375 for puppies	Dogs, cats, rabbits	Search for a pet, make an appointment with a counselor, visit the site
Best in Chicago PAWS Chicago	$50 to $150 for cats; $200 to $350 for dogs, plus a $100 training fee for puppies	Dogs and cats	Take the compatibility quiz, view animals, schedule an in-person appointment
Best in Los Angeles Wags and Walks	$450 for dogs over six months and $550 for dogs six months and under	Dogs	Browse pets online, schedule an interview, and meet and greet
Best in Texas Austin Pets Alive!	Varies	Dogs and cats	Search the website, make an appointment by email, visit the shelter
Best Pet Store-Affiliated PetSmart Charities	Varies	Cats, dogs, rabbits, birds,	Search the website or attend an in-person event, meet for an interview, complete paperwork

Frequently Asked Questions

What Are Pet Adoption Agencies?

Organizations that help rescue pets come in many forms and include local humane societies, animal shelters, and online aggregators that help connect people with pets who have been given up by their owners. There are also independent, nonprofit rescue groups, many of which don’t have physical facilities, but instead, house pets in volunteer foster homes until they are adopted. Some adoption agencies are breed-specific and focus on saving certain breeds, or breed mixes.
How Much Does It Cost to Adopt a Pet?

Adoption fees mostly depend on the pet's age, breed, and geographical location, but can range from $50 to $350. Fees typically include necessary vaccinations, spay or neuter, and a microchip. Some shelters run specials for no-cost adoptions, but remember that there’s much more to pet ownership costs than just that initial charge. Consider food, annual veterinary exams, heartworm and flea and tick prevention, and, of course, toys.
What Documents Are Required to Adopt a Pet?

Required documentation depends on the shelter. Some require you to provide records showing that your current pets are up to date on vaccinations and are spayed or neutered. If you don’t own your home, you may also need proof of landlord permission to have a pet. Most groups require identification to prove a minimum age (18, 21, or sometimes older).

Some rescues and shelters require you to fill out an application before you meet a pet. Some may even call references. You may also be asked to fill out a questionnaire about your home or lifestyle so adoption counselors can help match you with the best pet. In some cases, you’ll be able to meet and play with a pet that day, and then take them home. However, in certain instances, the process can take longer.
What Do If I Can't Take Care of an Animal?

If you can no longer care for your pet, there are several options to consider. You can ask a family member to take it, rehome the animal, or put it up for adoption. Circumstances that lead to rehoming may include relocation to another state or country, financial hardship, or personal health issues. Never abandon an animal. Instead, take it to a shelter if you can no longer provide for it.
What Are The Cons of Adopting a Pet?

When you adopt a pet, you may not know its exact breed, as most shelters don't run DNA tests; they just guess. You may also not be aware of the pet's history. It could come from a trauma situation and need an adjustment period to get settled. This could certainly cause issues when your new pet is acclimating to its new environment. Often, the shelter will assist you in the transition and, in some cases, switch out the pet for another one should the match not be suitable.

Methodology

We looked at several nationwide shelters and rescues before coming up with our list of the best. We focused on no-kill agencies that take in strays and owner surrenders or rescue pets from high-kill shelters without ample resources. We considered groups that offered detailed search engines and easy-to-use apps to find a perfect match. We also factored in organizations that keep an open mind about both the animals they offer and the potential adopters. Lastly, all the agencies we chose include necessary vaccines, spay or neuter, and microchips in their fees and most provide extra support to community pet owners in the form of low-cost vet care and training classes.