Rescue Partners

At LocalPaws Magazine, community impact is at the heart of what we do. One of the ways we give back is by supporting and spotlighting animal rescues that work tirelessly to help cats and dogs in need. This section of our website highlights rescue organizations across Ontario and Canada that are dedicated to animal rescue, fostering, and adoption. To date, we’ve featured 20+ animal rescues, recognizing their unique missions and the meaningful difference they make in their local communities.

We believe it truly takes a village to support animals in need. Every act of kindness — big or small — helps create positive change. Here, you can learn more about the incredible work these rescues are doing and explore ways to support them, including:

• Donating financially
• Donating food or supplies
• Volunteering your time or space

Please note: LocalPaws Magazine features rescue organizations as a community resource only. We do not screen or evaluate individual groups, nor are we involved in the rescue, adoption, or fostering process. We encourage readers to use their own judgment and ensure they feel comfortable with a rescue’s mission, values, and practices before offering support.

Grand River All Breed Rescue was founded in 2007 by a small group of volunteers who care about animals. Our mission is to keep as many pets out of the shelter as possible and to help loving owners keep their pets.

Taffy’s Legacy Canine Rescue and Rehabilitation started in 2015 in memory of Taffy, the greatest American Bulldog that ever was! Taffy was a registered therapy dog and an amazing bully breed ambassador.

Hobo Haven Rescue Inc. is dedicated to our mission of “no dog left behind”. Hobo Haven was founded in 2003 and was inspired by an abandoned dog named Hobo who was seen dumped in our area and brought to us to help.

The Alley Cat Cat Cafe is Stratford’s first and only cat cafe that opened on August 17, 2019. Our vision was to help cats get adopted in a calm and relaxing environment where people, cats and kittens alike can connect, meet and choose each other in a cage free atmosphere.

Cambridge Homeless Cat Rescue was founded by dedicated and cat-loving people to address the need for TNR for many cats living on streets in the Cambridge area. We want to help reduce and eventually remove stray cats from existence, like what has been done with stray dogs.

WiN is the largest West Highland White Terrier rescue organization in Canada founded in 2008. We are a volunteer rescue group, providing care for Westies that have been surrendered, taken from puppy mills or at risk of being abandoned in Animal Control facilities.

Canadian Dachshund Rescue (Ontario) was founded in 2001 to support the overwhelming number of dachshunds experiencing neglect or facing euthanasia through not fault of their own. Our mission is to match each dog with the loving forever family they deserve.

CCRT is Canada’s only national, Chihuahua rescue organization. The CCRT is a network of volunteers working together to rescue, transport, care for and rehome these homeless, abandoned, neglected and/or abused Chihuahuas.

Arthur Animal Rescue Co-operative (AARC) was founded in 2015 by Audrey Peacock, who has been rescuing cats for over 20 years. AARC is a non-profit group that focuses on saving feral, stray, and neglected cats in Wellington County.

Last Minute Dog Rescue is a group of crazy dog people who have in some way or another been exposed to the horrors of the overpopulation of dogs, in and around the USA. Our goal that we live by every day is to empty the shelters and find the dogs in our care a loving forever home.

Safe Paws Animal Rescue of Ontario was founded in July of 2022 and is located in Guelph, Ontario. We primarily help dogs and cats but have assisted with a few rabbits in need of rehoming and veterinary care. Our mission is to help Ontario’s stray dog overpopulation in the north and to help alleviate the overcrowding in shelters.

Tango’s Lead Canine Rescue and Sanctuary was founded in 2021 in honour of Tango, the best “bad” dog there ever was. As a 100% volunteer-run organization based in Guelph, Ontario, we strive to help dogs with medical conditions or undesirable behaviour that shelters may not have the resources to manage.

Save Our Scruff is a dog-rescue charity located in Southern Ontario dedicated to rescuing and rehoming in-need dogs and finding them safe and suitable permanent homes through adoption, advocacy and education. Save Our Scruff started in 2014 and has saved more than 2700 dogs along the way.

Homeward Bound Rescue (HBR) is a volunteer run organization that has been actively involved in the care and rescue of flat-faced dogs since 2010. In the last year alone, HBR placed just under 90 dogs into their forever homes and welcomed 44 new foster families.

Urban Tails Animal Rescue is a foster-based, animal rescue that is dedicated to helping vulnerable animals in need and the communities they come from. We rescue both dogs and cats of all ages, breeds, and sizes, including special needs, senior and palliative care cases in Toronto, across Canada and with our rescue partners globally.

Free Korean Dogs, founded in 2015 by EK Park, is dedicated to rescuing and rehoming victims of the dog meat trade in South Korea, with a mission to raise awareness and promote education on this critical issue.

Established in May 2016, DIBS Rescue is a 100% volunteer-based organization in Ontario, Canada. DIBS is fully dedicated to transforming the lives of homeless and abandoned dogs, with a focus on Mexican pups.

Potcake Pals Rescue is the Canadian branch of Potcake Puppy Palace, a dog rescue based in Nassau, The Bahamas. Established in 2012, our mission is to rescue, rehabilitate, and rehome abandoned potcake puppies.

Golden Rescue is one of Canada’s largest single-breed rescue groups. It is a non-profit charitable organization run entirely by volunteers, ensuring every Golden in their program finds a safe and loving forever family.

Purrfect Seniors was founded to promote the adoption and well-being of senior cats. The organization began in June 2024 and is operated by a group of young women who volunteer their time to improve animal welfare.