Are you looking to add a fur-child to your family? Good choice. I grew up with a German shepherd named Angel, and she had such a profound impact on my childhood that I still wear her tag around my neck – it’s been 16 years since we lost her.
Pets are a wonderful addition to any family. They’re comforting, fun and can teach kids valuable life lessons. But finding one that fits perfectly in your family dynamic can be a bit tricky.
Families looking for a new pet need to take everything from the animal’s temperament and size to their living situation and schedule into consideration. And choosing the wrong pet can be devastating to all.
That’s where pet adoption agencies come in. These animal rescues work diligently to match homeless pets up with suitable families to ensure long-lasting bonds.
Explore this list of local options and reach out to one near you to aid in your search. And if you’re not sure that a furry friend is right for your family, check out our advice on what to consider before adopting a pet.
Almost Home Animal Rescue
- Address: 25503 Clara Lane, Southfield
- Contact: 248-200-2695
- Adoption fees: $150-$400/dogs, $100-$125/cats
- Adoption requirements: Adoption application
This no-kill rescue prides itself on matching families with the “best fit” for them. Fill out an application online or at one of its adoption events around the metro Detroit area.
Cat Tails Acres Sanctuary
- Address: Based in Shelby Township; PO Box 183164, Shelby Township
- Contact: cattailacressanctuary@gmail.com
- Adoption fees: Contact for details
- Adoption requirements: Contact for details
This rescue specializes in elderly, feral or unwanted cats. Some stay at the sanctuary, while others learn to become social and are adopted out.
Canine Companions Rescue Center
- Address: Based in Clarkston; PO Box 1017, Clarkston
- Contact: 248-834-9419
- Adoption fees: $100-$200/dogs, $275/puppies
- Adoption requirements: Adoption application, meet-and-greet, adoption contract
The temperament and behaviors of each dog at this rescue are observed by a foster home prior to the dog’s adoption. Each dog comes spayed or neutered and gets a complimentary vet visit seven days after the adoption. Families have 30 days to return the dog if it doesn’t work out.
Detroit Dog Rescue
- Address: Based in Detroit; PO Box 806119, St. Clair Shores
- Contact: 313-458-8014 or detroitdogrescue@gmail.com
- Adoption fees: $200-$250/dogs, $300/puppies
- Adoption requirements: Adoption application and agreement, home-check
Detroit’s first no-kill dog shelter is dedicated to rescuing abused, neglected and homeless dogs from the city’s streets and adopting them out to loving forever homes.
Elite K-9
- Address: 1039 S. Rochester Road, Rochester Hills
- Contact: 248-218-6661
- Adoption fees: Free
- Adoption requirements: Call for details
This company has teamed up with Leader Dogs for the Blind and offers healthy, trained and high-quality working dogs. Families host mom dogs, which breed puppies that will grow up to be working dogs.
Families care for both mom and her puppies. When mom retires from breeding at age four, their host families have the option to adopt them. Vet and educational programming costs are covered.
Friends for Animals of Metro Detroit
- Address: 2661 Greenfield Road, Dearborn
- Contact: 313-943-2697 or friends@metrodetroitanimals.org
- Adoption fees: Vary
- Adoption requirements: Adoption application, meet-and-greet
Find your family’s next furry companion at this Dearborn rescue, which also advocates for animal welfare legislation and environmental responsibility.
Happy Days Dog & Cat Rescue
- Address: Base in Livonia; PO Box 530385, Livonia
- Contact: info@hddcr@gmail.com
- Adoption fees: Call for details
- Adoption requirements: Adoption application, vet check, home check, adoption contract
Animals are not placed in their new homes on a first-come, first-served basis. Instead, this rescue works to match families with the right pet for them. Dogs and cats come vaccinated, fixed, micro-chipped and with a clean bill of health.
Home Furever
- Address: Based in Detroit
- Contact: 313-645-4399
- Adoption fees: Call for details
- Adoption requirements: Adoption application, interview with adoption coordinator, vet check, home check
This spot provides temporary foster homes for homeless animals, gives instruction on how to care for pets and offers specialized animal awareness programming in addition to pet adoption.
Humane Society of Huron Valley
- Address: 3100 Cherry Hill Road, Ann Arbor
- Contact: 734-662-5585
- Adoption fees: $105-$350/dogs, $50-$135/cats, $20-$100/others
- Adoption requirements: Adoption application, meet-and-greet
This local shelter offers dog, cat, rodent, horse and other animal adoption opportunities. Stop in the shelter to meet your new friend during open hours.
K-9 Stray Rescue League
- Address: 2120 Metamora Road, Oxford
- Contact: 248-628-0435
- Adoption fees: $125-$280/dogs
- Adoption requirements: Call for
details
Dogs through K-9 Stray come up-to-date on shots, heartworm tested and spayed or neutered. One-week trials available.
Last Day Dog Rescue
- Address: Based in Livonia; PO Box 51935, Livonia
- Contact: ourlastdaydogs@gmail.com
- Adoption fees: Vary by dog; typically $350
- Adoption requirements: Adoption application, vet reference, home visit, meet-and-greet
All of the pets up for adoption at this rescue were once on the “urgent” list at Michigan and Ohio rescues. They are housed with a foster parent and are adopted out fixed and up-to-date on all of their shots.
Michigan Animal Adoption Network
- Address: Based in Troy; PO Box 556, Troy
- Contact: 248-545-5055 or miaan@att.net
- Adoption fees: $150/cats, $250/dogs
- Adoption requirements: Call for details
Find your families next dog or cat through this growing Oakland County rescue.
Michigan Animal Rescue League
- Address: 790 Featherstone St., Pontiac
- Contact: 248-335-9290
- Adoption fees: $100/cats and kittens, $200/dogs and puppies
- Adoption requirements: Adoption application, meet-and-greet
Cats and dogs that find their homes through Michigan Animal Rescue are fixed, up-to-date on their vaccines, dewormed, health screened and flea-free.
Michigan Anti-Cruelty Society
- Address: 13569 Joseph Campau Ave., Detroit
- Contact: 313-891-7188
- Adoption fees: Call for details
- Adoption requirements: Call for details
Give a formerly abandoned or injured cat or dog a new start by adopting from this Detroit rescue.
Michigan Humane Society
- Address: Locations in Detroit, Rochester Hills and Westland
- Contact: 248-283-1000
- Adoption fees: Call for details
- Adoption requirements: Adoption application, meet-and-greet
Find the perfect cat, dog, rabbit, rat, mouse, chicken or other pet for your family. Stop by during open hours to take a look at the adoptable animals, meet them on the same day, and, in most cases, take them home right away.
Misfit Angels Rescue
- Address: Based in Eastpointe; PO Box 8819, Eastpointe
- Contact: 586-339-5443
- Adoption fees: Call for details
- Adoption requirements: Call for details
This home-based nonprofit serves Macomb, Wayne and St. Clair counties and adopts out pets that are spayed/neutered, up-to-date on vaccines, heartworm tested and micro-chipped.
New Beginnings Animal Rescue
- Address: 2502 Rochester Road, Royal Oak
- Contact: 248-543-4070
- Adoption fees: $50-$250
- Adoption requirements: Adoption application, meet-and-greet
This cat rescue works diligently to match their cuddly felines with their forever homes.
Pet Adoption Alternative of Warren (PAAW)
- Address: Based in Warren
- Contact: 586-825-3350 or info@paawarren.org
- Adoption fees: $125/cats and kittens, $150-$250/dogs, $250/puppies
- Adoption requirements: Adoption application, vet check, meet-and-greet, meeting with an adoption counselor
Helps homeless dogs and cats of all ages and needs find a loving forever family.
Shelter to Home Animal Rescue
- Address: 266 Oak St., Wyandotte
- Contact: 734-556-3135
- Adoption fees: $50/cats, $175-$250/dogs
- Adoption requirements: Adoption application, meet-and-greet, home visit (dogs only)
Pets that are adopted from this rescue are tested for common illnesses, dewormed, spayed or neutered and given a flea treatment. Most pets are housed in foster care before their adoption and offer opportunities for families to foster.
The Ferndale Cat Shelter
- Address: 821 Livernois Ave., Ferndale
- Contact: 248-733-3554
- Adoption fees: $120/cats, $150/kittens
- Adoption requirements: Adoption application, adoption contract
Cats adopted through this shelter are spayed/neutered, vaccinated and micro-chipped. Families are expected to keep their new pet in their home with the family and refrain from declawing.
Do you know of any other pet adoption agencies in metro Detroit or Ann Arbor? Give them a shout out in the comments and we may add them to the list.
This post was originally published in 2019 and is updated regularly.
