We are a rescue house all the way. My childhood pets were usually brought home by my dad because they appeared at his work and needed a home. We have adopted dogs (and cats) my whole life, and I’ve been fortunate enough to work with some great organizations here in San Antonio to help our four-legged family grow.
Alamo City Pit Bull Rescue
Bully breeds aren’t for everyone, but they really should be! We found our Dexter when he was just a small potato. He was our Covid adoption, and he’s been the best friend to both of my kids. ACPBR is a foster-based rescue. They have a rigorous application process that includes a home visit to make sure your home and the dog are a good fit. They are also always looking for foster families, which is the perfect option if you aren’t quite ready to provide a forever home. You can learn more about pups available for adoption and foster, and get a head start on the applications at www.alamocitypitbulls.org
Animal Defense League
The oldest, largest, no-kill shelter in South Texas. They have three facilities in San Antonio where you can visit both dogs and cats. ADL does low-cost (or free) neuter and spay events, and also provide free vaccinations and microchipping. We got our one-eyed cat Sonya from ADL years ago and the adoption process was so easy. ADL also has some great volunteer opportunities for all ages (starting at age 6 with parent permission and assistance) and is also always looking for foster families. See www.adltexas.org for more information on fostering, adopting, and volunteering.
San Antonio Humane Society
The San Antonio Humane Society is responsible for bringing us our newest feline addition, Jason. They are a shelter facility; you simply go and tour the shelter and select the pet you would like to adopt. They do recommend that you bring in your existing family pet(s) to meet the adoptee and make sure they will get along, and offer low cost spay and neuter services to the public. SAHS also has a great collaboration with some of elementary schools in San Antonio ISDs, where kids get to practice their reading skills by reading to the animals in the shelter. Visit www.sahumane.org for more information on their services.
San Antonio Pets Alive
SAPA has three facilities in town, and you you can tour and see the pets available for adoption at all of them. They also partner with other local organizations to rescue animals from the city shelter, and even transports animals across the country when needed. Every pet adopted from SAPA is fully vaccinated, microchipped and spayed/neutered. While SAPA does have a listing of their animals online, they do not check for child/animal compatibility – so they recommend you bring your current pet to the adoption appointment to make sure everyone gets along.
God’s Dogs
God’s Dogs is also a foster-based rescue, with literally hundreds of dogs. You can review their basic information on the website, sorting them by breed, sex, size and attributes (i.e. good with cats). God’s Dogs also has adoption events around town where you can go and meet the dogs in person. We found our newest addition, Jaye, with them, and a better snuggler you’ve never seen. She loves swimming, getting the entire house wet, and chasing wasps around the yard. They are always looking for fosters, and use volunteers to transport dogs from rescue locations to foster homes. If you can help, or are looking for your very own snuggle bug, check out their website at www.godsdogsrescue.org
SNIPSA
SNIPSA puts on my favorite 5k of the year! It’s a dog friendly run, and even if you’re not a dog owner, 3.1 miles is much easier to tackle beside all those cute pups. In addition to their adoption efforts, they have a spay/neuter clinic. Their dogs are in foster homes, so once you review their online listing and put in an application, they will connect you with the foster family so a meet and greet can be arranged. Check out www.snipsa.org for more.
If you already know and love a breed, there’s a good chance a rescue group has formed nearby. Two of my favorites are the Italian Greyhound Rescue Foundation and Weimaraner Rescue Texas. I’ve seen both groups at adoption events and chatted with their volunteers. Both of these breeds have their own fantastic quirks and needs, and these specialized rescue groups work hard to match them with the right forever homes.
Of course, please do your research. Make sure both your home and your prospective pet are a good fit. If you have young kids or cats, make sure your new dog is going to get along with them. Similarly, find a dog that matches your family’s level of activity: don’t adopt a dog that needs lots of exercise if you’re a busy family, when a couch potato pup would be a much better fit for everyone. Talk to your vet and look into common medical problems for breeds so you know what to expect. Then, go find a furry friend to bring home and love!
