Our pet charities section has listings of local animal shelters and pet rescues.
Have a charity you'd like listed? Call us so we can talk to them about becoming a nonprofit member!
General Business Listings:
Businesses listed below are not TAILS411 members, sponsors or TAILSRewards merchants and therefore have not been vetted by TAILS Foundation Inc. If your business is listed below and you would like to become a member, sponsor or TAILSRewards merchant, please Contact Us today!!
Panhandle Animal Rescue 208-265-7297
Furry Farm Rescue 208-755-0879
North Idaho Rat Rescue 208-704-9829
Becky's Big Dog Rescue 208-704-2349
Purrs4Life 208-771-4141
Power of the Paw 208-771-5668
Heath's Haven 509-435-3701
Double J Dog Ranch 208-457-8600
Kootenai Humane Society 208-772-4019
Sammy's Clubhouse Spokane Ferret Rescue 509-599-3327
Why a shelter or rescue group?
 
  • 6–8 million pets end up in shelters each year; half of those will probably not be adopted.
  • 25 percent of pets in shelters are purebreds. Breed-specific rescue groups always have purebred dogs and puppies looking for new homes.
  • Most pets end up homeless through no fault of their own—"moving" and "landlord issues" are the top reasons people give for relinquishing their pets, meaning shelters and rescue groups are full of wonderful, family-ready pets.
  • Pets adopted from shelters and rescue groups typically cost less than pets purchased or even acquired for free—once you add in the cost of vaccinations, spay/neuter surgery, microchip, dewormer, and other "extras" included in your adoption fee, you'll probably be surprised what a bargain an adopted pet really is!
  • Most shelters and rescue groups conduct through behavioral analysis of each pet to ensure that they will be the right fit for your family, dramatically improving the chances your new pet will fit right in.
  • Shelters and rescue groups can provide advice on making your relationship with your pet the best it can be for the rest of his or her life, so you’ll never have to go it alone!

Do your homework
So now you’ve decided to add a new pet to your family. The first question to answer is what kind of pet will be the best fit for your household? Do you have enough time to devote to the daily needs of a dog? Is there someone in your household who is allergic to cats? Have you considered a non-traditional pet such as a rat or another small animal? Doing your homework in advance will make your search easier and increase the chances that your new pet will be a happy addition to the family.

Waiting for just the right one?
If for some reason you don’t find what you’re looking for right away, don’t be discouraged. Sadly shelters and rescue groups receive new animals every day, so keep checking back with them. Some groups also keep a waiting list, so they can call you if an animal matching your preference becomes available.

Visit your local shelter or rescue
It’s important to check the websites of your local shelter or rescue as well. And don’t forget to visit your local shelter or rescue in person—sometimes all it takes to find your perfect match is to look directly into a pet’s eyes and fall in love.

The Humane Society of the United States
http://www.humanesociety.org/