Covid Update: As far as I know, the following rescues are still operational. Rescue events are canceled, but meet and greets can be arranged. ACAS is open for new and current volunteer dog day outs, fostering, and adopting. Volunteering is allowed on site for current volunteers, provided the facility isn’t too busy. Temperature checks are being performed for anyone going into the building. All other business is conducted curbside.
Alachua County Animal Services is the municipal shelter for Alachua County, Florida. They are classified as “no kill” and maintain a very high percentage of live outcomes for adoptable dogs. Animal Services (ACAS) works hard to get to know each dog well and do their best to provide good outcomes for the dogs in their care. The vast majority of the dogs that I work with are at Alachua County Animal Services. This is also where many of the local rescues pull their dogs from.
Paws on Parole is an amazing program which pairs inmates from the Florida Department of Corrections and the Alachua County Jail with dogs from Alachua County Animal Services. The dogs learn the basic skills needed to pass the American Kennel Club’s Canine Good Citizen test during the eight week program. Inmates describe the experience as being life-changing, and often go on to volunteer with the program when they get out. There is always a Paws class in training. They have regular outings where you can meet the dogs in training before the graduate.
Rescues
The following rescues take nearly all of their dogs from Animal Services in Alachua County or Animal Services in surrounding areas.
The Humane Society of North Central Florida is a large organization that rescues hundreds of dogs from Alachua County Animal Services and adopts them out from their two campuses and from Petsmart on Archer Rd.
North Campus
4205 NW 6th Street
Gainesville, FL 32609
South Campus
5403 SW Archer Road
Gainesville, FL 32608
Plenty of Pit Bulls is a wonderful organization that rescues the dogs most in need: bully breeds whose behavior is suffering in the shelter or who have medical needs. They operate entirely on foster homes. POPB is extremely supportive of foster and adoptive families, and offer assistance with training, among other things.
Second Chance Rescue saves dogs that have no other options. These dogs often have medical or behavioral concerns. Second Chance relies entirely on foster homes. They do adoptions on Saturdays from Earth Pets, by the mall.
Haile’s Angels is a small rescue that operates through foster homes and focuses on dogs with medical needs.
Faithful Friends is a newer rescue that focuses on providing excellent foster care while finding the perfect home for every dog that they rescue.
Puppy Hill Farms operates through foster homes and rescues dogs from Animal Services like other rescues, but they also have a sanctuary for unadoptable dogs.
Should your rescue be on this list? Let me know!