Small Dog Lifesavers

Missy hopes that the Small Dog Lifesavers site will generate interest for folks to adopt both pedigrees and non-pedigrees locally in Southern California and anywhere there is a need. Some of our links are local California rescues and others are national rescues. Contact Missy for more information.

Single Breed Rescues & Adoptions

AMA National Rescue Program

The AMA National Rescue Program provides adoption services for Maltese being surrendered by their owners, either privately or through shelters. We also provide temporary foster homes, when necessary, to care for abused, sickly, and homeless Maltese until such time when they can be placed in permanent homes. Maltese that require temporary foster care are kept and loved in pre-approved private homes with knowledgeable, caring individuals.

In California, contact ragtak@starband.net.

American Toy Fox Terrier Club

The Toy Fox Terrier is truly a Toy and a Terrier, and both have influenced his personality and character. As a Terrier, the TFT possesses keen intelligence, courage and animation. As a Toy, he is diminutive and devoted, with an endless abiding love for his master. Do not let his size fool you, the TFT is a big dog in a little package. He considers himself "Superdog" making it clear that he has a huge ego, and will dominate almost every situation.

Bichon FurKids Rescue

Bichon FurKids Rescue is a charitable not-for-profit organization based in and serving Southern California. Our goal is to rescue Bichons, Bichon mixes and other small dogs who can no longer live with their original guardian or guardians. We believe that each life is meaningful and that all deserve to live out their lives as loving companions in forever homes. Our motto, "Making a Difference in a Dog's Life" reflects our commitment to assisting healthy, adoptable Bichons and their buddies find loving guardians who can care for and protect them as long as they live.

Bichons and Buddies

Bichons and Buddies is a charitable not-for-profit organization based in and serving Southern California. Our goal is to rescue Bichons, Bichon mixes and other small dogs who can no longer live with their original guardian or guardians. We believe that each life is meaningful and that all deserve to live out their lives as loving companions in forever homes. Our motto, "Making a Difference in a Dog's Life" reflects our commitment to assisting healthy, adoptable Bichons and their buddies find loving guardians who can care for and protect them as long as they live.

Havanese Club of America

This is the Havanese Club of America (HCA) - the national AKC Parent Club for the Havanese breed. Their rescue services provide placement to the pure-bred Havanese community of the United States. When you go to the site, click on the "Havanese Rescue" in the left column. You can adopt or become a foster parent! (If you have never met a Havanese, you need to check out this site.)

Hemopet Greyhound Rescue

We save the lives of the greyhounds who would otherwise be destroyed, and their donations of blood (and its various components) save other lives in turn. After a strictly limited time serving as donors, the greyhounds are placed with carefully screened families who will provide a permanent happy and healthy home. In 2001, Hemopet moved to our Garden Grove facility in order to accommodate the large demand for both life-saving blood products and donor adoptions. Please call 714-891-2022 or Email Hemopet.

A note from Small Dog Life Savers: If you live in Orange County, California, please donate your time by volunteering to walk these beautiful greyhounds who are in this facility. You can also help with bubble bath days. Many of these dogs are available for adoption. There is so much help needed to rescue these dogs. Many people do not realize that when blood is needed for any dog in surgery, the greyhound is most likely the dog who has donated the blood to save that dog's life.

JCCARE: Japanese Chin Care and Rescue Effort

JCCARE is a dog rescue organization dedicated to the health and welfare of Japanese Chin dogs. We are a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization of rescue volunteers whose sole purpose is helping, rehabilitating and finding homes for homeless Japanese Chin across the United States of America.

Northcentral Maltese Rescue

It is the mission of Northcentral Maltese Rescue, Inc. to accept Maltese dogs that their owners, for whatever reason, can no longer take care of. Some of these dogs are abandoned or stray, and they come to us from all over the country. We alleviate pain and suffering by providing medical care while in a protected foster home environment, and we find them a loving, safe and permanent home where they can live out their lives in the comfort of secure surroundings. All dogs will be spayed or neutered before placement. Northcentral Maltese Rescue, Inc. will extend a helping hand to any shelter or rescue organization that requests our assistance.

Our most important resources are the loving foster parents who care for and look after our dogs while they are waiting to be placed in a permanent forever home. Some of the dogs we receive need special care, and the foster parents provide the care and attention to nurse them back to health. If you think you would like to be a foster parent, we welcome and appreciate your support no matter what part of the country you live in.

Papillon 911 Rescue and Adoption, Inc.

  • Web site: Pap911Rescue.org
  • Location: National
  • Focus: Papillons and papillon mixes

This charitable organization is created to rescue Papillons and Papillon mixes nationwide. Our focus is on locating and rescuing from a life of horror those dogs used as breeders in puppy mills. We will participate in the rescue and placement of Papillons who are culled from the puppy mills or purchased at puppy mill auctions no matter what their health or age.

Won't you please join us at Pap911Rescue.org?

To the world you are nothing . . .
To a rescue dog, you are the world!
A house without a dog is not a home
A dog without a home is heartbreaking.

Pugs 'n Pals of Southern California

Everything you always wanted to know about pugs, including resuce and adoption information.

Small Paws Rescue

  • Web site: Small Paws Rescue
  • Location: National from Tulsa, Oklahoma
  • Focus: Bichon Frise

Largest Bichon Frise rescue in the country. Adoptions throughout the United States. Whenever we fly a rescue baby to another state, we always use DELTA-DASH (via Delta Airlines). It is a little different in that the babies are NOT treated as luggage, and are always hand carried from point to point. They are never dropped down the hatch with the luggage. All of your rescues so far have arrrived fresh and clean and pretty much unstressed.

SoCal Poodle Pals

  • Web site: SoCal Poodle Pals
  • Location: Southern California
  • Focus: Purebred standard, miniature and toy poodles and poodle mixes

SoCal Poodle Pals accepts purebred Standard, Miniature and Toy Poodles as well as Poodle mixes. Dogs are cared for in loving foster homes while waiting for adoption, and are vaccinated, spayed and neutered prior to going to their new homes. (Please see our Web site for more details.)

Our organization not only finds loving homes for dogs in our care, but we also monitor the dogs' progress for life. If for any reason a family cannot keep a dog adopted from SoCal Poodle Pals, the dog is returned to our organization to be placed in another screened home.

Southland Collie Rescue

Southland Collie Rescue, Inc. (SCR) is a non-profit, all-volunteer group with corporate headquarters and central operations at our "O'Neil's Collie Haven" property in Riverside, California.

Our mission is to rescue every Southern California Collie in need. We take in, care for, and find loving homes for Purebred Collies (and Collie mixes when we can). The rescued Collies may be in shelters, abandoned, or given up by owners who can't or won't care for them any more. We ensure that every rescued Collie is spayed or neutered, current on shots, and checked for health and temperament. We also provide whatever medical treatment is necessary one of our major expenses.

We maintain our Collies at Collie Haven or in a volunteer foster home, where they're fed, groomed and loved as if they were the fosterer's own dogs. We then find the right "forever home." interviewing and visiting all potential adopters to ensure that the Collie and his or her new family will be happy.

We adopt our Collies into Southern California homes only. If you live outside Southern California, please see The Collie Club of America's Rescue List for a listing of Collie Rescues by state, where we hope you'll find the right Collie Rescue.

West Highland White Terrier Rescue of California

Westie Rescue of CA, is a private 501(c)-3, recognized not-for-profit organization which now serves the entire state of California. We also have WR of CA affiliate volunteer representation in: Arizona, Washington, Oregon, Nevada, Utah and Baja California (Mexico). And, we are very proud to be recognized as the only California Westie rescue organization which qualifies for 501(c)-3 status.

We were organized specifically for the sole purpose of providing rescue, rehabilitation and adoption services for Westies In Need. We also actively participate in public breed education. We are exclusively an all volunteer organization, relying on a network of breed loving volunteers. We are a very active group, currently placing about 50+ Westies per year.

Westie Rescue of Orange County & Beyond

Westie Rescue of Orange County & Beyond (WROC) is an IRS recognized 501(c)(3) charitable corporation serving all of California. Our mission is to rescue, rehabilitate and find homes for West Highland White Terriers, to help control the animal population by spaying and neutering our dogs before they are placed in permanent homes, and to provide the public with education about our breed and its needs.

Westie Rescue of Orange County & Beyond is an all volunteer based corporation with no paid positions, dedicated to saving the lives of forgotten West Highland White Terriers by rescuing stray animals from shelters that have not been adopted, reclaimed by their owners, or abandoned. Our rescues are cared for in private homes where they receive medical care and rehabilitation. WROC supports the "no kill" philosophy. We specialize in Westie skin issues, work with a behaviorist for special needs dogs, and senior Westies have a special place in our hearts.

Westie Rescue of Orange County & Beyond (WROC) was founded in the summer of 2008 by a group of dedicated volunteers. We would not be able to continue this important work without our network of volunteers, foster families, supporters and our adopters that have opened their hearts to a rescued Westie.

Westie Rescue of Orange County & Beyond participates in community events. We depend upon fund raising events and donations to continue our rescue, veterinary care, and rehabilitation.

Our primary focus is securing loving homes for unwanted, neglected and/or abused animals. We take particular care in placing our Westies. Our screening process includes an application, reference checks, interview and a home visit to ensure the home and family is compatible with the pet's needs and our requirements. We request owners to sign a contract obliging them to contact us if they cannot provide for the animal for any reason. We will always take our rescues back if the adoption does not work out.

We are recognized by the West Highland White Terrier Club of America and the West Highland White Terrier Club of San Francisco as partners in rescue.

Yorkies & Friends Rescue

Yorkies & Friends Rescue assists Yorkies, Yorkie mixes, and small dogs in Southern California. We are a proud member of the Rescue Alliance of Hairless & Other Breeds, Inc., a national 501(c)3 non-profit animal rescue organization. We're a small, all volunteer group who are dedicated to providing all that our rescued dogs need in the way of veterinary care, optimal nutrition, and TLC.

We then find the very best home possible for each dog. You can see our adoptable dogs on our site. Your donations are greatly appreciated and will be used to provide vet care and supplies for our rescued furry friends (Paypal donation is available on our Petfinder site). If you live in Southern California and would like to join us in helping these little guys, please email us at yorkies6D@gmail.com.

Yorkshire Terrier Club of Los Angeles Rescue

We rescue and assist Yorkshire Terriers in Southern California. We're a registered 501(c)3 non-profit, all volunteer group. You'll find us at www.ytcla.com and Petfinder.com. Come help us help these terrific terriers. If you'd like to adopt a rescued Yorkie, please email us at yorkies6d@gmail.com. We are very grateful for your donations. All donated funds go to help our rescued Yorkies, either with vet costs or supplies (beds, food, piddle pads, harnesses, leashes, etc.). Everyone in our rescue group is a volunteer. Please help us help the dogs, and send a donation to YTCLA Rescue Fund - 7986 Poinsettia Dr., Buena Park, CA 90620. Thank you!!!

Yorkshire Terrier National Rescue Inc.

The Yorkshire Terrier National Rescue Inc. was founded in 1997. This is a National rescue.

We are dedicated to finding the best possible homes for Yorkshire Terriers in our care, regardless of age, sight, hearing or other handicaps. Everyday we help local pounds and other types of shelters find Yorkies in need of our help in relocating homeless and abandoned pets. See website - lots of photos of available Yorkies.

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YappyHappy.com: the ultimate dog tag and other gifts for pets

Our new YappyHappy dog tag not only looks cool, they're more functional than ordinary dog tags.