Home » Blog » Adoption » Dogs For Adoption In Ontario Canada – Find Your Perfect Puppy Pal!

Dogs For Adoption In Ontario Canada – Find Your Perfect Puppy Pal!

This post may contain affiliate links. We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this post.

Are you looking for dogs for adoption in Ontario, Canada?

Way back in 2004. Yowzers! That’s 19 years ago. Almost 2 decades! Well, way back in 2004 I started visiting shelters and rescues to find my first puppy.

I was lucky to find a small Aussie Lab mix puppy using PetFinder.com.

PetFinder.com is a great resource for finding dogs, cats, and other pets for adoption.

Dog Adoption Ontario - Beagle staring through ex-pen cage.

However, PetFinder does not have an easy resource for finding dog adoption organizations in Canada (at least we couldn’t find it).

So, we decided to put together this list of adoptable dog rescues and shelters by Canadian Province.

Below are all of the organizations in Ontario from which you can adopt a dog.

Please continue on to each individual organization’s website by clicking on their name to see dogs they have available for adoption or to learn more about the organization and their mission.

Adopting is a great way of bringing home a dog in need of a loving home.

Consider checking with the organizations in your area on a weekly basis if you’re looking for a specific breed before you decide to go out and buy a puppy from a breeder.

You know what they say – ‘Adopt Before You Shop!’

Dogs For Adoption In Ontario

OrganizationCityPhone
A Dog’s Best FriendOshawa 
A Dog’s Dream RescueOakville905-617-0427
AARF – Animal Angel Rescue FoundationStoney Creek 
Action Volunteers for Animals – HamiltonHamilton905-383-2416
Adopt-a-Dog/Save-a-LifeEtobicoke416-787-3862
Adopt-A-Pet Pet Rescue LucknowLucknow519-528-3045
After The Track Greyhound AdoptionStouffville 
Ajax Pet Care RescueAjax905-428-8160
All Breed Canine RescueSt. Thomas 
Alliston & District Humane SocietyEverett705-458-9038
Animal Adoptions of Flamborough, Inc.Waterdown905-689-7801
Animal Aide of St.Thomas-ElginSt. Thomas51-9633-3788
Animal Assistance Society of the Niagara RegionSt. Catharines905-322-6429
Animal Care Centre LoboIlderton519-666-1632
Animal Love FoundationLondon16-787-3862
Animal OutreachLondon519-434-9250
Animalert Pet AdoptionsLondon519-642-7732
Animal Rescue Foundation (A.R.F)LondonContact
ANML-RESQToronto416-256-1dog
Arbed RescueMartintown 
Arnprior and District Humane SocietyArnprior613-623-0916
Barks and Meows RescueDuart226-881-1490
Basset Hound Rescue of OntarioToronto 
Birch Haven Rescue & Rehabilitation ServicesOxford Station613-725-4279
Blue Collared CaninesDunnville289-673-1018
Boston Terrier Rescue CanadaArnprior 
Bow Wow RescueClinton 
Bullies In NeedNavan 
Burlington Animal ShelterBurlington905-335-3030
Burlington Humane Society formerly Animal AidBurlington905-637-7325
Caledon Animal ShelterCaledon905-857-5208 ext 21
Canadian Chihuahua Rescue and TransportToronto877-783-7333
Canadian Dachshund Rescue, OntarioToronto 
Canine Connect a CareLondon 
Chow Rescue OntarioTillsonburg519-688-5449
City of Mississauga Animal ServicesMississauga905-896-5864
City of Toronto Animal Services East RegionToronto416-338-7539
City of Toronto Animal Services North RegionToronto416-338-8723
City of Toronto Animal Services South RegionToronto416-338-6668
City of Toronto Animal Services West RegionToronto416-338-6271
Clarington Animal ShelterBowmanville905-623-7651
Danes in DistressCambridge519-279-4549
Dog TalesKing City905-713-1887
Etobicoke Humane SocietyToronto416-249-6100
Fetch And ReleashContact
For the AnimalsScarborough416-750-3048
Freedom Dog RescueOttawaContact
Friends of Abandoned PetsOttawa613-729-9820
Friends of Forsaken AnimalsSunderland905-852-4286
Gananoque and District Humane SocietyGananoque613-382-1512
Gentle Jake’s Coonhound RescueOntario Contact
Georgian Triangle Humane SocietyCollingwood705-445-5204
Georgina Animal Shelter and Adoption CentreKeswick800-898-8606
GoodDog RescueOttawa 
Grand River All Breed RescueCambridge Contact
Great Dane AngelsMagnetawan705-387-1744
Grey Bruce Animal ShelterOwen Sound519-372-1911
Guelph Humane SocietyGuelph519-824-3091
Happy Tails Rescue 585-396-4590
HART – Highland Animal Relief TeamBancroft 
Helping Paws RescueVienna519-773-5094
Home AgainBancroft613-332-5253
Homeward Bound RescueYorkContact 
It Takes A Village Dog RescueSouth Eastern OntarioContact
Jack Russell Terrier Rescue Ontario (JRTRO)Toronto Contact
Kingston Animal RescueKingston Contact
Kismutt Small Dog RescueSt. Marys Contact
Labrador Retriever Adoption Service (Lab Rescue)Oakville289-997-5227
Lincoln County Humane SocietySt. Catharines905-682-0767
London Animal Care CentreLondon519-685-1330
LotsaDogs RescueWhitby 
Love for LifeBurlington905-331-6228
LOYAL RescuePeterborough 
Mattie’s Place416-551-7005
Minpinerie Dog Rescue GroupOttawa613-733-6277
Mississauga Humane SocietyMississauga905-271-0883
Muskoka Animal Rescue Volunteer GroupHuntsville705-224-0112
Navan Animal Rescue CorporationNavan613-834-7005
Niagara Action For AnimalsSt. Catharines905-682-4970
Niagara Dog RescueOakvilleContact
Nickquenum Dog AdoptionsGuelph 
Northumberland Humane SocietyPort Hope905-885-4131
Ontario SPCAStouffville1-833-9ANIMAL
Ottawa Dog RescueOttawaContact
Paws Of The NorthNorthern OntarioContact
Paws Across The WaterErinContact
Pickering Animal ServicesPickering905-683-7575
Pomeranian and Small Breed RescueHamiltonContact
Pound Dog RescueDrumboContact
Precious Paws Rescue Dog RescueBarrie 
Project Jessie / Animal Alliance of CanadaCaledon519-940-4712
Project PawsBarrieContact
Pugalug Pug RescueToronto416-901-6854
Ramara Township Canine ControlBrechin705-623-7295
Rat Terrier Rescue CanadaScarborough 
Redemption PawsGTA/TorontoContact
Refuge RRAlexandriaContact
Sato Saved End of the Line Dog Rescue and RehabilitationBrantford519-720-8755
Second Chance Wildlife SanctuaryPickering905-649-8282
Shelter of Hope Animal ServicesCobourg905-885-7808
Siber Rescue OntarioAurora905-713-1531
Simcoe and District Humane SocietySimcoe519-428-9161
Sit With Me Shelter Dog RescueOttawaContact
Snookie’s Little RescueToronto416-388-6487
SOAR (Southern Ontario Animal Rescue)Brampton905-450-5992
SOS Quebec Ontario Dog RescueToronto 
Southern Ontario Sheltie Rescue (SOS Rescue)Toronto 
Speaking of Dogs RescueToronto416-444-4190
Springer Rescue of OntarioPort HopeContact 
St.Thomas City Animal ServicesSt. Thomas519-631-7430
Standard Poodle and All Breed RescueBowmanville 
SunriseHaven RescueHamilton 
Tails from Greece RescueToronto 
Take Me HomeMississauga 
The Animal Guardian SocietyOshawa905-263-8247
The Animal Rescue Foundation of OntarioLondon 
The Dog Rescuers, Inc.Oakville416-567-6249
Thunder Dog RescueThunder Bay807-622- 6523
Tiny Paws Dog Rescue CanadaToronto800-774-8315
Uxbridge-Scugog Animal Control CentrePort Perry905-985-9547
Weimaraner Assoc of CanadaCalgary403-668-1607
Westminster Pet SanctuaryOttawa 

Tips For Adopting A Dog From The Shelter

As a kid we adopted our family dogs, Maffy and Ralphie from the animal shelter. We also adopted our first dog as a responsible adult from the animal shelter.

Here are a few tips we learned along the way.

  • Get the supplies for your new dog. We put together a checklist including the supplies you’ll need for your new puppy.
  • Bring a friend or family member to help transport your dog home. If you don’t have anyone to help you then bring a crate so your dog won’t be jumping on you while you try to drive.
  • Find out what they’re feeding your puppy and feed the same. Going to a new home is stressful and your dog will often have some stomach problems (diarrhea). If you feed the same food then you can be assured changing foods didn’t cause the upset stomach.
  • Setup an appointment with your veterinarian. You want to make sure your new dog is happy and healthy as well as start her on her vaccinations series.
  • Take it easy the first couple days home. Let your new dog get used to her new home and environment. The move to a new home is stressful and again you don’t want to cause any unwanted stomach or behavior problems.

Those are a few quick tips off the top of my head. Hopefully, they’re helpful for your new dog.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Is The Best Websites For Adopting A Dog?

We found Linus using PetFinder.com. We do see dogs listed for adoption in Canada but PetFinder.com did not have a list of shelters and rescues (that we could find).

I’m putting together this resource that will have a map of Canada and the United States including a list of all the shelters and rescues by state and province.

What Is The Cheapest Way To Get A Dog?

Let me be clear. A free dog is not actually free. You have to consider all of the expenses after the purchase price of your dog including vaccinations, wellness checkup, flea meds, heartworm meds, food, toys, the list goes on and on.

Check out this list of how much a puppy costs to see all the other expenses of dog ownership.

In our experience the cheapest way to get a dog is through a rescue. Why? Because they will cover a lot of the initial costs.

Let’s take the example of puppies we fostered for Cuddly Canines. The initial cost for adopters was $300 but that included microchipping, two rounds of vaccinations, deworming, initial wellness check with the vet, and dog toys.

The puppies from the Cuddly Canines rescue are well taken care of by fosters and in good health when they go to their new homes.

On the other hand our experience with the shelter was quite different. The initial cost for Linus was $37 which included microchipping, first round of vaccinations, and dog toys.

However, Linus was infested with fleas and mites, lethargic, sickly, and we later found out he had Giardia.

Linus’ initial cost of $37 was very cheap. However, after our first vet appointment I believe we had paid close to $1,000 for this puppy. No longer cheap.

What Say You

Adopting a dog is a life changing event. Make sure you do your research starting by contacting a few of the rescues or shelters on our list of dog adoptions in Ontario.

I wish you the best on your journey with your new canine pal.

Tell us a little about how the search is going.

Did you adopt a dog yet?

What kind of dog did you bring home?

Save To Pinterest

Dogs For Adoption In Ontario. Find Your Perfect Puppy Pal - Beagle looking through wire ex pen

Top Picks For Our Puppies

  1. BEST DOG CHEW
    We Like: Beef Collagen Sticks - All of our pups love to bite, nip, and chew. We love using Collagen Sticks to help divert these unwanted behaviors.
  2. BEST PUPPY TOY
    We Like: Calmeroos Puppy Toy w/ Heartbeat and Heat Packs - Perfect for new puppies. Helps ease anxiety in their new home.
  3. BEST DOG TREATS
    We Like: Crazy Dog Train-Me Treats - We use these as our high-value treats for our guide dog puppies.
  4. BEST FRESH DOG FOOD
    We Like: The Farmer's Dog - A couple months ago we started feeding Raven fresh dog food and she loves it! Get 50% off your first order of The Farmer's Dog.

Check out more of our favorites on our New Puppy Checklist.

Similar Posts

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.