Pet Adoption Organizations
Everyone feels ready for a new pet in their own time, but for those of you wishing to give another lucky pet a warm, safe and loving home, here are some links to pet adoption organizations in every state. We've done our best to only list no-kill organizations.
Alabama | Alaska | Arizona | Arkansas | California | Colorado | Connecticut | Delaware | Florida | Georgia | Hawaii | Idaho | Illinois | Indiana | Iowa | Kansas | Kentucky | Louisiana | Maine | Maryland | Massachusetts | Michigan | Minnesota | Mississippi | Missouri | Montana | Nebraska | Nevada | New Hampshire | New Jersey | New Mexico | New York | North Carolina | North Dakota | Ohio | Oklahoma | Oregon | Pennsylvania | Rhode Island | South Carolina | South Dakota | Tennessee | Texas | Utah | Vermont | Virginia | Washginton | Washington DC | West Virginia | Wisconsin | Wyoming
ALABAMA
Alabama Animal Adoption Society The mission of the Alabama Animal Adoption Society is to help strays and unwanted family pets find loving and responsible homes and to educate the public regarding the problem of pet overpopulation and the importance of spaying/neutering their pets. www.animaladoption.org
The ARK, Inc. , a non-profit organization, was incorporated in 1990 to help rescue unwanted, sick, injured, orphaned, and abandoned animals. Through newsletters to members, pet shows, and many other special events, The ARK helps promote proper care and humane treatment of animals. www.arkinc.org
ALASKA
The Alaska Humane Society is a no-kill and non-profit cat shelter currently taking care of about 200 cats. We are staffed entirely by volunteers and are funded entirely by donations. www.adopt-a-cat.org
ARIZONA
Located in Phoenix, Arizona RESCUE is the last voice for dogs and cats who, through no fault of their own, find themselves awaiting death at our county pounds. Since our inception in 1995 we have operated with the philosophy that for every animal we place we will be back to rescue another facing an untimely death. To date, we have fulfilled that promise well over 8,000 times. www.azrescue.org
New Hope Cattle Dogs' mission is helping discarded, stray and unwanted Australian Cattle Dogs (ACD's) that need a second chance at finding a forever home and providing education and training to the public. We believe that there is a special place out there for all unwanted and abandoned ACD's. www.newhopecattledogs.com
The Foundation for Animals in Risk is a non-profit, no-kill animal rescue organization that promotes quality adoptions and hopes to improve lives for animals and their families until there are no more homeless pets in Pima County. www.faircares.org
Arizona Golden Retriever Connection dedicated to placing our rescued golden retrievers in safe, loving and permanent homes. www.azgoldenretrieverconnection.org
ARKANSAS
CARE — Central Arkansas Rescue Effort for Animals was established in 1998 for the dual purpose of rescuing abandoned dogs and cats facing euthanasia as well as to provide programs to help people get their pets sterilized. www.careforanimals.org
DogsOnly is a non-profit all volunteer organization that specializes in the rescue and adoption of dogs and puppies in Little Rock and central Arkansas.We also help to adopt out dogs for owners who are unable to keep them, and provide adoption assistance for rescuers of stray dogs. www.dogsonly.org
Humane Society of Marion County, Arkansas is an all volunteer non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization, dedicated to reducing the suffering of the abandoned animal population of North Central Arkansas and to educate people to their plight. We provide foster homes for our rescues until we can place them into loving homes through our adoption program. To make our success and expansion possible, we need more volunteers. We are a true humane organization, we do not kill any animals entrusted to our care. www.aarfpets.com
Pets Haven is a "no-kill" non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation for animal rescue based in NW Arkansas. Pets Haven was founded in 1992 but rescue efforts go back more than 20 years. We rescue primarily feral and stray cats and dogs but take in owner surrenders, whenever space is available. www.pets-haven.com
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CALIFORNIA
Animal Match Rescue Team, Inc. is dedicated to facilitating adoption of shelter and rescue pets in the Southern California area. We believe there are a lot of pets euthanized in shelters while there are potential pet owners looking to adopt and cannot find them. The goal of the creators of this web site is to assist potential pet owners in finding a shelter or rescued pet. www.AMRT.net
The Benevolent Animal Rescue Committee adopts to most homes within San Bernardino and Riverside Counties, as well as some parts of Orange County, CA. www.BARConline.com
Retrievers and Friends of Southern California. We are an all-volunteer, non-profit organization devoted to finding homes for Golden Retrievers & Labrador Retrievers as well as other purebred dogs as space allows. www.retrieversandfriends.com
Poodles and Pals of Southern California is an all-volunteer, non-profit group dedicated to the rescue of Toy, Miniature and Standard Poodles, providing an alternative to the animal shelter for owners who can no longer keep their dogs. www.poodlesandpals.org
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COLORADO
MaxFund No-Kill Shelter is a non-profit organization that provides medical care for injured pets with no known owners, and seeks out new homes for these animals once they have recovered. The MaxFund is a no-kill dog and cat shelter and assists hundreds of people and animals each year by trying to make the correct match between owner and pet. MaxFund adopts our animals to Colorado residents only. www.maxfund.org
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CONNECTICUT
The ASPCA of Connecticut is a no kill human organization. www.animaladoptionnetwork.org/
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DELAWARE
The Delaware Humane Association's mission is to act as a voice for companion animals and to enhance their welfare by providing temporary shelter, spay/neuter services, humane education programs, and adoption/placement resources. www.dehumane.org
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FLORIDA
Animal Aid Inc. is a non-profit, no-kill animal rescue shelter and adoption center. Our shelter takes in emergency, abuse and neglect cases as well as dogs and cats from various animal control agencies in Palm Beach, Dade and Broward Counties in South Florida. We offer cats and dogs for adoption 7 days a week. www.animal-aid.com
The Cat Network is a 501(c)3, Florida not-for-profit corporation dedicated to humanely reducing cat overpopulation by educating the public about the need to sterilize their pets and strays; providing access to low-cost spay/neuter services for stray, homeless and abandoned cats; helping members in their efforts to place adoptable cats in loving homes; and advocating non-lethal population control and humane public policy. www.thecatnetwork.org
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GEORGIA
Claws and Paws is an Animal Rescue Mission in Marion County, Georgia. We rescue animals and when possible care for them until we can find an adoptive home for them. We also place great importance on spaying and neutering of animals. For more information about Spaying or Neutering. www.claws-n-paws.net/index.html
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HAWAII
The Hawaiian Humane Society serves as a shelter for homeless animals, a rescue operation, a placement agency, an educational and advocacy organization and a pet care resource center. www.hawaiianhumane.org
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IDAHO
The Pet Adoption League is a non-profit organization focused on the care and welfare of all domestic animals. Located in Emmett, we serve primarily Gem County and its surrounding areas. www.emmett-pal.org
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ILLINOIS
Tree House Animal Foundation is a humane organization that promotes the inherent value of every animal and strives to educate the public about proper and responsible animal care, with a focus on the care and placement of stray cats with special physical and emotional needs. www.treehouseanimals.org
The South Suburban Humane Society is dedicated to promoting the well being of animals in those communities we serve through the care and sheltering of animals needing protection, investigative practices that will prevent abuse, the education of the public as to ownership responsibilities and providing adoption services. www.sshspets.org
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INDIANA
Humane Society of Indianapolis In a caring and nurturing environment, the work of HSI deepens the bond between people and their companion animals. Whether you are ready to adopt a new pet, turn over an animal to our care, participate in canine obedience training, give your dog a run in our Pet Park or volunteer your time to help our animals, you can celebrate your love of animals at HSI. www.indyhumane.com
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IOWA
Animal Lifeline of Iowa, Inc. is a no-kill special needs animal shelter that accepts unowned dogs and cats who are sick, injured, pregnant, nursing, orphaned or handicapped. Animal Lifeline (ALI) is supported solely by donations.www.animal-lifeline.com
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KANSAS
Kansas Humane Society Meet Your Match is an innovative adoption program, developed by the Kansas Humane Society, behavioral consultant Dr. Emily Weiss, and Jesse Winters of the ASPCA to help dogs six months or older find loving homes for a lifetime. We also have younger animals available. www.kshumane.org/adopt_home.html
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KENTUCKY
Animal Care Society The Animal Care Society's prime purpose is to find new, caring homes for pets whose owners can no longer give them the love or care they need. We provide a "home away from home" atmosphere and access to medical care. Because our space is limited and we do not practice euthanasia, a pet's age, temperment, and health are factors we must assess before taking in any pet. www.animalcaresociety.org
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LOUISIANA
Animal Rescue New Orleans Animal Rescue New Orleans (ARNO) is an organization created and dedicated to the rescue and aid of abandoned and homeless animals in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in Louisiana and Mississippi, including responding to the immediate needs of those animals in need of medical care, or who have been neglected, abused and deprived of love. ARNO promotes the foster, adoption, and reunion of pets with caretakers, as well as spaying/neutering of all companion animals. www.animalrescueneworleans.org
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MAINE
The Animal Welfare Society exists to provide humane shelter and care to animals temporarily in need of housing, and to further the cause of responsible animal adoption and ownership through education and public awareness. The society actively promotes kindness, the elimination of cruelty and neglect to all animals, and the lifelong commitment of people to their pets. www.animalwelfaresociety.org
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MARYLAND
MarylandPet.com is a great place to find a loving home for one of the state's thousands of adoptable animals . . . from Fur & Feathers to Fins & Scales . . . you're sure to find your special pet here on MarylandPet.com. Peruse hundreds of listings in our Pet Rescue and Adoption section or try our database search. www.marylandpet.com
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MASSACHUSETTS
Kitty Angels is a no-kill shelter dedicated to rescuing stray and abandoned cats, furnishing them with treatment for injuries or other health problems, and placing them into life-long, loving homes with compatible owners. We take all necessary steps to ensure the well-being of our cats, including screening for infectious diseases, spaying and neutering, and providing rabies, distemper and other necessary vaccinations. www.kittyangels.org
Save a Dog is an all-breed, all-volunteer dog rescue group devoted to helping adoptable, friendly, dogs find permanent homes in the New England area. Our dogs reside in foster homes as we feel this offers a better environment for them and provides an easier transition into an adoptive home. www.saveadog.org
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MICHIGAN
Michigan Animal Adoption Network is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization for animal rescue in the Metro Detroit area. We frequently engage in special promotions and fundraising efforts. The Network is always looking for new and different ways to educate the public, to raise money to continue its rescue efforts, and to find loving homes for homeless pets. www.www.mi-aan.org
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MINNESOTA
While sheltering homeless pets is vitally important, Animal Ark also understands that pet shelters are not a solution to the nation’s pet overpopulation problem. Solving the pet overpopulation problem will require social transformation. Teaching respect for living things; reinforcing the bond between humans and animals; advocating large-scale sterilization and identification programs; teaching and modeling responsible pet ownership – these are the things we believe will help to end the needless killing of dogs, cats and rabbits in our shelters and pounds. Animal Ark has been a leader in the Twin Cities concerning these kinds of programs. We pride ourselves in teaching responsible pet guardianship by serving as a model to our community. www.animalarkshelter.org
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MISSISSIPPI
Over the last 37 years, the Mississippi Animal Rescue League has become the place where animals can find safe shelter, medical treatment and abundant loving care. We have become the place where pets can find homes, and families can welcome new loved ones. MARL speaks for those that have no voice. www.msarl.org
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MISSOURI
Happy Tails Animal Sanctuary is a private, non-profit, tax-exempt, no-kill, animal welfare corporation made up entirely by volunteers. We are dedicated to rehabilitating, caring for and finding permanent placements for abused, neglected and unwanted animals in danger of being euthanized. www.htsanctuary.com
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MONTANA
The goal of Montana Pets on the Net is to increase adoptions of Montana pets currently held in shelters, humane societies, and rescue groups across the state. We strongly support spay/neutering of all non-show quality companion animals prior to any litters. We believe pets should go to screened homes only and be spayed/neutered prior to adoption. www.montanapets.org
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NEBRASKA
Hearts United for Animals is a national no-kill animal shelter, sanctuary and animal welfare organization dedicated to the relief of suffering. We rescue dogs from all over the country and specialize in long distance adoptions. We take the creatures who are lost, afraid, hungry or ill and comfort them, give them a warm, soft bed, good food, medical care and most of all, love. www.hua.org
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NEVADA
The Nevada Humane Society was originally created to address the horrible suffering of local stray animals, which were systematically rounded up and held in a giant pen “out in the country” on Glendale Avenue. Through the tireless efforts of Enid Johnson and Genevra Kimpton, the City of Reno finally recognized the need for a higher standard — and the Nevada Humane Society was born. www.nevadahumanesociety.org
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NEW HAMPSHIRE
The New Hampshire Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is a community resource center bringing animals and people together. We provide adoption, education, investigation and sheltering services in a professional and compassionate way. www.nhspca.org
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NEW JERSEY
The National Foundation for Animal Rescue (NFFAR) is a no-kill animal rescue organization based in northern New Jersey. NFFAR is an all-foster network committed to helping cats and dogs in need of homes. Our purpose is to provide medical assistance, foster homes, and adoption services to previously lost, abandoned, abused, or neglected animals in the New Jersey area as well as assisting animals and people in other states. www.nffar.org
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NEW MEXICO
The Heart and Soul Animal Sanctuary is a place of refuge for animals who otherwise would perish: the abandoned, the abused, the sick, the old, the suffering. Located on 130 wooded acres on a mountain near Santa Fe New Mexico, the Sanctuary is no-kill, non-profit and tax-exempt. We also are an accredited member of The Association of Sanctuaries, a national organization with the highest standards for animal welfare and care. www.animal-sanctuary.org
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NEW YORK
Animal Care and Control of New York City (AC&C) is a not-for-profit organization that has been responsible for New York City's municipal shelter system, rescuing, caring for, and finding loving homes for homeless and abandoned animals in New York City. AC&C facilities operate in all five boroughs. We envision the day when residents, their property and neighborhoods, will be safe from the dangers and nuisances of irresponsible pet guardianship, and every pet born will be assured a good home and care all its natural life and will not suffer due to abuse, neglect or ignorance. www.nycacc.org
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NORTH CAROLINA
Happy Hills Animal Foundation has rescued and found homes for hundreds of dogs and cats, as well as other animals like potbellied pigs, rabbits, etc. We are no-kill, and adoptable animals may stay with us weeks, months, even years before they find their forever home. www.hhaf.org
NORTH DAKOTA
F-M Humane Society is a non-profit organization dedicated to the prevention of cruelty to animals, the education of proper and humane care of animals, and finding permanent, loving homes for our animals. Our Mission is to care for, protect and place animals for adoption in life long homes, and to prevent cruelty to animals by educating our community in the proper and humane care of all animals. www.f-mhumanesociety.org
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OHIO
At Animals Depend on People Too (A.D.O.P.T.) we work tirelessly to ensure that no dog or cat is forced to suffer cruelly by wandering the streets, with no home to go to and no one to provide warmth and love. The members of A.D.O.P.T. are dedicated to this effort because each of us knows that....ANIMALS DEPEND ON PEOPLE, TOO! www.adoptpetrescue.org
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OKLAHOMA
Pets and People Humane Society rescues adoptable cats and dogs from municipal animal control facilities across the state of Oklahoma on the day they are to be euthanized. We provide a safe harbor for our pets until they are adopted into responsible, loving homes. All are spayed or neutered to help end the vicious cycle of homeless pets. www.petsandpeople.com
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OREGON
The Oregon Humane Society's goal is to foster an environment of respect, responsibility, and compassion for all animals through education, legislation, and leadership and to care for the homeless, to defend the abused, and to fight with unrelenting diligence for recognition of the integrity of all animals. www.oregonhumane.org
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PENNSYLVANIA
Animal Appeal is an all breed cat and dog rescue & adoption organization serving Western Pennsylvania and Eastern Ohio. We believe that education is the key to reducing the excessive number of unwanted pets in our community, and lessoning abuse and neglect. www.animalappealpa.org
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RHODE ISLAND
Rhode Island SPCA is a non-profit animal shelter and cruelty investigation agency. We are not affiliated with the ASPCA and we do not receive funding from them. Our motto is to "speak for those who cannot speak for themselves" and we are proud to adopt out over 80% of the animals that come to us for adoption. We strive to educate the public as well as other animal care professionals and to assist the animals of New England in any way we can. www.animal-lifeline.com
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SOUTH CAROLINA
Recycled Pets rescues come from owner abandonment, high kill shelters, strays, and owner surrender. All of our animals receive urgent veterinary care along with routine vaccinations, deworming, heartworm preventative, appropriate testing, and are spayed/neutered. Further, all animals receive a microchip upon adoption that is registered with American Kennel Club, so that your animal can be returned to you if lost nationwide. www.recycledpetsonline.com
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SOUTH DAKOTA
The Brookings Regional Humane Society works to help rescue and care for animals that are abandoned, neglected, or needing to be surrendered by their owners. All animals undergo a medical exam, tested for feline leukemia and FIV (kittens/cats), heartworm disease tested (puppies/dogs), and are brought current on all age appropriate vaccinations. The animal then enters a foster home, where they will receive loving care and socialization until the Society is able to make a match between an adoptive family and the specific animal. www.brookingshumane.org
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TENNESSEE
Guardian Angel Pet Rescue (GAPR) is a NO-KILL, community service organization staffed entirely by volunteers. GAPR is dedicated to rescuing animals from helpless situations, and offers refuge, medical care, nourishment, and a second chance for life to companion animals that are in immediate peril of euthanasia shelters in the greater Memphis area. All rescued animals are lovingly cared for in private foster homes until they are placed in responsible forever homes to be a life long friend. GAPR has a mandatory spay/neuter policy for all animals. www.guardianangelpetrescue.com
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TEXAS
City Pet Rescue is an all volunteer rescue group focused not only on pet adoptions, but also education and spay & neuter programs. We're dedicated to rescuing dogs and cats from local kill shelters before they can be euthanized, placing them in secure, loving homes, and promoting spaying and neutering as vital to solving the problem of unwanted and abandoned pets. www.citypetrescue.com
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UTAH
The Pet Samaritan Fund provides shelter for sick, injured, abandoned, and abused animals, financial assistance to Utah pet owners who cannot afford medical care for their pets due to extreme financial hardship, loving homes for unwanted animals brought to the hospital to be euthanized, and assistance in spaying and neutering stray animals. www.petsamaritan.org
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VERMONT
North Country Animal League's mission is to promote compassionate and responsible relationships between humans and animals. We do this through sheltering of homeless, abused, and neglected animals, spay/neuter programs, adoptions, education, and support of cruelty prevention www.animal-lifeline.com
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VIRGINIA
Animal Adoption and Rescue Foundation (AARF) finds animals through a variety of situations. Some are found on highways or in neighborhoods, some are relinquished by their owners who can no longer care for them, but most of our animals are strays. AARF tries to prevent these animals from ending up homeless or in euthanizing shelters. It is our goal to provide a service of matching good loving animals with people who want to provide a good loving home. www.aarf.org
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WASHINGTON
Homeward Pet Adoption Center saves approximately 1,000 animals each year. Dogs, cats, puppies and kittens come into our care from all walks of life and each with a different story. We also regularly work with animal controls across the state to rescue pets from "death row." We give them a second chance at life - a chance to find a family who values and loves them. And in the meantime, we love them while they're here at Homeward - providing them with food, shelter medical attention and love during their stay. www.hootervillesafehaus.org
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WASHINGTON DC
The Washington Animal Rescue League is a welcoming place for animals and the people who love them. We provide care and compassion to homeless animals throughout the region. Our shelter, a bright, inviting facility in northwest Washington, is open daily to welcome you. WARL also houses a full-service Medical Center, which opened in 1996 to provide low-cost veterinary care for our shelter animals and the pets of low-income guardians. www.animal-lifeline.com
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WEST VIRGINIA
The mission of Humane Society of Morgan County (HSMC) is the extension of education to pet owners in humane treatment of animals, increasing pet adoptions, and to maintain an animal shelter which is dedicated to providing humane care and treatment to animals in our care. www.hsmc-wv.org
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WISCONSIN
Wisconsin German Shorthaired Pointer Rescue (WGSPR) organization is dedicated to saving purebred German Shorthaired Pointers in Wisconsin. Our first priority are to GSP’s in kill shelters or other danger of euthanization. All of our charges are fostered in our homes, where we can test them with every day activities, other dogs, children, cats (when available), etc. All of our dogs are available for adoption are fully vetted, altered, up-to-date on shots, heartworm free, and microchipped for ease of id! www.wgspr.com
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WYOMING
Paws for Life Animal League and Riverton Animal Adoption Center are devoted to the welfare of companion animals with several goals: to establish an animal shelter/adoption center that makes EVERY attempt to find a home for each and every adoptable animal; to assist through education the citizens of Riverton to in being responsible pet owners; to mobilize an interactive and proactive volunteer group within the community. http://west.petfinder.com/shelters/WY24.html
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