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Best Pet Rescue Shelters In Los Angeles

dog walk park leash
(credit: SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images)

Many shelters and pounds in and around the City of Angels are filled to the gills and even overflowing. Because of this, certain sites must often euthanize a portion of their populations of cats and dogs that are brought to these facilities every single day. With that in mind, the following are five of the best pet rescue shelters in Los Angeles from which to save a furry life.

Bulldogs Rescued From Baldwin Park Home
(credit: CBS)

Southern California Bulldog Rescue
P.O. Box 10313
Santa Ana, CA 92711
(562) 810-6923
www.socalbuldogrescue.org

Sick, neglected and elderly bulldogs were the impetus for a dozen volunteers to start this particular rescue that now includes dozens of volunteers who help shelter and finds homes for more than 200 of this particular breed on an annual basis. Hospice care for canines in need is on offer at this domaine that relies on donations, as is a place for rehabilitation of these sweet dogs that could use the extra effort, sometimes a must for arguably the most popular breed in all of Los Angeles.

Pets2love-Milo
(credit: North Central Animal Shelter)

North Central Animal Shelter
3201 Lacy St.
Los Angeles, CA 90031
(888) 452-7381
www.laanimalservices.com

North Central Animal Shelter is packed with indoor and outdoor kennels where hopeful furry friends wait to be adopted. This downtown facility has a host of programs for which caring humans can partake, including volunteering to work at the shelter to volunteering to foster kitties and doggies for a set amount of time for those who aren't able to offer that pet a home forever.

dog animal rescue shelter
(credit: John Moore/Getty Images)

Paws L.A.
1150 S. Hope St.
Los Angeles, CA 90015
(213) 741-1950
www.pawsla.org

This organization was formed 25 years ago in order to come up with "solutions for disenfranchised animal guardians." In other words, this place takes the burden off of the owner who doesn't have the means to do the right thing for his or her pet, allowing for animal care both in their homes and otherwise at no charge whatsoever. The services run the gamut from temporary foster care to animal transport, subsidized vet care and grooming assistance, among others.

Related: Best Gifts For Pets In Los Angeles

German Shepherd "Courage"
(credit: CBS)

Westside German Shepherd Rescue Of Los Angeles
1316 S. Hill St.
Los Angeles, CA 90007
(310) 202-7283
www.sheprescue.org

This establishment is a non-profit, no-kill rescue that says it is "committed to saving all types of German Shepherd dogs from high kill shelters." The site for this shelter is well maintained and gives the back story on a number of the animals that have been saved after living here for a short time. Also on site is an application that must be processed in order to be considered as an adoptive parent to these German Shepherds looking for a family to love.

Humane_Society_San_Gabriel_Valley
(credit: CBS)

Glendale Humane Society
7 Ivy St.
Glendale, CA 91204
(818) 242-1128
www.glendalehumane.org

One of dozens of humane society shelters in Los Angeles County, Glendale runs an active program where pets are often "borrowed" for an afternoon in the park by kind and gentle volunteers who care about all pets who live and dwell in our part of the country. Founded in 1924, this 80-year-old rescue and educational organization has adopted the caring practice of being a no-kill shelter and the motto here is to give all dogs and cats in residence "a second chance for the life they deserve."

Related: Best Spots To Find Winter Gear For Pets In Los Angeles

TEST Los Angeles freelance travel writer Jane Lasky, contributes to publications such as Travel + Leisure, Vogue and Esquire. Her weekly sojourning column ran in 40 newspapers for 20 years. Jane is anything but an accidental tourist. Check out her articles on Examiner.com.

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