The 10 Best Pet Charities to Support in 2024

Let’s set the record straight: No good deed is too small. As Nina Thompson, Director of Public Relations at the San Diego Humane Society, says, “Any support you can provide to animal welfare organizations helps change lives.” She explains that even a modest $5 donation makes a big impact. Not interested in a monetary donation? Shelters and rescues near you may happily accept lightly used and new supplies. If you’re considering donating to an animal welfare organization, our editors are sharing with you 10 of their favorite charities.

Types of pet charity organizations

There are several types of pet charity organizations, each with its own focus and mission.

• Animal shelters and rescues: These organizations provide temporary housing for homeless animals, such as dogs, cats, and other companion animals. They often offer adoption services, spay/neuter programs, and other animal welfare services.

• Spay/neuter clinics: These clinics provide low-cost or free spay/neuter surgeries in local communities to help control pet overpopulation, ultimately reducing the number of animals entering shelters.

• Disaster relief organizations: These groups provide emergency response and relief efforts to animals affected by natural disasters or other crises. They may assist with evacuations, provide shelter and food, and offer veterinary care.

• Advocacy organizations: These groups work to promote animal welfare laws and regulations. They may lobby for legislation, raise awareness about humane animal issues, and provide educational resources.

Best pet charities to donate to

Choosing the best animal charity depends on how you want to make a difference. Supporting a local shelter can directly impact your community, while national organizations can tackle larger issues, including animal-welfare legislation and policy. To ensure your donation goes to a reputable charity, Thompson recommends checking the organization’s Charity Navigator rating. Reputable charities will have a high Charity Navigator rating based on financial health, accountability, transparency, and impact. Here are 10 of our editors’ favorite animal-rescue charities.

Guilherme Stecanella / Pexels/

1. Animal Legal Defense Fund

For almost 45 years, the Animal Legal Defense Fund has fought to enforce anti-cruelty laws, improve animal welfare standards, and hold abusers accountable. With a dedicated team of attorneys and a base of more than 300,000 members and supporters, the organization provides legal support to prosecutors, advocates for stronger legislation, and educates the public. 

For example, the Animal Legal Defense Fund helped draft the first-ever ban on selling commercially bred cats and dogs in U.S. pet stores, requiring them to instead source animals from shelters and rescues. This kicked off a nationwide movement, with several hundred other cities and communities passing similar laws. It’s no wonder the Animal Defense Fund has been awarded America’s Best Charities Seal of Excellence.

Maddie's Fund and Oakland Animal Services/

2. Maddie’s Fund

Maddie’s Fund is a California-based foundation that aims to create a no-kill nation where every healthy or treatable shelter pet finds a loving home. Founded in 1994 in memory of a beloved Miniature Schnauzer, the organization has awarded more than $287 million in grants to support animal-welfare organizations nationwide. Maddie’s Fund pays for adoption programs, promotes shelter medicine education, and advocates for lifesaving policies. Their efforts have directly resulted in the adoption of more than 31,000 homeless dogs and cats in just five years.

Red Rover/

3. RedRover

Consider donating to RedRover, a nonprofit that provides financial assistance, resources, and support to pets and caregivers in crisis. Whether it’s a devastating natural disaster (millions of pets are displaced a year) or a family escaping domestic violence (many victims delay leaving for fear of what will happen to their pets), RedRover is there to help. They help facilitate emergency shelter, medical care, and education. 

Did you know only 17 percent of domestic violence shelters in the United States accept pets? That’s just one obstacle RedRover is working hard to change. Their Safe Housing grants help shelters build pet-friendly spaces, start foster programs, and provide temporary boarding. Your donation can go a long way in keeping families and their pets together.

Humane Society of the United States/

4. Humane Society of United States

The Humane Society of the United States is a respected organization that advocates for animals. It is best known for its animal protection campaigns, such as its work against puppy mills. Thanks in part to tax-deductible donations, the organization has continued to make big strides in 2023, including banning the sale of animal-tested cosmetics in Washington state, rescuing and rehoming 4,000 beagles from a breeding facility, and providing free veterinary care to more than half a million pets in low-income families.

Ally Cat Allies/

5. Alley Cat Allies

This organization is devoted to our feline friends. Among other important work, Alley Cat Allies provides resources and information to the public, shelters, and communities about cat care and trap, neuter, and release (TNR) programs, a humane method of managing feral cat populations. 

Alley Cat Allies has a remarkable record. In a single day, through their Feline Frenzy event in Rochester, NY, they spayed/neutered, vaccinated, ear-tipped, and microchipped nearly 100 cats before returning them to their neighborhoods.

When you give a monetary donation to them, you can feel good knowing that 89 cents of every dollar you donate goes directly to saving cats’ lives. The other 11 cents goes to management (seven cents) and fundraising (four cents). You can also give other tax-deductible donations, like a car, to fund lifesaving programs or supplies for cats in the Alley Cat Allies adoption program. 

6. American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals 

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals was founded in 1886. It’s America’s first humane society and remains one of the largest. When you donate to the ASPCA today, your donation will be doubled by Generation Tux. Also, 76 cents of every donated dollar funds lifesaving work like investigating animal cruelty, providing veterinary care, sheltering animals, and advocating for stronger animal protection laws.

7. Your state or city’s Humane Society 

Your local Humane Society operates animal shelters and provides essential care for animals in need. To make a difference, consider donating even a small amount, which can have a big impact. For example, Thompson says $10 can provide collars for shelter dogs, habitat igloos for wildlife, or baby-bird leg bands for the San Diego Humane Society’s Project Wildlife. Larger donations support orphan kitten care or help humane officers investigate cruelty cases within your community. 

8. FurKids Animal Rescue and Shelter

FurKids Animal Rescue and Shelter is Georgia’s largest no-kill animal shelter and rescue. It takes a multifaceted approach to animal welfare, rescuing in excess of 5,000 animals annually and finding them loving homes through partnerships with PetSmart, Petco, and more than 600 foster families. FurKids also operates five thrift stores to fund its lifesaving work. Support its mission by donating online, shopping at its stores, or dropping into one of its fundraising events.

9. Feral Cat Coalition of Oregon 

If you live in Oregon, you may be interested in the work of the Feral Cat Coalition of Oregon. By providing high-quality, high-volume spay/neuter surgeries and vaccinations to stray and feral cats, this organization helps control cat populations, reduce disease transmission, and improve the overall well-being of both cats and communities. The organization also provides low-cost spay and neuter services to pet cats.

10. Animal Rescue of the Rockies

Animal Rescue of the Rockies focuses on finding foster homes for pets in overcrowded shelters across Colorado and the surrounding states. Founded in 2003 by a group of pet-loving friends, the organization has helped more than 10,000 pets find permanent homes. They credit their success to the benefits of foster care. Pets in foster homes thrive in a home environment, making their transition to new families smoother and quicker. Visit their thrift store, For Pets’ Sake, in Breckenridge or donate online.

Evaluating pet charities

Before you hit that donate button, let’s make sure your contribution is making a positive impact. Here are some key factors to evaluate.

• Find an organization that you align with. Make sure the charity’s mission aligns with your values and interests. Consider organizations with targeted missions, such as trap/neuter/release, spay/neuter programs, or low-cost pet training.

• Check the organization’s 501(c)(3) status. This status means the charity is tax-exempt, so your donation is eligible for a tax deduction. Reputable organizations will have this information readily available on their website or in their annual reports.

• Make sure they are setting measurable goals. Look for charities that set clear, measurable goals, and track their progress towards achieving them.

• Check charity-rating organizations. Check reputable charity rating organizations like Charity Navigator or GuideStar for information on a charity’s financial health and transparency.

• Review the board of directors. Their backgrounds and experiences can speak to their values. A strong board can provide valuable oversight and guidance.

• Look for volunteer feedback. A high level of volunteer involvement can be a positive indicator of a well-run organization.

• Avoid organizations that lack transparency. Charities that aren’t open about their operations, finances, and animal care practices — which, worst-case scenario, could include overcrowding, inadequate medical care, or excessive euthanasia rates — should also be avoided. To make informed decisions, it’s essential to do your research and evaluate the organization’s overall standards.

• Think nationally by acting locally. Consider supporting local animal-rescue charities that address specific needs in your community to make a real impact. Charities advocating for, and implementing, new animal welfare laws at a national level can get bogged down with red tape. Their money doesn’t always make a difference in the lives of individual animals right away.

What other ways can I help a shelter or rescue?

“Adopting a pet is the best way to help,” Thompson says. But if you can’t adopt, there are other ways to make a difference. Sharing adoptable pet profiles on social media is a great start — and it’s free. Volunteering to walk dogs, care for cats, or help with other tasks can also be beneficial. Monetary donations are always appreciated, and some shelters accept supplies.