The AKC Rescue Network helps homeless purebred dogs find homes. It’s the largest network of dog rescue groups in the country, and was officially recognized by the American Kennel Club in late 2013. One hundred sixty unique breeds are currently represented within the network. More than 450 AKC Rescue Network groups are located across the United States.
AKC’s “National Breed Clubs” spearhead the bulk of these rescue groups, and it’s often breeders and fanciers that are at the heart of these rescues, rehabs and rehomes.
The AKC Rescue Network’s groups are unique in that the fostering/rehabilitation period lasts as long as is necessary before the dog is rehomed.
Foster volunteers provide intimate, transparent knowledge about the dog’s history, temperament, health concerns and special needs that allows them to place the dog in the best-fitting home.
According to a recent AKC Rescue Network survey, rescue volunteers said the top three reasons cited by owners for surrendering their dog are change of lifestyle, not the right breed for them, and lack of time to spend with the dog. They also said that the biggest issues they face are the lack of foster homes, manpower, and funding.
Click the ‘Breeds Rescue’ link to learn about each breed
A Breeds Rescue – Affenpinscher, Afghan Hound, Airedale Terrier, Akita, Alaskan Malamute, American English Coonhound, American Eskimo, American Foxhound, American Staffordshire Terrier, American Water Spaniel, Anatolian Shepherd, Australian Cattle Dog, Australian Shepherd, Australian Terrier, Azawakh
B Breeds Rescue – Barbet, Basenji, Basset Hound, Beagle, Bearded Collie, Beauceron, Bedlington Terrier, Belgian Laekenois, Belgian Malinois, Belgian Sheepdog, Belgian Tervuren, Bergamasco, Berger Picard, Bernese Mountain Dog, Bichon Frise, Black and Tan Coonhound, Black Russian Terrier, Bloodhound, Bluetick Coonhound, Boerboel, Border Collie, Border Terrier, Borzoi, Boston Terrier, Bouvier des Flandres, Boxer, Boykin Spaniel, Briard, Brittany, Brussels Griffon, Bulldog, Bullmastiff, Bull Terrier
C Breeds Rescue – Cairn Terrier, Canaan Dog, Cane Corso, Cardigan Welsh Corgi, Catahoula Leopard Dog, Cavalier King Charles, Spaniel, Cesky Terrier, Chesapeake Bay Retriever, Chihuahua, Chinese Crested, Chinese Shar-Pei, Chinook, Chow Chow, Cirneco dell’Etna, Clumber Spaniel, Cocker Spaniel, Collie, Coton de Tulear, Curly-Crested Retriever
D Breeds Rescue – Dachshund, Dalmatian, Dandie Dinmont Terrier, Doberman Pinscher, Dogo Argentino, Dogue de Bordeaux
E Breeds Rescue – English Cocker Spaniel, English Foxhound, English Setter, English Springer Spaniel, English Toy Spaniel, Entlebucher Mountain Dog, Estrela Mountain Dog
F Breeds Rescue – Field Spaniel, Finnish Lapphund, Finnish Spitz, Flat-Coated Retriever, Fox Terrier, French Bulldog
G Breeds Rescue – German Pinscher, German Shepherd, German Shorthaired Pointer, German Wirehaired Pointer, Giant Schnauzer, Glen of Imaal Terrier, Golden Retriever, Gordon Setter, Grand Basset Griffons Vendeen, Great Dane, Great Pyrenees, Great Swiss Mountain Dog, Greyhound
H Breeds Rescue – Hamiltonstovare, Harrier, Havanese
I Breeds Rescue – Ibizan Hound, Icelandic Sheepdog, Irish Red and White Setter, Irish Setter, Irish Terrier, Irish Water Spaniel, Irish Wolfhound, Italian Greyhound,
J Breeds Rescue – Japanese Chin
K Breeds Rescue – Keeshond, Kerry Blue Terrier, Komondor, Kuvasz
L Breeds Rescue – Labrador Retriever, Lagotto Romagnolo, Lakeland Terrier, Leonberger, Lhasa Apso, Löwchen
M Breeds Rescue – Maltese, Manchester Terrier, Mastiff, Miniature American Shepherd, Miniature Bull Terrier, Miniature Pinscher, Miniature Schnauzer,
N Breeds Rescue – Neapolitan Mastiff, Newfoundland, Norfolk Terrier, Norwich Terrier, Norwegian Elkhound, Norwegian Lundehound, Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever,
O Breeds Rescue – Old English Sheepdog, Otterhound
P Breeds Rescue – Papillon, Parson Russell Terrier, Pekinese, Pembroke Welsh Corgi, Peruvian Inca Orchid, Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen, Pharoah Hound, Plott Hound, Pointer, Polish Lowland Sheepdog, Pomeranian, Poodle, Portuguese Podengo Pequeno, Portuguese Water Dog, Pug, Puli, Pumi, Pyrenean Shepherd
R Breeds Rescue – Rat Terrier, Redbone Coonhound, Rhodesian Ridgeback, Rottweiler, Russell Terrier
S Breeds Rescue – Saint Bernard, Saluki, Samoyed, Schipperke, Scottish Deerhound, Sealyham Terrier, Shetland Sheepdog, Shiba Inu, Shih Tzu, Siberian Husky, Silky Terrier, Skye Terrier, Sloughi, Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier, Spanish Water Dog, Spinone Italiano, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Standard Schnauzer, Sussex Spaniel, Swedish Vallhund
T Breeds Rescue – Tibetan Mastiff, Tibetan Spaniel, Tibetan Terrier, Toy Fox Terrier, Treeing Walker Coonhound
V Breeds Rescue – Vizsla
W Breeds Rescue – Weimaraner, Welsh Springer Spaniel, Welsh Terrier, West Highland White Terrier, Whippet, Wire Fox Terrier, Wirehaired Pointing Griffon, Wirehaired Vizsla
X Breeds Rescue – Xoloitzcuintli
Y Breeds Rescue – Yorkshire Terrier
Courtesy of American Kennel Club
