This page is provided as a public service for dog lovers who might wish to get another dog, or for those unfortunate folks who don't currently have a dog and are looking to get one (or two, or...).
Carolina Mountain Dog implores all potential dog owners to adopt a dog from a shelter or rescue organization. If you are interested in a particular breed, you may find that breed at a shelter or a breed rescue organization. Please please please do not buy a dog from a pet store, a "backyard breeder," or anyone who doesn't seem reputable. Most of the animals sold in this way are from puppy mills. Unfortunately, North Carolina is one of the states that is home to these operations, which often keep puppies and adult dogs in deplorable conditions. The only way to put them out of business is to adopt a dog or purchase a dog from a legitimate, reputable breeder.
Western North Carolina and the Upstate of South Carolina have a severe animal over-population problem. A constant stream of strays and unwanted dogs and cats show up at area shelters daily. I've seen it first-hand as a volunteer at a shelter. There are many reasons for over-population, but the main reason is the simple fact that people don't get their dogs and cats spayed and neutered. But that's another story.
The point is, people who have dogs in their lives know the joy these animals bring. And there is truly something special about rescuing an animal from a shelter or rescue organization. So please, do yourself and our environment a favor. Put puppy mills out of business and give a homeless animal a new start in life. OPT TO ADOPT!
The cute little guy pictured here was adopted from the Asheville Humane Society. At age 13, "Freddie" was laid back, sweet, and just plain adorable. He fit right in to a household with two big dogs. Consider adopting an older dog and you'll be especially blessed!
Below is a list of shelters and rescue organizations in Western North Carolina and the Upstate. Only those organizations with websites are listed. This list will be updated periodically.
Here is an additional resource that may be helpful. It is a comprehensive article entitled "The Complete Guide to Local Animal Shelters": http://nolongerwild.com/local-animal-shelters/
NORTH CAROLINA
Asheville
Asheville Humane Society/Animal Compassion Network - www.ashevillehumane.org
Brother Wolf Animal Rescue - www.bwar.org
Animal Haven - www.animalhavenofasheville.org
Spay/Neuter Clinic - ASPCA Spay/Neuter Alliance - https://www.aspca.org/humane-alliance
Banner Elk/Newland
Avery Humane Society - www.averyhumane.org
Black Mountain
Wolf Dogs - www.fullmoonfarm.org
Boone
High Country Friends for Life - http://www.petfinder.com/shelters/NC477.html
Watauga Humane Society - www.wataugahumanesociety.org
Brevard
Friends for Life - http://www.petfinder.com/shelters/NC303.html
Transylvania Humane Society - www.petfinder.com/shelters/NC160.html
Bryson City
PAWS Animal Shelter - members.petfinder.org/~NC233/Index.htm
Cashiers-Highlands
Cashiers-Highlands Humane Society - www.chhumanesociety.org
Columbus
Foothills Humane Society - http://www.
Fletcher
Charlie's Angels Animal Rescue - www.wncanimalrescue.org/
Franklin
Macon County Humane Society - http://www.petfinder.com/shelters/NC225.html
Paws For Life Animal Rescue - http://pawsforlifenc.org/
Hendersonville
Animal Services Center - www.hendersoncountync.org/animals/index.htm
Blue Ridge Humane Society - http://www.blueridgehumane.org/
Jefferson
Ashe County Humane Society - www.ashehumanesociety.org
Marshall
Friends of Madison County Animals - www.fomca.org
Morganton
Friends for Animals, Humane Society of Burke County - www.burkecountyfriends4animals.org
Murphy
Logan's Run Rescue - http://logansrunrescue.com/
North Wilkesboro
Humane Society of Wilkes - www.humanesocietyofwilkes.org
Rutherfordton
Rutherford County Animal Shelter - www.rutherfordcountync.gov/dept/animal_shelter/Main.php
Rutherford County Humane Society - www.rutherfordcountyhumanesociety.org
Spruce Pine
Mitchell County Animal Rescue, Inc. - www.mitchellcountyanimalrescue.org
Jackson County Humane Society - www.a-r-f.org
Waynesville
Sarge's Animal Rescue - www.sargeandfriends.org
SOUTH CAROLINA UPSTATE
Abbeville
Greater Abbeville Humane Society - http://abbevillehumanesociety.com/default.aspx
Anderson
Anderson County Humane Society - www.achsonline.com
Anderson County Animal Shelter - www.petfinder.com/shelters/SC57.html
4 PetSake - www.petfinder.com/shelters/SC233.html
Freedom Train Animal Rescue Transports - http://www.freedomtraintransports.com/
Greyhound Pets of America, Electric City Chapter - http://www.gpaelectriccity.org/
Pups and Persians - www.petfinder.com/shelters/SC193.html
Chester
Paws4Progress Canine Rescue - www.petfinder.com/shelters/SC309.html
Second Chance Farm - www.petfinder.com/shelters/SC299.html
Clemson
For the Hounds - http://www.forthehounds.com
Clinton
Four Paws and a Plan - www.petfinder.com/shelters/SC176.html
Cowpens
AARRFF - www.petfinder.com/shelters/SC85.html
Easley
Animal Rescue Pickens County - www.petfinder.com/shelters/animalrescuepickenscounty.html
Bird Dog Pet Rescue - www.petfinder.com/shelters/SC179.html
Golden S Rescue - www.petfinder.com/shelters/goldensrescue.html
Edgefield
All God's Creatures Pet Rescue - www.agcpetrescue.org/
Fountain Inn
Loving Home Rescue - http://www.lovinghomerescue.com/
Drayton
Pom Rescue - http://pomrescue.com/blog1/?page_id=12
Gaffney
Humane Society of Cherokee County - www.petfinder.com/shelters/SC136.html
Lucky Dog Rescue - www.petfinder.com/shelters/SC251.html
Project Zero - www.petfinder.com/shelters/SC173.html
Gray Court
Phoenix Rising Border Collie Rescue - http://www.petfinder.com/shelters/SC81.html
Greenville
Foothills Golden Retriever Rescue - http://www.fhgrr.com
Great Pyrenees Rescue Shelter - http://www.greatpyreneesrescueshelter.org/
Greenville Humane Society - www.greenvillehumane.com
Miss Alli's Rescue - Pyrenees and more - http://www.missallisrescue.org/
Pet Haven - www.scpethaven.org
Pet Tender Angels Rescue - www.petfinder.com/shelters/pettenderangels.html
Speak for Animals - http://www.speakforanimals.com/
Upstate Animal Rescue Foundation of SC - http://www.petfinder.com/shelters/uar.html
Greenwood
Humane Society of Greenwood - www.gwdhumanesociety.org/flash.shtml
Greer
Boykin Spaniel Rescue - www.boykinrescue.org/bsr/
Lancaster
Humane Society of Lancaster - http://www.savelancasterscpets.org/
Laurens
Animal Welfare of Laurens County - http://www.petfinder.com/shelters/SC259.html
Happy Hearts - specializing in disabled pets - http://www.happyheartssc.com/
Laurens County Animal Control - www.petfinder.com/shelters/SC262.html
Laurens County Humane Society - http://www.laurenscountyhumane.org/
Laurens Shelter Pets - http://www.petfinder.com/shelters/SC96.html
Liberty
Brown's Boxers Rescue - www.petfinder.com/shelters/SC253.html
Foothills Humane Society - http://members.petfinder.org/~SC93/
Misfit Horse Rescue (plus dogs) - http://www.petfinder.com/shelters/SC292.html
Nallys Nards - St. Bernards and other breeds - www.petfinder.com/shelters/SC163.html
Mauldin
Hugs for Hounds - http://www.hugsforhounds.com/
McCormick
Humane Society of McCormick County - http://www.petfinder.com/shelters/SC63.html
Moore
Upstate Chihuahua Rescue - plus other breeds - www.petfinder.com/shelters/SC142.html
Pickens
Carolina Animal Protection Citizens Alliance - www.petfinder.com/shelters/SC78.html
Seneca
Animal Rescue Fund - http://arfsc.homestead.com
Crossroads Animal Hospital Adoptions - http://www.petfinder.com/shelters/SC273.html
Diamonds in the Ruff - www.petfinder.com/shelters/SC172.html
Huskies R Us - http://www.petfinder.com/shelters/SC274.html
Oconee County Animal Control - http://www.oconeepets.com/
Sue's Critters - http://www.petfinder.com/shelters/SC105.html
Simpsonville
Concerned Citizens for Animals - http://www.ccaweb.org/
Pawsitive Effects (anti-chaining) - www.pawsitiveeffects.com/Site/home.html
Spartanburg
Ararats Doxie Haven (purebred dachshunds rescue) - www.petfinder.com/shelters/SC199.html
Carolina Greyhound Connection - http://pages.prodigy.net/carolinaghconnection/
Carolina Poodle Rescue - www.carolinapoodlerescue.org/
Critter Connection - www.petfinder.com/shelters/critter-connection.html
Spartanburg Humane Society - www.spartanburghumane.org
Spay/Neuter Clinic - Animal Allies - www.animal-allies.org
Taylors
Enoree River Rescue - www.petfinder.com/shelters/SC254.html
Travelers Rest
The Hounds of Peaceful Place - http://www.petfinder.com/shelters/SC283.html
Union
True Care Humane Society - www.petfinder.com/shelters/SC216.html
Walhalla
All 4 Mutz - www.all4mutz.com/
Oconee Humane Society - http://www.oconeehumane.org/
Westminster
Fast Paws Haven Rescue - http://www.petfinder.com/shelters/SC226.html
West Union
Oconee County Humane Society - www.oconeehumane.org
York
Animal Angels - http://animal-angels.org/
Animal Outreach - www.petfinder.com/shelters/SC65.html
Humane Society of York County (Fort Mill) - www.petfinder.com/shelters/SC76.html
Richardson Rescue - www.petfinder.com/shelters/richardsonrescue.html