# Twin Cities Rescues

> An independent directory of animal rescues and shelters in and around the
> Twin Cities, Minnesota. Listings are free and we are not affiliated with any
> organization listed here — a listing is not an endorsement. Started in 2024
> and supported by Skybrant Web Solutions.

We list 195 organizations and show which animals each one
currently has up for adoption, refreshed every morning from the platforms the
rescues themselves publish to. Every animal links to its own record at the
source, which is the authoritative copy.

## Directory

- [All rescues](https://twincitiesrescues.org/rescues/): every organization we list, filterable by city, state and focus.
- [Rescues by city](https://twincitiesrescues.org/rescues/minnesota/): 106 cities and towns.
- [Rescues by focus](https://twincitiesrescues.org/rescues/focus/dogs/): dogs, cats, and breed-specific rescues.
- Each organization has its own page at https://twincitiesrescues.org/rescues/<slug>/ carrying schema.org AnimalShelter data — address, phone, website, and its current adoptable animals.

## Guides

- [Adoption applications: what the wait is really like, and what to ask](https://twincitiesrescues.org/blog/dog-adoption-applications-and-questions-to-ask/): Adopters describe months of searching, applications that go unanswered, and the questions they wish they'd asked. Here's what to expect and what to bring with you.
- [Sniffaris, and other small things that change a dog's week](https://twincitiesrescues.org/blog/sniffari-small-things-that-change-a-dogs-week/): The changes owners say made the biggest difference weren't the big ones — a slower walk, a cardboard box, ten minutes at the same time every day.
- [Puppy barking: what it means and what actually helps](https://twincitiesrescues.org/blog/puppy-barking-why-and-what-helps/): Puppies bark for four or five reasons and each one needs a different answer. How to tell which you're dealing with, what to do about it, and why the barking usually settles.
- [How to volunteer with a Twin Cities animal rescue](https://twincitiesrescues.org/blog/volunteer-animal-rescue-twin-cities/): What rescues actually need volunteers for, what the application usually involves, and how to find one near you that's taking people right now.
- [How cold is too cold for a dog? A Minnesota owner's guide to winter](https://twincitiesrescues.org/blog/how-cold-is-too-cold-for-dogs/): Vets treat 45°F as the first caution line, 32°F as when risk climbs, 20°F as genuinely dangerous. What changes those numbers, and what to watch for.
- [What "no kill" means for a Minnesota rescue](https://twincitiesrescues.org/blog/what-no-kill-means/): "No kill" usually means a live-release rate near 90% — a convention, not a legal standard. What it does and doesn't tell you, and how to check a rescue.
- [Rescue dog training: the complete guide to a well-behaved dog](https://twincitiesrescues.org/blog/rescue-dog-training/): Rescue dog training from day one — the 3-3-3 rule, house training, leash work and positive reinforcement, for a dog still working out whether home is safe.
- [3-3-3 rule for rescue dogs: a new adopter's guide](https://twincitiesrescues.org/blog/3-3-3-rule-rescue-dogs-twin-cities/): Discover the 3-3-3 rule for rescue dogs and learn exactly what to expect in the first 3 days, 3 weeks, and 3 months after welcoming your new rescue home.
- [How to train a rescue dog: a step-by-step guide](https://twincitiesrescues.org/blog/how-to-train-a-rescue-dog/): Learn how to train a rescue dog using step-by-step guidance on basic commands, positive reinforcement, crate training, and managing behavioral issues.
- [Why does my dog follow me everywhere?](https://twincitiesrescues.org/blog/why-do-dogs-follow-owners-everywhere/): Do you have a four-legged shadow? Learn why dogs follow their owners everywhere and what canine attachment says about your bond.
- [Dog fostering in the Twin Cities: what's involved](https://twincitiesrescues.org/blog/dog-fostering-twin-cities-guide/): Fostering is how a lot of local rescues can say yes to a dog at all. What it asks of you, what the rescue covers, and how to start in the Twin Cities.
- [How rescue dogs overcome separation anxiety](https://twincitiesrescues.org/blog/rescue-dog-separation-anxiety-success-stories/): A lot of rescue dogs panic when left alone. What separation anxiety looks like, why rescue dogs are prone to it, and the strategies that actually help.

- [All guides](https://twincitiesrescues.org/blog/)

## About

- [Who we are](https://twincitiesrescues.org/about/): how the directory is funded and why it stays neutral.
- [Contact](https://twincitiesrescues.org/contact/)
- [Privacy](https://twincitiesrescues.org/privacy/)

## Using this content

Facts about an organization — hours, requirements, which animals are available
— should be confirmed with that organization directly. Rescues move, merge and
change what they take in, and a directory maintained from the outside is always
a little behind. Adoptable animal data is a daily snapshot, not a live feed.