Stray Paws Rescue

Rescue starts with a second chance.

Stray Paws Rescue is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, foster-based rescue serving the St. Louis Metro Area. We rescue dogs and cats in need, provide them with the care and support they deserve, and work to find them loving, permanent homes.

Foster-Based

Animals live in foster homes

Dogs & Cats

Every animal deserves a chance

St. Louis Metro

Serving our local community

Looking for a Forever Home

Meet Our Animals

Get to know some of the dogs and cats currently in our care and looking for their forever families.

Fearless

Pebbles the Cat

Starburst

Mildred/Mom

Meet More Adoptable Animals

An application is required to meet or adopt an animal.

Mark Your Calendar

What's Happening

Upcoming events, fundraisers, adoption events, and ways to get involved.

Sep 18

Upcoming Event

Vintage Market Days Adoption Event

Sep 18, 2026 • 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM

St. Charles Convention Center 1 Convention Center Plaza St. Charles, MO 63303

🐾 VINTAGE MARKET DAYS + STRAY PAWS RESCUE! 🐾 Vintage treasures AND adorable rescue dogs?! 😍🐶 Now that’s our kind of shopping trip! Come see Stray Paws Rescue at Vintage Market Days September 18–20! While you shop all the amazing vendors, be sure to stop by and see us! 🛍️ SHOP ‘TIL YOU DROP — WE’LL HOLD THE BAGS! Stray Paws Rescue will be stationed at the Baggage Area, where you can leave your shopping bags with us for a donation to the rescue! 🙌🐾 Shop hands-free, grab even more goodies, AND help homeless animals at the same time. That sounds like a win-win-win to us! 💙 🐶 MEET ADOPTABLE DOGS! We’ll also have some of our adorable adoptable pups there looking for attention, belly rubs, kisses…and maybe their FOREVER FAMILY! 🥹🏡❤️ 📅 FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 18 ⏰ 10 AM – 4 PM 🎟️ Weekend Pass: $15 ⭐ VIP Weekend Pass with 1-hour early entry Friday: $20 📅 SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 19 ⏰ 10 AM – 4 PM 🎟️ Saturday/Sunday Pass: $10 📅 SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 20 ⏰ 10 AM – 3 PM 🎟️ Sunday Pass: $7 Come shop vintage, support small businesses, let us babysit those shopping bags, and LOVE ON SOME RESCUE DOGS! 🛍️🐾🐶 Shop vintage. Change lives. Adopt love. 💙

Sep 19

Upcoming Event

Vintage Market Days Adoption Event

Sep 19, 2026 • 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM

St. Charles Convention Center 1 Convention Center Plaza St. Charles, MO 63303

Sep 20

Upcoming Event

Vintage Market Days Adoption Event

Sep 20, 2026 • 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM

St. Charles Convention Center 1 Convention Center Plaza St. Charles, MO 63303

Sep 22

Upcoming Event

The Wine Garden Adoption Event

Sep 22, 2026 • 5:00 PM to 10:00 PM

1219 S Main St, St Charles, MO 63301, USA

🐾🍷 STRAY PAWS RESCUE ADOPTION EVENT AT THE WINE GARDEN! 🍷🐾 Come sip, relax, and meet some adorable adoptable dogs looking for their forever homes! 🐶 ❤️ Who knows… your new best friend might be waiting for you! 📅 Tuesday, September 22 ⏰ 5:00–10:00 PM 📍 The Wine Garden — 1219 S Main St, St. Charles, MO 63301 🍷 Grab a glass, bring your friends, and come meet the pups! Join with Google Meet: https://meet.google.com/wgw-snsp-hbv Learn more about Meet at: https://support.google.com/a/users/answer/9282720

Sep 26

Upcoming Event

Cornhole Tournament - Adoption Event

Sep 26, 2026 • 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM

New Town at St. Charles, St Charles, MO 63301, USA

🐾 CORNHOLE + RESCUE DOGS = THE PERFECT SATURDAY! 🐾 Grab your friends, warm up that throwing arm, and come hang out with Stray Paws Rescue at the Cornhole Tournament in New Town! 🎯🐶💙 📅 Saturday, September 26 ⏰ 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM 📍 New Town at St. Charles St. Charles, MO 63301 We’ll be there cheering on the cornhole players AND bringing along some very special four-legged guests! 🐾 🐶 Meet adorable adoptable dogs looking for their forever families 💙 Learn more about Stray Paws Rescue and the animals in our care 🏡 Find out about fostering & adopting and how YOU can help save a life 🎯 Enjoy a fun afternoon of cornhole while supporting rescue 🐾 Stop by, say hello and get some puppy love! Whether you’re playing in the tournament or just coming out to watch, come find the Stray Paws crew! You never know…you might show up for cornhole and leave having met your new best friend. 🥹❤️🐶 Rescue. Rehabilitate. Rehome. Together, we make tails wag! Join with Google Meet: https://meet.google.com/hhk-ayvr-hfh Learn more about Meet at: https://support.google.com/a/users/answer/9282720

Events and details are updated regularly.

Our Impact

Community Impact

Together, our community gives animals the second chance they deserve.

605

Animal Intake 2025

Animals welcomed into our rescue

581

Animals Adopted 2025

Animals placed into loving homes

Volunteers

People making a difference

Every number represents a life changed.

Get Involved

How You Can Help

There are many ways to make a difference in the lives of animals waiting for their second chance.

Adopt

Find a forever friend among our lovable animals and make a difference in their lives!

Adopt Now

Foster

Become a foster parent and give a temporary home to animals awaiting adoption!

Foster Now

Volunteer

Your time and love can make a big impact—help out with events, adoption drives, and more!

Volunteer Now

Donate

Your financial support can make a difference in the lives of many animals search for a home.

Donate Now

Why Stray Paws

What Sets Stray Paws Rescue Apart?

We believe rescue should be about more than simply finding a home. We are committed to doing what is best for each animal, even when the road is difficult.

Committed to the Toughest Cases

We pull major medical cases, including dogs with severe injuries, illnesses, and special needs.

Rescue Across 11 States

We pull dogs from high-kill shelters across 11 states, giving them a second chance at life.

No Same-Day Adoptions

We prioritize finding the right home, not just any home, ensuring a great fit for both the pet and adopter.

Home Visits for Every Adoption

We conduct home visits to ensure each pet is placed in a safe, loving, and suitable environment.

Fostering is Always Free

We cover all supplies, vetting, and food for fosters. The only requirement? Love and care.

Training Support

We invest in training resources, including professional board-and-train programs when necessary.

No Breed Discrimination

We welcome all breeds and advocate for misunderstood ones, including bully breeds.

Emergency Rescue Ready

We respond to urgent situations, pulling animals in danger from disasters and neglect cases.

We Take Owner Surrenders When We Can

Unlike many rescues, we try to help responsible owners who truly have no other option.

We Don't Stack Dogs in Kennels

Every dog in our care is given space, comfort, and enrichment to reduce stress.

Lifelong Commitment

If an adopter needs help, we remain a resource for the life of the pet.

Community Spotlight

Volunteer & Animal of the Month

Celebrating the people who make rescue possible and the animals who remind us why we do it.

Volunteer Spotlight

Jeanne

While working a full-time job, Jeanne still finds the time to help keep our social media running smoothly and assist with our fundraising efforts.

🐾 Click to read more about Jeanne's incredible work.

While working a full-time job, Jeanne still finds the time to help keep our social media running smoothly and assist with our fundraising efforts. Her dedication behind the scenes helps us share our mission, raise critical funds, and give our animals the best chance at finding loving homes.

Her passion, commitment, and countless hours of volunteer work make a tremendous difference to Stray Paws Rescue. We are so grateful for everything she does and are lucky to have her as part of our team.

🐾 Thank you, Jeanne, for all of your hard work and dedication. We appreciate you more than words can express! ❤️🐾

Featured Animal

Harvey

🐾 Click to read Harvey's full story.

Hey there, hoomans! 🐕 It's me, Harvey, and I'm here to tell you my story—my tail, if you will. Life hasn't always been easy, but boy, let me tell ya, things have sure turned around for this doggo. So, grab a snack (I'd recommend a good bone 🦴) and let me take you through my journey from the streets to my cozy throne! 👑

Once upon a time, I was a shop dog. Life was pretty routine—until one day, it wasn't. I got hit by a car (or something; it's all a blur now). My bones were shattered, my legs dislocated, and, to make things worse, my “family” just stopped caring. They didn't feed me, let me inside, or even say goodbye 😔. But I stayed close to the shop anyway—I guess I'm loyal like that. 🥲

Things got pretty ruff. I dragged myself around looking for scraps, and my legs got worse and worse until they were necrotic. (I know, not a pretty picture 😬.) One day, a kind human found me. It took hours to convince me to leave my spot—I mean, I didn't trust anyone at this point, right? But this human brought me to the vet, and everything changed from there. ❤️

Now here's where it gets good! 🐾

I'm living the dream, my friends. 🥰 After all that, I ended up in a fospice forever home with the best foster momma in the world! You'd think after everything I've been through, I'd be all gloomy, but no way! I'm healthy, happy, and let me tell you—plump and proud! 😎

🐕‍🦺 My momma takes such good care of me and my foster sister, Milagra, who's also a special case from Stray Paws Rescue. Together, we're like a little squad of medical marvels. ✨ And even though I've been through a double amputation (yup, lost both back legs) and heartworm treatment, you know what? I wag my tail every single day. Yup, that's right—the vets said I wouldn't be able to, but guess who's wagging now?! 😏💪

💤

Chill vibes only

Low energy, high on comfort!

🐾

Cuddle King

A master of snuggles.

💖

Friendly as can be

Loves humans and other dogs.

It's been two whole years since my surgery, and let me tell you, life couldn't be better. I may have been through some tough stuff, but now I'm the king of my own little castle, and nothing beats that.

So, to all of you out there—don't give up on us doggos. We may have scars and missing parts, but our hearts are bigger than you could ever imagine. Thanks to my amazing foster momma, I've been able to show the world just how strong and loving we can be.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I've got a warm spot on the couch calling my name 🛋️. Life is good, friends. Life is real good. 🐾❤️

Forever wagging,
Harvey

Learn more about Harvey on Facebook