Rocket Dog Rescue
Our Mission
Rocket Dog Rescue is a volunteer-based organization serving the greater San Francisco Bay Area, dedicated to saving homeless and abandoned dogs from overcrowded shelters. We are committed to ensuring every companion animal has a loving, permanent home.
Our Story
Founded in 2001 by animal activist Pali Boucher, our rescue was born out of a simple desire to provide a second chance for deserving animals. We operate not for politics or fame, but for the life-saving impact of giving a dog a new beginning.
How We Help
We operate as a robust foster-based network where our dogs receive love, socialization, and essential veterinary care in private homes. To further support our mission, our Urban Sanctuary in Oakland provides a safe, temporary haven for dogs not currently in foster care, where our dedicated volunteers ensure every animal is fed, exercised, and cherished.
Your Partnership
Adoption is the ultimate goal, and we pride ourselves on careful, thoughtful matching to create the perfect partnership between our dogs and their new families. Our volunteers and adoption counselors work closely with you to ensure that every placement is a success, setting both the animal and the adopter up for a lifetime of happiness.
Join Our Community
Are you ready to meet your new best friend? We invite you to browse our available dogs online or join us at one of our weekend adoption events held throughout the Bay Area. Whether you choose to adopt, volunteer, or support us through a donation, your help ensures we can continue this vital work for the dogs who need us most.
- Staff and volunteer dedication
- Supportive community impact
- Inconsistent fee transparency
7/21 - Surf's Up, Paws Out: Pacifica's Linda Mar Braces for World Dog Surfing Showdown
Dogs will surf Linda Mar Beach on Aug. 1. Free to watch; adoptions and a wellness fair on site.
6/29 - No One Is Checking: Inside California’s Unregulated Animal Rescue System
This in-depth report examines how California’s animal rescue system relies on private rescues with little mandatory oversight, why shelters depend on them, and what the Miranda case reveals about the…
10/11 - We’re not sure who’s happier: our new adopters, our Rocket Dogs, or us… 💜🐾 But one thing’s for sure: there’s a whole lot of love going around, and we couldn’t be happier for these families and their newest family members! Every adoption is a new beginning, a couch to call their own, and a whole lot of adventures ahead. And to everyone who cheers these dogs on, shares their posts, comes to meet them, fosters, or adopts — you’re part of every happy ending, too. 🥹❤️ Here’s to another week of happy tails! 🎉 Visit www.rocketdogrescue.org, follow us on socials, and attend our events for your own happy tail! #happytails #rocketdogrescue #inittowinit #adoptfosterdonatevolunteer #rescuedogs
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10/5 - ✨Another week, another whole lot of happy tails!✨ These are the moments we do it all for — dogs finding their people, families finding their new best friends, and a whole new chapter beginning. To everyone who adopted, fostered, volunteered, donated, shared a post, or cheered these dogs on from the sidelines: you’re part of this story, too. Rescue takes a village, and we’re so grateful you’re part of ours. Help us celebrate! Drop a ❤️ in the comments for this week’s happy tails! And if you’re looking for a new best friend of your own, check out the dogs waiting for their people on our website, follow us here, and come see us at an upcoming adoption event. Your happy ending might be next. 💜 #happytails #rocketdogrescue #adoptfosterdonatevolunteer #inittowinit #togetherstronger
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10/3 - A glimpse into intake day at @rocketdogrescue! 🐶 All hands on deck to get these cuties clean, comfy, and ready to hopefully head off to foster or adoptive homes this evening❣️🐾
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9/28 - Another week, another whole lot of happy tails! 🐾 These are the moments that make rescue worth it. ❤️ Thank you to our adopters, fosters, volunteers, and supporters who make happy endings like these possible. Ready to find your own happy tail? Your new best friend could be waiting! Check out the dogs on our website, follow us here for the latest updates, and come meet us at an upcoming adoption event. Here’s to another week of happy endings! 💜 #rocketdogrescue #newbff #happytails #rescuedismyfavoritebreed #adoptfosterdonatevolunteer
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9/24 - Help! @rocketdogrescue just saved so many dogs from a very terrible hoarding case and they need some fosters. Please share this video widely so we can find people to support these dogs and get them into better health. #hoarding #breeding #disaster #help #viral (spaniel MIX)
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9/22 - Roll call! Introducing you to the small Rocket Dogs currently available! Please share to help find them a home. Next video will introduce the big dogs. Located in Oakland, CA. #adopt #rescue #bayarea #cutedogs #viral
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9/21 - Meet Glory! 🐾 This sweet 3-year-old girl weighs about 16 pounds and is looking for her forever person. Glory may take a minute to warm up, but once she decides you’re her person, you’ll have a devoted little shadow who loves curling up beside you, lounging on the couch, and getting belly rubs. And don’t let that sweet little face fool you—Glory has some SERIOUS zoomies! 😂 She walks nicely on leash, is house-trained and crate-trained, rides great in the car, and is kid-friendly. She’s a little cautious around unfamiliar dogs, especially the big ones, so slow introductions are the way to go. Sweet, cuddly, zoomie-powered… Glory is ready to find her people. 💜 Www.rocketdogrescue.org 💌 have an application on file? Email us adopt@rocketdogrescue.org. #21stofseptember #adoptfosterdonatevolunteer #zoomies #smalldogsofinstagram
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9/21 - ✨Another week, another whole lot of happy tails! ✨ Thank you to our adopters, fosters, volunteers, and supporters who make these happy endings possible. 💜 Looking for your new family member? Visit our website, follow our social media, and attend our events. www.rocketdogrescue.org #rocketdogrescue #rescuedismyfavoritebreed #newbff #happytails #sundayvibes
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9/20 - 🐾 Four adoptions. One foster. So many happy tails. 🐾 Our adoption event with Rocket Dog Rescue was a HUGE success! ❤️ Missed the event? Don’t worry! Follow us to stay in the loop about future adoption events and ways you can help. 🎉 And our adoption special is still going! Any dog adopted through Rocket Dog Rescue that comes to AlphaDog Lodging will receive: ✨ 10 FREE nights of boarding ✨ 5 FREE days of daycare ✨ 2 FREE training sessions A little extra support for the humans who open their homes to a dog in need. 🏠❤️ Interested in helping even more? If you’d like to learn more about fostering, adopting, volunteering, or donating, head to the link in our bio! 🐾 Follow along to hear more about our partnership with Rocket Dog! 🚀🐶
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