Lighthouse Animal Shelter
A Beacon of Hope for Homeless Animals
Lighthouse Animal Shelter is a dedicated 501(c)3 non-profit organization on a mission to provide a second chance for homeless animals. Our all-volunteer team brings decades of combined expertise in animal welfare to ensure every dog and cat in our care is treated with love, dignity, and respect.
Our Commitment to Compassion
We believe every animal deserves a soft place to land. Our rescue efforts focus primarily on adult and senior animals, giving a voice to those often overlooked. We rescue dogs from high-intake shelters facing euthanasia, and we provide a safe harbor for local cats, including strays and owner surrenders.
How We Make a Difference
As a 100% volunteer-run organization, we rely entirely on the generosity of our community to sustain our life-saving work. Whether through daily care, medical treatment, or foster opportunities, our volunteers work tirelessly to create a welcoming environment for our residents. We also advocate for responsible pet ownership, including the importance of spaying and neutering to help reduce pet overpopulation.
The Joy of the Perfect Match
We are dedicated to fostering lasting, happy relationships between our animals and their new families. Our adoption process is designed to be a thoughtful experience, prioritizing the best match between each unique pet and their potential home. We consider the needs of the animal, the humans in the home, and any existing pets to ensure a harmonious, lifelong connection.
Join Our Mission
Your new best friend is waiting to meet you! Because our shelter operates by appointment only to provide the best care for our residents, please start by exploring our adoptable animals and filling out an application on our website. We invite you to be part of our story, whether you choose to adopt, volunteer, foster, or donate to support our ongoing efforts.
Trust Assessment
BronzeRated Oct 9, 2026
NonprofitVerifiedOperating 10+ years
FinancesOnline Review Highlights
- Friendly staff
- Dedicated rescue efforts
Coverage We Reviewed
Fall River Herald News
10/7 - Sakonnet Vineyard plans busy fall season of events
From a wine run to dog adoptions and trivia nights Sakonnet Vineyard has a full schedule of fall activities.
FUN 107
Improves Trust
7/15 - This New Bedford Shelter Dog Is an Adoption Success Story
From potty training hurdles to bonding with Stormy the cat, Clem’s adoption journey has been a total success.
Recent Videos
10/27 - 🖤🐈⬛ Happy National Black Cat Day! 🐈⬛🖤 Black cats are beautiful, full of personality, and deserving of love! ✨ Today, we’re celebrating all the black cats who have touched our hearts—past, present, and future. Whether they’ve found their forever homes or are still waiting for their chance, every one of them deserves to be celebrated! 🐾🖤 Got a black cat you want to brag about? Show us in the comments! 🐈⬛ #NationalBlackCatDay #BlackCats #LighthouseAnimalShelter #AdoptDontShop
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10/26 - 🐶 Man Crush Monday: Meet Buster 🤩 We have TWO Busters at Lighthouse, so let’s introduce you to our 40-pound, 2-year-old coonhound Buster! ❤️ This sweet, shy boy is slowly but surely coming out of his shell, and we’re loving every minute of it! 🥹 He’s starting to feel more comfortable with our volunteers, joining in on playtime, accepting treats, and even allowing some quick pets. Little steps that make us VERY happy! Buster is also quite the busybody. 😂 You can often catch him peeking out the window, keeping tabs on the other playgroups. And when he’s in the office? Those big ears are ALWAYS listening to whatever is going on. We’re pretty sure he knows all the shelter gossip! 🐕 His favorite thing? Other dogs! Buster loves playing with his canine friends, and a confident dog sibling could be just the thing to help him continue building confidence. Buster may need a little time and patience to feel comfortable, but we have a feeling there’s a whole lot of personality hiding behind that shy face. ❤️ Give this boy a chance, and you might just become his favorite person to watch… and eventually, his favorite person EVER! 🏡 Ready to meet Buster (the hound, not the other Buster 😉)? Apply to adopt at LighthouseAnimalShelter.org/adopt #LighthouseAnimalShelter #AdoptBuster #CoonhoundLove #AdoptDontShop #ShelterDog @fun107nb @newbedfordguide
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10/25 - GOOD TIMES WITH OUR LIGHTHOUSE CREW! Today was all about celebrating the amazing volunteers who make Lighthouse Animal Shelter such a special place! ❤️ We traded our usual shelter routines for bowling shoes, pizza, and plenty of laughs. It was a wonderful chance to get together with volunteers from different shifts, enjoy each other’s company, and make some memories outside the shelter. To everyone who gives their time and heart to our dogs and cats, thank you! You make a difference every single day, and we’re so grateful for each and every one of you. 🐶🐱💕 #LighthouseAnimalShelter #VolunteerAppreciation #LighthouseFamily #ThankYouVolunteers
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10/24 - 🎃🐾 ONE WEEK UNTIL HALLOWEEN! 👻🧡 The kitties are getting into the Halloween spirit! 🐈⬛ From batting around spooky toys to trying on their Halloween costumes, our feline friends are getting ready for the big day! 🕸️🦇 We’ve got tricks, treats, and plenty of purr-sonality around here! 😹🍬 🎃 Looking for your own little boo? 👻 Our cats are waiting for loving forever homes! Visit our website to meet the cats available for adoption and find your purr-fect match. 🏡🐾 Who’s ready for a little Halloween mischief? Drop a 🐾 in the comments if these cuties made you smile! #HalloweenCats #ShelterCats #SpookySeason #AdoptDontShop #CatsofInstagram #LighthouseAnimalShelter
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10/23 - 🍦🎶 Fun Friday with Lou! 🎶🍦 🎵 Haters gonna hate, but everyone’s gonna love Lou!🧡🐾 Meet Lou! She’s a 4-year-old, 60-pound Redbone Coonhound with the sweetest, calmest personality and perfect leash manners. This girl is ready to be someone’s favorite walking buddy, loyal sidekick, and best friend! Lou forms deep bonds with her person, so she’s looking for a single-person home where she can share all that love with her very own human. ❤️ She’s ready to Shake It Off and dance her way into someone’s heart! 🎶 Could that someone be you? Apply to adopt Lou at lighthouseanimalshelter.org/adopt 🧡 #adoptdontshop #RedboneCoonhound #RescueDog #AdoptLou #rescuedog
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10/22 - 🐾 MEET TERRY! YOUR NEXT ADVENTURE BUDDY! 🐾 💙 2 years old | 54 pounds | Mixed breed 🐶 Happy guy with energy to share! 🚶 Loves getting out of the shelter for walks 🏃 Recently tried a short run with a volunteer and LOVED it! 🦮 Good on leash 🐾 Knows sit, paw, and down 🎓 Eager to learn and ready to show off his skills! Looking for a buddy to join you for walks, outdoor adventures, and new experiences? Terry could be your guy! ❤️ 📣 Full bio coming soon! Stay tuned to learn more about this fun-loving boy. 🏡 Ready to meet Terry? Apply to adopt at LighthouseAnimalShelter.org/adopt! #MeetTerry #ShelterDogs #AdoptDontShop #RescueDog #runningdog
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10/22 - Join Runabout for a day supporting Lighthouse Animal Shelter! When: November 1st — We will be set up and accepting donations from 8AM–2PM. Dogs will be joining us during that window, with exact visiting times to be announced. Where: Sullivan’s Plaza & Forno Bakery 260 Marion Rd., Wareham, MA Come meet some adoptable dogs from Lighthouse Animal Shelter in New Bedford. If you’re interested in adopting, applications can be submitted directly through Lighthouse. We’ll be collecting cash donations and items from the shelter’s wishlist. I’ll also have wishlist items available to purchase and donate at the trailer if you’re not able to shop ahead and bring your donations with you! #shelterdog #animals #wareham #fyp #coffee
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10/18 - 🍇🐾 SNIFFS, SMILES & VINEYARD VIBES! 🍂 It was a beautiful fall day to get out and meet new friends! ☀️ Carowinds, Terry, Coco, Sharpay, and Debbie had a wonderful time at Sakonnet Vineyard today, enjoying the sunshine and meeting SO many nice people. 🐶❤️ A big thank-you to Sakonnet Vineyard for welcoming us and our crew of furry friends! We loved getting our pups out into the community and showing everyone just how special shelter dogs are. Thanks to everyone who stopped by to say hello, share some love, and spend a little time with our dogs. Who knows? One of those new friendships might just be the beginning of a happily-ever-after! 🏡🐾😉 And one of our favorite parts of the day? Seeing our alumni! ❤️ Joy and Mimi stopped by to say hi, and we were so happy to see them. Once a Lighthouse pup, always family! 🐶💕 Thanks for making it such a pawsome day! 🍂 #SakonnetVineyard #AdoptDontShop #RescueDogs #AdoptionEvent #FallVibes @Sakonnet Vineyard
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10/15 - 🍂 COZY SEASON TIP: KEEP ONE HAND FREE FOR BELLY RUBS! 🐾 Meet Jada! She’s a 5-year-old, 55-pound hound mix with a very important signature move: rolling right over for belly rubs. 😂❤️ Consider yourself warned… you may not get much done when this girl is around! And Jada has plenty more going for her, too. She’s sweet as can be, good with kids and other dogs, has lived with cats in her foster home, and is housebroken. Basically, she’s got the cozy-season essentials covered. All she needs now is a family to call her own! 🏡🍁 Her full bio is coming soon, but you can get a head start on falling for Jada now! 🐾 Ready to meet her? Apply to adopt at lighthouseanimalshelter.org/adopt #AdoptJada #CozySeason #rescuedog #AdoptDontShop #fallvibes @New Bedford Guide @fun107nb @SouthCoastToday
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10/14 - 🍂 Meet Rue! 🍂 🐾 2 years old | 36 pounds 🐶 Australian Shepherd mix 🚶♀️ Walks? YES, PLEASE! 🐕 Dog-friendly 🐱 Could live with a dog-savvy cat ❤️ Shy at first, snuggly once we’re friends 🏡 Crate trained & non-destructive 👧 Good with kids 🐾 May need some potty-training practice Looking for a loyal little shadow? Give me a chance to warm up, and I might just be your girl! ❤️ Apply: lighthouseanimalshelter.org/adopt #AdoptDontShop #RescueDog #FallVibes #ShelterDogs #MeetYourNewBestFriend
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10/10 - 👀 Excuse me… are you just going to scroll past this face?! 💁♀️ Hi, I’m Sharpay! I’m a petite 35-pound package of cuteness, and I’m just ONE year old! 💕 I love going for walks, exploring new places, and sniffing out all the interesting things this world has to offer. I’m great in the car, know some basic commands, and I’m always willing to learn more… especially if treats are involved! 😉 I can be a little unsure in new places, so I’m looking for a patient, loving person who’ll give me time to settle in and show me the ropes. I have so much potential to blossom with a family of my own! ❤️ So, what do you say? Ready to stop scrolling and meet your new best friend? 🐾 Read my full bio and apply to meet me at lighthouseanimalshelter.org/adopt #shelterdog #AdoptDontShop #AdoptSharpay #WeimaranerMix #MeetYourNewBestFriend
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10/9 - 🐾 Meet Ranger! This handsome 4-year-old, 50-pound Shepherd mix is a sweet guy who’s been making friends with the volunteers and growing more confident each day. ❤️ He’s dog friendly, cat friendly, and ready to find a family of his own! 🏡 Ranger can be a little shy at first, but he’s warming up more every day. His full bio is coming soon, so stay tuned to learn more about this handsome boy! 🐾 #MeetRanger #ShepherdMix #RescueDog #ShelterDog #AdoptDontShop Apply: lighthouseanimalshelter.org/adopt @newbedfordguide Guide @fun107nb
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10/8 - 🐾🚶♀️ Happy National Walk a Dog Week! 🚶♂️🐾 For our shelter dogs, a walk is about so much more than exercise. It gives them a chance to get out of the shelter, explore the community, experience new sights and smells, and enjoy some one-on-one time with a person. ❤️ Our amazing dog walkers make those moments happen! Every walk gives our pups a break from shelter life and adds something special to their day. 🐶🐾 And let’s be honest… once you start walking these pups, you might just get stuck like glue! 😉🐾 Want to make a difference in a shelter dog’s day? Apply to become a dog walker! ❤️ lighthouseanimalshelter.org/volunteer 🐾 #NationalWalkADogWeek #ShelterDogs #DogWalking #Volunteer #adoptdontshop
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