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Puppies and dogs in Oceanside, California

Looking for a puppy or dog in Oceanside, California? Adopt a Pet can help you find a new best friend near you.

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Adopt a dog in Oceanside, California

These adorable dogs are available for adoption in Oceanside, California. To learn more about each adoptable dog, click on the "i" icon for fast facts, or their photo or name for full details.
We'll also keep you updated on Tabitha's adoption status with email updates.
Photo of Tabitha

Tabitha

American Bulldog American Pit Bull Terrier

Female, Young
Riverside, CA
Size
(when grown) Med. 26-60 lbs (12-27 kg)
Details
Not good with kids, Not good with dogs, Not good with cats, Spayed or Neutered, Shots are up-to-date,
Story
Meet Tabitha! Sweet & spunky not chunky, very petite about 36 pounds. She's talkative, playful & lots of fun. Enjoys car rides, well behaved at the coffee shop and on the patio at restaurants. Walks well on leash, no pulling at all, loves to take naps in the yard. Tabitha is doing well with crate training, needs a slow feeder for her meals. Without it she will eat so quickly that she gags. If interested in learning more about this dog & setting up a potential meet & greet, please fill out our adoption application. https://www.underdogheroes.org/applytoadopt
We'll also keep you updated on Timothy's adoption status with email updates.
Photo of Timothy

Timothy

Mixed Breed (Medium) Terrier (Unknown Type, Small)

Male, 6 yrs 2 mos
Oceanside, CA
Size
(when grown) Med. 26-60 lbs (12-27 kg)
Details
Good with kids, Not good with dogs, Not good with cats, House-trained, Spayed or Neutered, Shots are up-to-date,
Story
Timothy is a 5-year-old, 37lb terrier mix who's a bit like Shrek... like an onion... with lots of layers. As he begins to relax in his foster home and to know that he is safe, his foster mom is seeing more and more of Timothy's layers and depth.He came to her very wary and suspicious, but soon it became clear that he desperately wanted to trust her and trust that he was safe. As he continues to decompress, his foster mom continues to see more sides to him. Lately she describes him as bursting with energy and curiosity! He even surprised her one day by running circles around the house and even getting another of her dogs to join in the fun.Timothy tends to be nervous around new people at first, but he warms up with time, treats and patience. Once comfortable with you, he loves to receive your pets and affection.Timothy is great on a leash and well-behaved in relaxed public settings, though so far he doesn't enjoy lots of chaos and he is not the type to want to say hi to every dog and human while out and about. He'd rather observe and stay close to His Person. He needs His Person to advocate for him and educate people on how to let him approach them, and how not to put pressure on him to interact, which makes him uncomfortable.Timothy has done well with respectful kids in his neighborhood that are as young as age 6. He has done well with dogs of all sizes when introduced properly. He has a good amount of prey drive as is typical with his breed, so if a cat were to run, he would likely want to give chase, but if a cat stands its ground, they would likely quickly learn to ignore each other or even be friends.Timothy is looking for a family that can help him continue to learn and grow. He needs someone who is willing to give him time to decompress. He also needs boundaries and clear rules/expectations. Please let us know if you are interested in learning more about this sweet, handsome dog!
We'll also keep you updated on Poppy's adoption status with email updates.
Photo of Poppy

Poppy

Maltese

Female, Adult
Riverside, CA
Size
(when grown) Small 25 lbs (11 kg) or less
Details
Good with kids, Good with dogs, Not good with cats, House-trained, Spayed or Neutered, Shots are up-to-date,
Story
Meet Poppy Meet Poppy. The adorable 3 legged girl who is about 3 years old! Poppy’s sweet and courageous personality doesn’t let her missing paw slow her down. She is full of life and loves a great play session or day out with her loved ones. It can sometimes take Poppy a moment to warm up to new people and she prefers the company of older children in the household. If you are interested in meeting this perfect girl, please fill out an application on our website below! https://www.underdogheroes.org/our-dogs
We'll also keep you updated on *** Baby Girl's adoption status with email updates.
Photo of *** Baby Girl

*** Baby Girl

Doberman Pinscher Belgian Malinois

Female, 1 yr 9 mos
Oceanside, CA
Size
(when grown) -
Details
Not good with kids, Not good with dogs, Not good with cats, House-trained, Spayed or Neutered,
Story
This is a courtesy listing, not a SPOT Rescue dog. For more information regarding Baby Girl, contact Sans below... BABY GIRL needs a real home. She loves people, needs careful introduction to dogs and does not like cats. She has *Megaesophagus (ME) which has been easily managed. We are looking for a forever home with a person(s) that can give extra time to feeding and understand working breeds need more exercise and mental stimulus/enrichment.  FROM FOSTER: Baby Girl (BG) was received 2-5-25. Owners surrendered BG to foster to avoid euthanasia with San Diego Humane Society where they had adopted BG a year ago, spring 2024. They had a new baby 7-2025, work fulltime out of the house and were not successful with proper feeding. BG was slowly starving to death. After owner’s unsuccessful efforts to rehome Baby Girl, they took her back to Humane Society and were told surrendering would result in same day euthanasia, so foster took over to keep BG alive and rehabilitate. ● Dog’s name & location (City/State): Baby Girl / Carlsbad, CA.● DNA test results: Doberman Pinscher 55%, Belgian Malinois 25%, Dutch Shepherd 20%.● Birth Date: 10-14-23.● Baby Girl received underweight, 27lbs on 2-5-25. Now, 44lbs as of 4-25-25, vet wants to see her at 60lbs once fully grown.● Foster’s name and contact:Sans Hartzell, 760-519-4006, SansHartzell@gmail.com, https://www.facebook.com/sans.hartzell/Need of forever home: as soon as possible. She is now at a healthy weight. ● Spayed 1-21-24.● Microchip company went out of business, so chip needs to be reassigned to a new company.● Up to date on vaccinations, no medications except flea medication. Full medical records available.● ME diagnosed: San Diego Humane Society, Veterinary Specialty Hospital shows imagining 2-11-24.● Meals in Baily Chair: Kirkland salmon and sweet potato. 1 cup kibble soaked with 1 cup water for a couple hours in advance, per feeding, 4 times per day. Expected to drop feeding frequency to 2 times a day once at 50lbs. She is fine eating small amounts of raw carrots, veggies or greenies for snacks.● Stays in Baily Chair just a few minutes after eating. Eating is her challenge, which requires someone standing by to assist with burping, possibly massaging throat or letting her out of chair to dash outside to regurgitate if food gets stuck. Regurgitation happens infrequently but during the actual feeding and not randomly like many ME dogs. Items that will go to new owner:● Baily Chair with bowl and slow feed insert.● Wire kennel with 3-sided bolster bed.● Small blender, all medical records. Exercise preferred:● Loves walks but dog reactive. High energy pup, loves spending hours in the backyard running at high speed, plays very hard and needs to work on bite inhibition with play partners. My dog is twice her weight at 90 lbs and BG is sometimes too hard on him.● Housebroken but working on not peeing in her kennel if in longer than 4 hours (a hold over habit from a small puppy bladder and too long of kennel periods).● Sleeps 8 hours at night before needing to go out and will notify you by a whimper from her kennel or licking you if not in her kennel.● Crate trained but separation anxiety with barking if she is in kennel and you are leaving. We are working on reducing the barking with treat training for being quiet. Will not ship dog. Local meet and home inspection required. *Megaesophagus in dogs is a condition where the esophagus, the tube that carries food from the mouth to the stomach, becomes enlarged and weakened. This enlargement and weakening prevent the esophagus from properly pushing food into the stomach, leading to regurgitation (food coming back up without vomiting) and potential aspiration pneumonia. Eating in an upright position assists food getting to and staying in the stomach. Contact Sans Hartzell, 760-519-4006, SansHartzell@gmail.com,
We'll also keep you updated on Viola's adoption status with email updates.
Photo of Viola

Viola

Shih Tzu

Female, 1 yr 2 mos
Oceanside, CA
Size
(when grown) Small 25 lbs (11 kg) or less
Details
Good with kids, Good with dogs, Good with cats, Spayed or Neutered,
Story
Viola is a darling one year old pup that is ready to find her forever home.Viola is a gentle soul. Viola can be a little shy until she fees safe but her playful, affectionate personality shines through. She loves to cuddle and nap next to her foster mom and is happiest when snuggled under the covers. Viola is fully house trained, walks beautifully on the leash and rides like a pro in the car. Viola is the perfect side kick for errands and adventures. She's great with other dogs and would thrive in a calm, loving home where she can continue to blossom at her own pace. If you are looking for a companion with a tender heart and playful spirit, Viola may just be YOUR girl! Viola's Adoption fee is $350 and includes her spay, microchip and current vaccinations. To fill out an adoption application, visit https://www.shelterluv.com/matchme/adopt/SSP-A-1353 To follow Viola on her journey to a loving family on SPOT's Facebook page, visit https://facebook.com/spotsavespets/ and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/spotsavespets/
We'll also keep you updated on *** Vader's adoption status with email updates.
Photo of *** Vader

*** Vader

Australian Cattle Dog Husky

Male, 9 yrs 1 mo
Oceanside, CA
Size
(when grown) -
Details
Good with kids, Not good with dogs, Not good with cats, House-trained, Spayed or Neutered,
Story
This is a courtesy listing, not a SPOT Rescue dog. For more information regarding Vader, contact Fire Mountain Vet below... Meet Vader!  This sweet boy is waiting for his forever home. Unfortunately it was necessary for Vader to have one of his rear legs amputated, and his owners were unable to care for him. They therefore relinquished him to FMVH and we provided this life saving procedure. He has now fully recovered from surgery, and is making great 3-legged strides! He looks forward to going on walks again, chin scratches or simply napping in a sunbeam. With his wild blue eyes and gorgeous coat, he would be a beautiful addition to any family. Vadar is house trained and crate trained, good with children and adults! Please call (760)-757-7557 or email firemountainvet@gmail.com to inquire about adoption!

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Dog shelters and rescues in Oceanside, California

There are animal shelters and rescues that focus specifically on finding great homes for dogs in Oceanside, California. Browse these rescues and shelters below.

Here are a few organizations closest to you:

Shelter

San Diego Humane Society - Oceanside Campus (Dogs)

2905 San Luis Rey Road, Oceanside, CA 92058

Pet Types: cats, birds, dogs, farm animals, horses, rabbits, reptiles, small animals

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Rescue

Last Chance at Life All Breed Rescue

3308 Mission Ave., Oceanside, CA 92058

Pet Types: birds, dogs

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Rescue

SPOT (Saving Pets One at a Time)

3784 Mission Ave Ste 148-356, Oceanside, CA 92058

Pet Types: cats, dogs

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Rescue

Boxers N Birds Animal Rescue Inc.

655 Benet Rd., Oceanside, CA 92058

Pet Types: cats, birds, dogs

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Shelter

San Diego Humane Society - Oceanside Campus (Cats and Small Animals)

572 Airport Road, Oceanside, CA 92058

Pet Types: cats, birds, dogs, farm animals, horses, rabbits, reptiles, small animals

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Rescue

Underdog Heroes

Riverside, CA 92058

Pet Types: dogs

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Rescue

ARRF (Animal Rescue Resource Foundation)

(we're a FOSTER program; NO SHELTER!), Carlsbad, CA 92011

Pet Types: cats, dogs

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Rescue

Amazing Dogs

Carlsbad, CA 92011

Pet Types: dogs

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Rescue

Doggie Protective Services (DPS) - Carlsbad

Carlsbad, CA 92011

Pet Types: cats, dogs

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Rescue

Wagging Dog Rescue - San Diego Chapter

Carlsbad, CA 92013

Pet Types: dogs

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Looking for a specific shelter or rescue?

For a comprehensive list of all shelters and rescues, try our search page. We have more than 17,000 organizations in our database with furry pals waiting for a new home!

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Looking for a specific breed?

Select from the options below to view adoptable puppies and dogs in Oceanside, California and nearby cities.

Popular dog breeds

Affenpinscher Afghan Hound Airedale Terrier Akbash Akita Alaskan Klee Kai Alaskan Malamute American Bulldog American Cocker Spaniel American Eskimo Dog American Hairless Terrier American Pit Bull Terrier American Staffordshire Terrier Anatolian Shepherd Aussiedoodle Australian Cattle Dog Australian Kelpie Australian Shepherd Australian Terrier Basenji Basset Hound Beagle Bearded Collie Beauceron Bedlington Terrier Belgian Laekenois Belgian Malinois Belgian Shepherd Belgian Tervuren Bernedoodle Bernese Mountain Dog Bichon Frise Black Mouth Cur Black and Tan Coonhound Bloodhound Blue Lacy/Texas Lacy Bluetick Coonhound Bolognese Border Collie Border Terrier Borzoi Boston Terrier Bouvier des Flandres Boxer Boykin Spaniel Briard Brittany Brussels Griffon Bull Terrier Bullmastiff Cairn Terrier Canaan Dog Cane Corso Cardigan Welsh Corgi Carolina Dog Catahoula Leopard Dog Caucasian Shepherd Dog Cavachon Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Cavapoo Chesapeake Bay Retriever Chihuahua Chinese Crested Chinook Chiweenie Chow Chow Clumber Spaniel Cockapoo Cocker Spaniel Collie Coonhound Corgi Coton de Tulear Curly-Coated Retriever Dachshund Dalmatian Dandie Dinmont Terrier Doberman Pinscher Dogo Argentino Dogue de Bordeaux Dutch Shepherd English (Redtick) Coonhound English Bulldog English Cocker Spaniel English Setter English Shepherd English Springer Spaniel English Toy Spaniel Entlebucher Feist Field Spaniel Fila Brasileiro Finnish Lapphund Finnish Spitz Flat-Coated Retriever Fox Terrier (Smooth) Fox Terrier (Toy) Fox Terrier (Wirehaired) Foxhound French Bulldog German Pinscher German Shepherd Dog German Shorthaired Pointer German Spitz German Wirehaired Pointer Glen of Imaal Terrier Goberian Golden Retriever Goldendoodle Gordon Setter Great Dane Great Pyrenees Greater Swiss Mountain Dog Greyhound Halden Hound (Haldenstrover) Harrier Havanese Horgi Hovawart Husky Ibizan Hound Icelandic Sheepdog Irish Setter Irish Terrier Irish Water Spaniel Irish Wolfhound Italian Greyhound Italian Spinone Jack Russell Terrier Japanese Chin Jindo Kai Dog Karelian Bear Dog Keeshond Kerry Blue Terrier Kishu Komondor Kuvasz Kyi Leo Labradoodle Labrador Retriever Lakeland Terrier Lancashire Heeler Leonberger Lhasa Apso Löwchen Maltese Maltipoo Manchester Terrier Maremma Sheepdog Mastiff Miniature Bull Terrier Miniature Dachshund Miniature Pinscher Morkie Mountain Cur Munsterlander Mutt Neapolitan Mastiff Newfoundland Norfolk Terrier Norwegian Buhund Norwegian Elkhound Norwegian Lundehund Norwich Terrier Nova Scotia Duck-Tolling Retriever Old English Sheepdog Olde English Bulldogge Otterhound Papillon Parson Russell Terrier Patterdale Terrier (Fell Terrier) Pekingese Pembroke Welsh Corgi Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen Pharaoh Hound Pitsky Plott Hound Podengo Portugueso Pointer Polish Lowland Sheepdog Pomeranian Pomsky Poodle (Miniature) Poodle (Standard) Poodle (Toy or Tea Cup) Portuguese Water Dog Presa Canario Pug Puggle Puli Pumi Rat Terrier Redbone Coonhound Rhodesian Ridgeback Rottweiler Saluki Samoyed Schiller Hound Schipperke Schnauzer (Giant) Schnauzer (Miniature) Schnauzer (Standard) Schnoodle Scottie, Scottish Terrier Scottish Deerhound Sealyham Terrier Shar Pei Sheepadoodle Sheltie, Shetland Sheepdog Sheppit Shepsky Shiba Inu Shih Poo Shih Tzu Silky Terrier Skye Terrier Sloughi St. Bernard Staffordshire Bull Terrier Sussex Spaniel Swedish Vallhund Texas Heeler Thai Ridgeback Tibetan Mastiff Tibetan Spaniel Tibetan Terrier Tosa Inu Treeing Walker Coonhound Vizsla Weimaraner Welsh Springer Spaniel Welsh Terrier Westie, West Highland White Terrier Wheaten Terrier Whippet Wirehaired Pointing Griffon Xoloitzcuintle/Mexican Hairless Yorkie Poo Yorkie, Yorkshire Terrier