50 Rescue Dog Quotes to Celebrate Second Chances

In a perfect world, every home would have a rescue dog. In most cases, a shelter dog winds up rescuing the person who saved him. Dog adoption is one of the best ways to clear the shelters and enrich your life with a furry new friend.

Rescue dogs are hidden treasures waiting to shine. Not only will a rescue pup help break the cycle of pet overpopulation, but he gets the opportunity to have a long, happy life with you.

Though many shelter dogs have had a rough start in life, they are lost souls looking for second chances. The benefits of saving a dog are endless. Older rescue dogs are past the puppy training and nipping years. On the flip side, puppies in shelters haven’t had a chance to show the world what they can do.

To celebrate the human-animal bond, we’ve gathered up 50 of our favorite rescue dog quotes. If you’ve adopted a dog or know someone who has, these quotes will touch your heartstrings. Share them with family and friends, and feel free to use them in your social media posts.

Rescue Dog Quotes

“Saving one dog will not change the world, but surely for that one dog, the world will change forever.” – Karen Davison

“Rescued is my favorite breed.” – Anonymous

“A lot of shelter dogs are mutts like me.” – Barack Obama

“Dogs have a way of finding the people who need them and filling an emptiness we didn’t ever know we had.” – Thom Jones

“I love dogs. I absolutely adore them. When I’m teaching in Mexico, I rescue dogs from the streets and make my students adopt them.” – Mary Ellen Mark

“I found me when I was rescued by dogs.” – Anonymous

“How is it possible that out of all the dogs in the world, the best ones are rescues?” – Anonymous

“If you pick up a starving dog and make him prosperous he will not bite you. This is the principal difference between a dog and man.” – Mark Twain

“The sadness I feel looking into the ages is nothing compared to how it must feel looking out.” – Anonymous

“Secondhand animals make first class pets.” – Anonymous

“The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated.” – Gandhi

“You can’t buy love but you can rescue it.” – Anonymous

“Rescue: It’s not just a verb. It’s a promise.” – Anonymous

“It’s easy to see why dog rescue is a mushrooming culture. Turning a troubled person’s life around is difficult, but rescuers with commitment and time, and a few dollars can radically alter the fate of a dog. And there are millions of dogs – nearly 10 million in the shelter system, many others mistreated in private homes – in need of rescuing. – Jon Katz

“I’m even able to have kind of a little bit of a second career in dog rescue. Doesn’t pay anything but it’s become a real passion for me.” – Emmylou Harris

“Rescue does not mean damaged. It means they have been let down by humans.” – Anonymous

Inspirational Rescue Dog Quotes

“You can’t change a dog’s past, but you can rewrite the future.” – Agnes Carass

“He who feeds a hungry animal feeds his own soul.” – Charlie Chaplin

“No one has ever become poor by giving.” – Anne Frank

“A dog doesn’t care if you’re rich or poor, smart or dumb. Give him your heart…and he’ll give you his.” – Milo Gathema

“A dog is not a thing. A thing is replaceable. A dog is not. A thing is disposable. A dog is not. A thing doesn’t have a heart. A dog’s heart is bigger than any ‘thing’ you can ever own.” – Elizabeth Parker

“We threw chew toys to Misty, Mom’s Golden Retriever that she bought two years ago secondhand. Misty was supposed to be a seeing eye dog, but she failed her exam because she’s too affectionate. It’s a flaw we don’t mind.” – Douglas Copeland

“Most people say if I was rich, I’d buy designer clothes and diamonds. I’m thinking I’d buy a sanctuary and rescue more animals.” – Anonymous

“Reaching out to rescue one another under any condition is an eternal measure of love.” – Ronald A. Rasband

“I should get a dog. I would get a rescue dog. I don’t care. I would probably get a three-legged dog no one else wanted.” – Simon Cowell

“Some people see an unfortunate dog sitting in a shelter. I see an angel that someone threw away.” – Anonymous

“Being a hero to someone, even if it is just a dog, is a feeling like no other. Though it can be frustrating, it can be the most rewarding thing to give someone a second chance at life.” – Elizabeth Parker

“My mission is to rescue. My dream is that one day I won’t have to.” – Anonymous

“It’s rewarding beyond words to rescue a dog from the shelter and have that dog become part of your family.” – Jenna Morasca

“When most of us talk to our dogs, we tend to forget they’re not people.” – Julia Glass

“The bond with a true dog is as lasting as the ties of this earth will ever be.” – Konrad Lorenz

“Looking for a good time? Adopt a shelter dog.” – Anonymous

Dog Adoption Quotes

“You can’t change a dog’s past, but you can rewrite the future.” – Anonymous

“The perfect rescue dog is out there for everybody. You just have to find it.” – Josh Hopkins

“People who say money can’t buy you happiness have never paid an adoption fee.” – Anonymous

“A dog is like a person – he needs a job and a family to be what he’s meant to be.” – Andrew Vachss

“When I look into the eyes of an animal, I do not see an animal. I see a living being. I see a friend. I feel a soul.” – A.D. Williams

“How can anyone abandon a beautifully loyal dog? It’s not an accessory, it’s your best friend.” – Ricky Gervais

“The best things in life are rescued.” – Anonymous

“Adopting a shelter dog is an excellent way to turn love into action. The love you receive is an extraordinary extra benefit.” – Abby Underdog

“When you adopt a shelter pet, you save two lives. The one you adopt and the one who takes its place.” – Anonymous

“Unconditional love is as close as your nearest shelter.” – Anonymous

“When you look into the eyes of an animal you’ve rescued, you can’t help but fall in love.” – Paul Shaffer

“Animals are sentient, intelligent, perceptive, funny, and entertaining. We owe them a duty of care as we do to children.” – Michael Morpurgo

“Shelter dogs aren’t broken. They’ve simply experienced more life than other dogs. Don’t pity a shelter dog. Adopt one and be proud to have their greatness by your side.” – Anonymous

“From the moment they placed you in my arms, you snuggled right into my heart.” – Anonymous

“I now have a dog that I care for, I see things that I needed to see, that lovely dog that I rescued. Really ended up rescuing me.” – Anonymous

“A man is truly ethical only when he obeys the compulsion to help all life he is able to assist and shrinks from injuring anything that lives.” – Albert Schweitzer

“Do those little bits of good where you are; it is those little bits of good put all together that overwhelm the world.” – Desmond Tutu

“Humanity must be their voice.” – A.D. Williams