Animal Helpline Numbers and Shelters Near You in India
Animal Helplines, NGOs & Dog Shelters
Found an injured or stray dog? Do this first
Help is usually closest in your own city. Call in this order:
- Call your city's 24x7 animal helpline. It's in the table below, or open your city page for every local number.
- If your city isn't listed, call your nearest municipal veterinary hospital. They handle street-dog rescue in most Indian cities, and it's free or close to it. Search "[your city] municipal veterinary hospital", or ask any local vet.
- For national help, PETA India and the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) can point you to a registered rescue group nearby.
- Until help arrives, stay with the dog if it's safe, offer water but not food if the injury looks bad, and save the exact location to share.
If the injury is serious, taking the dog to the nearest vet yourself is often fastest. It costs a little. It can save a life.
Animal helpline numbers, city by city
Verified 24x7 contacts for India's 12 covered cities. Open any city for its full list of shelters, NGOs and rescue numbers.
| City | 24x7 animal helpline | Full city list |
|---|---|---|
| Delhi-NCR | 98201 22602 (PETA India) | Delhi-NCR animal helplines → |
| Mumbai | 1916 (BMC, 24x7) | Mumbai animal helplines → |
| Bangalore | 1533 (BBMP) | Bangalore animal helplines → |
| Hyderabad | 73374 50643 (PFA) | Hyderabad shelters & NGOs → |
| Chennai | 1962 (govt ambulance) | Chennai shelters → |
| Pune | 98909 99111 (RESQ) | Pune animal shelters → |
| Kolkata | 89024 94241 (Sonata) | Kolkata shelters → |
| Surat | 1962 (Karuna Abhiyan) | Surat helpline numbers → |
| Ahmedabad | 97141 06509 (Asha & Pets) | Ahmedabad shelters & NGOs → |
| Jaipur | 96944 71194 (Dakash, 24x7) | Jaipur shelters & NGOs → |
| Lucknow | 80095 21111 (Jeev Aashraya, 10 AM–6 PM) | Lucknow shelters & NGOs → |
| Coimbatore | 93661 27215 (HAS, 24x7) | Coimbatore shelters & NGOs → |
City not here? Scroll to the full directory below, or call your nearest municipal veterinary hospital.
Frequently asked questions
How do I find a dog helpline near me?
Choose your city from the directory on this page to reach verified animal rescue helplines and shelters near you. If your city is not listed yet, call a local municipal veterinary hospital or a registered animal welfare NGO, or contact PETA India for guidance.
Is dog adoption free in India?
Most shelters and NGOs let you adopt an Indian street dog free of charge or for a small donation. You may be asked to cover costs such as vaccination, sterilisation and deworming. Pedigree dogs given up for rehoming may carry a higher adoption fee. Always confirm directly with the shelter.
How do I report an injured or stray dog near me?
Call your city's animal helpline or rescue number using the directory above for verified 24x7 contacts. Share the exact location, describe the dog's condition, and stay nearby if it is safe until help arrives. If the animal was deliberately harmed, you can also file a police complaint.
Looking for dog shelters near me, dog rescue near me, or an animal helpline number? Below is a city-by-city list of verified NGOs, animal welfare organisations, charitable trusts, dog shelters and 24×7 animal helplines across India. Pick your city to find shelters to adopt a dog from, or emergency numbers to report an injured or stray animal. Adopt, don’t shop. Please note, if the injury to the animal is grave and serious, kindly consider arranging for the nearest vet. It may cost a little extra, but you may save an innocent life.
Most of the dogs waiting in these shelters are indies, India’s own native breed. If you are still deciding, here is the honest case to adopt an indie dog.
Lost your own pet? See our step-by-step guide on what to do if your dog goes missing in India — who to call, where to search, and how to report it.
Looking specifically to adopt? Browse our directory of dogs and cats up for adoption across India, updated regularly with pets who need homes now.
Find an Animal Helpline or Shelter in Your City
Last updated: 05 July 2026
North India
West India
- Dog Adoption in Ahmedabad
- Animal Helplines in Mumbai
- Pune Animal Shelters & Emergency Helplines
- Surat Animal & Dog Helpline Numbers
South India
- Bangalore Animal Helpline Numbers
- Dog Adoption in Chennai
- Dog Adoption in Coimbatore
- Dog Adoption in Hyderabad – Shelters & NGOs
East India
Is there a street dog helpline number in India?
There is no single street dog helpline number that works across all of India. Animal rescue here runs city by city, handled by NGOs and municipal veterinary hospitals, so the fastest way to find a dog helpline near you is to open your city below and call a verified 24×7 number. If your city is not listed yet, your nearest municipal veterinary hospital is usually the quickest first call, and PETA India can point you to a local rescue group.
Finding a dog shelter or rescue near you
“Dog shelters near me” is one of India’s most-searched rescue terms, and often the most disappointing, because a map pin rarely leads to a real shelter. Here is how to actually find one, wherever you live.
Where dog shelters actually are
Many Indian shelters sit on the edge of the city rather than the centre, where land and kennel space are affordable. That is why a plain map search often misses the real ones. The city directory above is built the other way round: by city, listing the shelters that genuinely take in and rehome dogs, so you reach a real place with a real number instead of a dead pin.
Who to call for a street-dog rescue
A rescue is not quite the same as a shelter. Rescues focus on picking up and treating street dogs, and the best ones run their own ambulance and clinic, while shelters house and rehome them. Many groups do both. For an injured street dog, open your city above and call a rescue that offers pickup. For a healthy dog you want to adopt or rehome, a shelter or foster network is the better first call.
How to tell a real animal NGO from a bad one
A genuine dog NGO will let you visit, show you its animals and its paperwork, and will never sell a pedigree “for adoption” at a breeder’s price. Before you donate or adopt, ask how many animals they rehome a year, whether they sterilise and vaccinate before rehoming, and whether they run home checks. The shelters and NGOs linked on this page rescue, treat and rehome thousands of dogs between them every year, and most also run sterilisation (ABC) drives, vaccination camps and street-feeding programmes. Whether you want to adopt, foster, volunteer or donate, open your city page for the organisations near you and their details.
Adopting a dog near you
Adopting a dog near you is simpler than most people expect: 1. Choose your city from the list above and contact a listed shelter, NGO or rescue group. 2. Tell them what you’re looking for — an Indian street dog (indie), a puppy, or a specific temperament for your home and family. 3. Visit the shelter or a foster home to meet the dogs in person. 4. Complete the shelter’s adoption process, which usually includes a short form and sometimes a home check. 5. Bring your new companion home — and ask the shelter about vaccination, sterilisation and diet for the first few weeks. If your city isn’t listed yet, a nearby veterinary clinic or local animal welfare group is often the quickest way to find dogs available for adoption near you. You can also try checking AdoptDontShop subreddit.
Reporting an injured or stray dog
If you’ve found an injured, sick or distressed dog, act quickly: 1. Open your city page above and call a verified 24×7 animal helpline or rescue number. 2. Share the exact location and a clear description of the dog’s condition. 3. If it’s safe, stay nearby until help arrives so rescuers can locate the animal. For non-emergencies — adoption, sterilisation or feeding queries — the same organisations can usually guide you. It also helps to know your rights: see Animal laws in India that protect strays and pets.
What dog adoption costs & what to expect
Most shelters in India let you adopt an Indian street dog free of charge or for a small donation that supports their rescue work. You may be asked to cover or reimburse costs such as vaccination, sterilisation and deworming. Pedigree dogs given up for rehoming can carry a higher adoption fee. Expect a simple screening process — shelters want to make sure each dog goes to a safe, committed home. Always confirm the exact details directly with the shelter you choose.
Stay updated on new adoptions
Pick your city above to reach verified shelters, NGOs and 24×7 helplines. For fresh dogs and cats as they come in, follow Dog with Blog on Instagram or sign up for our adoption newsletter below.