Dogs

Mary H. Swift / Alamy Stock Photo

Dogs are the canine companions who have shared our lives for millennia.

Ranging from tiny Chihuahuas to enormous Great Danes and every breed and magnificent mutt in between, dogs are an incredibly diverse species. Our best friends and furry family members provide us affection and company—but many dogs face neglect, exploitation and cruelty both here and abroad.

Dog with pups on dog meat farm in South Korea

Jean Chung

For HSI

Dogs give us their best. They deserve ours.

Just petting a dog has been shown to lower a person's blood pressure.

Did you know?

Your dog’s sense of smell is 10,000 times better than yours. Dogs can track people and other animals across many miles, detect dangerous substances and have even been known to sniff out signs of cancer.

Mikhail, a dog rescued from a Jefferson County, Arkansas, puppy mill on 2/27/14

Pledge not to support puppy mills.

Adopt your next pet from a shelter or rescue, or only buy from a responsible breeder who can show you where the puppy was born and where the mom lives. And you can do even more by only purchasing pet supplies from stores that don't sell puppies.

Take the Pledge

Chuck Cook / For the HSUS