The Best Friends is a true gift to the animal (and human) species. It is the country's largest no-kill animal adoption service, and it guarantees that animals will never be euthanized simply because they haven't found a home quickly enough. With an amazing guided tour of the sanctuary, this animal-loving organization makes it easy for potential adopters to find the pet they've been looking for.

But Best Friends does things a little differently. If you've ever wanted to see animals in their natural environment, get up close and personal, and really see pets with their personalities in full living color, Best Friends offers overnight stays. Spend the night at an RV park or in a guest cabin to observe animals up close and choose the pet that tugs at your heartstrings. Best Friends will even arrange for animals to be transported across the entire country (and Canada) to pet parents who do not live close enough to come to pick up their newly-adopted pets.

Animals available: Dogs, cats, rabbits, equine, barnyard, etc.

Outstanding feature: Pet transport US/CA, sleepover, guided tour

View details: bestfriends.org

Petfinder.com is a massive online searchable database of animals in need of homes. It has a huge selection of pets (over 250,000), including regulars like dogs and cats. More intriguing, however, is a large number of previously unseen animals in the adoption services. There are chinchillas, gerbils, and prairie dogs, as well as snakes, iguanas, and tarantulas. Petfinder.com even has farm animals for sale, such as cows, goats, and pigs!

Petfinder.com is an excellent resource for anyone interested in adopting a pet. The database has a plethora of filters to help you narrow down your options—filter by species, breed, age, size, gender, behavior, personality, and more. Furthermore, Petfinder.com has a wealth of online resources for new pet parents, such as a checklist if you've never adopted a pet before, pet care articles, and informative videos on every aspect of pet adoption.

Animals available: Dogs, cats, rabbits, birds, fish, horses, etc

Outstanding feature: Easy, no-pressure searchable database

View details: petfinder.com

The ASPCA, the first humane organization in the United States, has been in existence for over a century and a half. The sanctuary is now much more than a simple pet adoption service. The ASPCA also focuses on animal rescue, placement, and protection wherever there is a need. It even addresses animal cruelty and empowers people to treat animals more humanely in their daily lives.

If you're looking to adopt a pet, the ASPCA has a number of resources to assist you. The ASPCA is all about helping people find the perfect pet to fill their homes and hearts with four-legged love, from a database of local animal shelters to its own sanctuary adoptions. The ASPCA, best of all, uses a personality-based matchmaking algorithm to find you the perfect match.

Animals available: Dogs and cats

Outstanding feature: Personality testing pet matches

View details: aspca.org

With over 17,000 shelters, rescue groups, and humane societies featuring their animals on the site, Adopt a Pet is possibly the largest non-profit homeless pet adoption site in the country. Adopt a Pet, like Petfinder, has a wide range of animal species. As a result, you are not limited in your search for the ideal pet. Find shelters, rescue groups, and other organizations near you by searching for pets based on your location.

Adopt a Pet allows users to save their searches, making it a convenient way to browse available pets without feeling obligated to make a commitment. Adopt a Pet also has a great feature called new pet alert. If you don't find a pet that truly speaks to you, you can have Adopt a Pet notify you via email whenever a new pet matching your description is added to the database. This is a great way to quickly find new and relevant pet potentials.

Animals available: Dogs, cats, rabbits, fish, reptiles, and more

Outstanding feature: Search saver and new pet alert

View details: adoptapet.com

Adoption events for locals looking for love are hosted by major pet chain stores in collaboration with rescue groups and shelters. PetSmart and Petco are two of the most popular stores that have successfully managed this relationship.

PetSmart hosts frequent events where pet parents can meet their new best friends in an open, fun, and friendly environment. These events are also convenient because you can choose a new pet and get all of your pet supplies on the spot without having to go anywhere else! It is effective, considering that PetSmart Charities alone facilitates more than 10% of all pet adoptions in North America.

Animals available: Small animals, reptiles, birds, dogs, cats

Outstanding feature: Incredible success rate, pet-finder events

View details: petsmartcharities.org

Pets for Vets is a non-profit organization that matches war veterans with a furry companion. While every adoption benefits both parties, Pets for Vets is truly unique in the enormous value that it brings to the lives of the veterans and the animals that are paired up.

People returning from war frequently experience PTSD, loneliness, and depression. Meanwhile, millions of homeless animals are euthanized every year. The organization Pets for Vets combines these two tragic situations and resolves them with a single brilliant solution: pet adoption! The service provides a second chance at life for both pet parents and animals.

Animals available: Dogs and cats
Outstanding feature: Pairs up vets with pets based on personality

View details: petsforvets.com

Hearts United for Animals is one of the country's most successful no-kill animal sanctuaries. Its sole mission is to end animal cruelty by providing services such as over 10,000 rescues from puppy mills, spay/neutering for over 13,000 animals, and temporary housing for abused animals and other animals in need.

You can adopt one of these adorable creatures by applying online, searching the adoption network, and being matched with the perfect dog or cat for you. Furthermore, Hearts of United for Animals covers all vaccinations, deworming, and spaying or neutering procedures. The fee also includes microchip implantation, ensuring that your pet can always be found safely.

Animals available: Dogs and cats

Outstanding feature: Rescues from puppy mills, vet services incl.

View details: hua.org

Anyone who cares about animal welfare will find Animal Friends Rescue Project to be a truly heartwarming organization. This non-profit organization is dedicated to finding loving homes for abandoned pets, caring for stray or abused animals, and rescuing animals in other vulnerable situations.

The Animal Friends Rescue Project has an excellent adoption process that can be completed in person or online, as well as a large network of easily searchable pets. On the site, there are also a plethora of resources for new pet parents to use. The AFRP also has an adopt-a-pet-remotely program where people who support the cause but are unable to bring an animal home for various reasons can sponsor an adoption, saving lives and enriching homes.

Animals available: Dogs, cats, rabbits
Outstanding feature: Adoption specialists, several giving programs

View details: animalfriendsrescue.org