Afghan Hound rescue of Southern California, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit based in San Dimas that’s been operating since 2000. The organization is run entirely by volunteers who specialize in understanding Afghan Hounds—a breed with distinct needs that go beyond what most general rescues are equipped to handle. These sight hounds have particular temperament traits and physical requirements that take real expertise to navigate properly.

The rescue takes in Afghan Hounds from various situations: strays found in the area, dogs abandoned by owners, surrenders from families who can’t keep them, and impounded dogs pulled from shelters. Rather than cycling dogs through a facility, the rescue places them in foster homes throughout Southern California, which means the dogs live in actual homes where volunteers can assess their personalities and special needs before finding the right match.

Because Afghan Hounds have specific health concerns and behavioral characteristics unique to the breed, the volunteers here understand things like their prey drive around smaller animals, their sensitivity to certain medications, their grooming requirements, and their tendency to bolt if given the chance. This isn’t a rescue that treats all dogs the same way—they know what they’re doing with this particular breed.

If you’re thinking about adopting, the rescue will work with you to make sure an Afghan Hound is genuinely the right fit for your household. They’re equally interested in supporting the breed through donations or volunteering if you can’t adopt. The organization welcomes inquiries from people serious about either path. Their website has current dogs available and information about how the adoption process works, so you can get a real sense of which dogs are currently in the program and what their individual situations are.