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Puppies and dogs in Gaithersburg, Maryland

Looking for a puppy or dog in Gaithersburg, Maryland? Adopt a Pet can help you find a new best friend near you.

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Adopt a dog in Gaithersburg, Maryland

These adorable dogs are available for adoption in Gaithersburg, Maryland. To learn more about each adoptable dog, click on the "i" icon for fast facts, or their photo or name for full details.
We'll also keep you updated on Mila's adoption status with email updates.
Special Needs
Photo of Mila

Mila

Staffordshire Bull Terrier

Female, Young
Derwood, MD
Size
(when grown) -
Details
Good with dogs, Good with cats, Needs special attention,
Story
**SPECIAL NEEDS - Blind, Hearing Impaired, Neurologically Impaired but no actual medical needed for her-- Needs Local Adopter ** Mila was found in a ditch at only 5 weeks old by a good samaritan and taken to the shelter in SC. It was very clear that something was wrong as she was not able to move and was crying from pain. We immediately pulled her and had her rushed to the ER where she was treated for dehydration and parasite infestation. It became evident that there was something wrong neurologically with Mila and we were told she may not survive. Mila is a little walking miracle and today, at 3 years old, she is doing amazing. She was seen by our neurologist who confirmed that she is blind in one eye and extremely visually impaired in the other and is hearing impaired. She also has some damage to the back right side of her cerebellum which keeps her a little off balance. The good news is that she has a completely functional and good quality of life. She is the happiest little girl who prances around the house and loves to be outdoors in the sun. She gets excited when other dogs come around and she likes to snuggle with her humans and canine siblings. While she is not able to play fetch, go hiking or for walks like a normal dog, she does enjoy marching aimlessly around a fenced in yard with the sun in her face. She can live with anyone and anything as she is not a threat to any living being. She can be with babies, kids, dogs, cats, guinea pigs.... any animal in the world. She is able to go up the stairs but cannot go back down so she does need to be carried if she is to use stairs. She adapts super quick to new environments and finds her away around with no problems. She really is an exceptional little girl who just needs a family to give her a chance. She is very sweet and fun to be around. She has been looking for a home for 3 years and deserves to finally have a family to call her own. To adopt our special little Mila, please apply at http://keytolionsheart.org/adopt    November 4, 2024, 12:43 pm
We'll also keep you updated on Spotty's adoption status with email updates.
Photo of Spotty

Spotty

Australian Cattle Dog

Male
Derwood, MD
Size
(when grown) -
Details
Good with dogs, House-trained, Spayed or Neutered,
Story
Age: 2 years Size: 58 pounds Estimated breed: Cattle Dog/Blue Heeler mix Spotty needs a home with: resident dog(s), fenced in yard, no young children   Update 7/7:  Spotty is super dog social guy who needs to be with other dogs. He absolutely adores every dog he meets. Spotty is still a little reserved around people but has been making huge strides and seems to improve every day! He has gone through professional training to work on self- confidence and is able to go on walks now and trust more than he used to. Spotty is super submissive and needs a home with a very social dog that will hang out and play with him all day. He loves to play with dogs more than anything. Spotty is also house trained and crate trained. He requires a fenced yard as he can get spooked and we don’t want to take chances of him trying to flee. Spotty has endless potential if you give him the time and patience he needs and deserves to come out of his shell! -------- Spotty is estimated to be about 1.5 years old and 45 pounds. He was found as a stray in SC and was completely petrified at the shelter. He sat in a corner shaking and had to be carried just to move out of his kennel. He came to us very nervous and shy but with the help of his canine friends, he is slowly learning to trust and thriving in his foster home. He has also met and done training with our trainer where he is now comfortable going for walks on a leash and exploring the outdoors!   Spotty gains comfort from other dogs, so he requires a home with a friendly resident dog to help show him the ropes. Spotty would do best in a home without young children as he is still gets timid around new people and retreats. With time and patience, he will show his new family how goofy and happy he really is. All he needs is someone who is understands that just needs a little time to know he is safe. His best quality..... he is AMAZING with other dogs and wants to be their best friend. If you have a dog that has been wanting a sibling, Spotty is your guy!   To adopt Spotty, please apply on our website! www.keytolionsheart.org/adopt   Please note we cannot guarantee the breed or adult size of any of our dogs. All of our dogs are working on their crate and house training. November 4, 2024, 12:43 pm
We'll also keep you updated on Easy's adoption status with email updates.
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Photo of Easy

Easy

Pit Bull Terrier

Female, Adult
Derwood, MD
Size
(when grown) -
Details
Not good with dogs, Not good with cats, House-trained, Spayed or Neutered,
Story
Easy was unfortunately returned to the rescue. This is Easy's updated bio as of 1/2025: Easy is a 60lb pit mix and about 3 years old. Loves to snuggle on the couch under blankets with her people. She loves to play in the yard with her indestructible ball and chew on hard fill bones, antlers, nylabones. She is house trained, knows most basic commands and responds well using an e-collar for training purposes. Loves sunning herself in the yard/on deck. Great with people.   She is very food driven.   She is crate trained (knows “crate” command). She sleeps and eats in her crate and also is in crate when people are not home.    Easy needs to be the only pet in the home.  ------- Original bio  Age: 4 months as of 6/3 Size: ~ 25 lbs as of 6/3 Estimated breed: Pit bull mix   Update from my foster 6/5: She is doing really well! She slept well in the crate overnight and went potty outside in the morning. She is very sweet, she and my resident dog get along well. She does bark at the cat, but doesn't try to chase her (what she really wants is the cat's food)!    Little Easy was found by one of our amazing shelter partners behind an EZ--Spot gas station in South Carolina. It turns out her owner left her there on purpose, and after some convincing the owner agreed to surrender her to us so we could find her a perfect forever home. Easy's stomach was full of worms and garbage. Who knows how long this poor girl had to survive off of only trash, but we do know she will never be that hungry again!    As of 6/3, Easy is 4 months old and around 25 lbs. Despite everything she's been through, she's a happy-go-lucky girl! She has tested well with other dogs, people, and cats. Easy is looking for a forever home with the time, patience, and love to train her into the very best girl she can be.    To adopt Easy, please apply on our website! www.keytolionsheart.org/apply    Please note we cannot guarantee the age or breed of any of our dogs. All of our dogs are working on their crate and house training. January 3, 2025, 8:31 am
We'll also keep you updated on Storm's adoption status with email updates.
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Photo of Storm

Storm

Jindo Samoyed

Male, Adult
Derwood, MD
Size
(when grown) -
Details
Good with dogs, House-trained, Spayed or Neutered,
Story
STORM MUST HAVE A HOME WITH A PRIVATE FENCED-IN YARD OUTSIDE OF THE CITY. HE IS NOT A CANDIDATE FOR APARTMENTS.    Updated Bio as of 1/8, Storm is being returned.  Storm was rescued by SKD and brought to the USA with Key to Lion's Heart Rescue in May 2022. Only a few days after arriving, he got loose from his foster family and was on the lamb in Baltimore, MD for nearly 50 days! Fortunately, with the help of many SKD members, we trapped Storm safely and he came back to PA with me as a foster. He was adopted in December 2022 but is now losing his home due to ZERO fault of his own. While I want nothing more than to take him back into my home, my pack has grown since he was adopted and I'm in a very small apartment, so he cannot come here We are looking for a new home for Storm who understands fearful meat farm survivors and can meet him where he's at. Here are Storm's quick hits:  6 years old 40ish lbs Samoyed mix Friendly with all dogs, super nonconfrontational, used to let my chihuahuas go right into his crate and steal his food. He needs a home with at least one other friendly dog! Cat friendly! Lives with a cat currently and completely ignores it. Home with a secure fenced-in yard required Older teens only Due to his past experience on a meat farm and the aloofness of his breed, Storm is not a cuddly dog. He is not very comfortable on the leash and prefers to run directly into the yard to do his business. He very easily would follow the dog pack in and out of the yard to do his business, and he did not have any potty accidents inside the home. Inside, he prefers to pick a safe spot (crate with the door left open or dog bed) to quietly sit and observe the world around him. He doesn't make a peep inside and doesn't really ask for anything other than to be left alone, making him ridiculously low-maintenance! Trying to force him to "bond" with you (as the owners have done) is only going to lead him to mistrust you. Storm is happiest when he can coexist around people without those people trying to force an interaction on him.  Storm's long, beautiful white coat does mean he'll require maintenance grooming to ensure no mats form. Storm allowed has allowed to be brushed for short periods of time before, but as soon as his previous foster noticed him getting increasingly agitated or uncomfortable,  they would stop for the day and try again later.  Storm is most comfortable at home, so any necessary visits to the vet or groomer will require anxiety medication beforehand and a muzzle during the visit. Storm is not confrontational with people but if pushed into a corner and terrified, he will snap in fear, so sedation and muzzling are key for his annual vet visits. In-home vet visits would also be a great solution and keep his stress level down for the once a year necessary vetting.  Storm's owners advised they tried daily anxiety medication under the supervision of their vet, but that Storm would sniff out the meds in his food and refuse to eat them. We feel that with more effort put in, different methods of hiding the meds, and brainstorming with your vet, he could be successful on anti-anxiety meds, especially during the transition to a new home. We are 100% committed to finding the perfect home for this PERFECT dog. He is truly such an easy dog to have in the home, you barely even notice he's there until you look over and see him watching you from his safety dog bed! As most of us with fearful dogs know, the magic to gaining their trust is to simply LEAVE THEM ALONE. Let him coexist with you. Don't force an interaction that he's not ready for. Right before he was adopted, his previous foster noticed the first real milestone with Storm - he began play bowing and trying to initiate play with another one of their dogs in the yard. That was several months after he came to into foster!  Storm is available for adoption through Key to Lion's Heart Rescue in Damascus, MD.   -------- Previous Bio Age: 4 years Size: ~35 lbs Estimated breed: Jindo/Samoyed mix Storm needs a home with a securely fenced in yard outside of the city! FOSTERED IN PENNSYLVANIA   Update from my foster 10/6: Storm is such a sweet, shy, gentle boy. He is still very shut down and spends all his time inside his crate with the door open, just observing myself and his doggie foster siblings. He will run outside to do his business in the fenced-in yard and quickly run back inside and back to his crate, where he feels safe. He does not have a mean bone in his body, and even allows his chihuahua foster sister to enter his crate and eat his food right in front of him! After spending years of his life on a meat farm, he deserves all the time in the world to get comfortable around humans, and time is what we will give him. He is a definite flight risk, so he requires a home with a securely fenced in yard. He would feel safest in a home outside the city where it is a bit quieter and slower, which is much more his speed. He would do great with another dog in the home but could also do fine as the only pup in the home.  Storm was rescued from a Korean meat farm in 2018 when he was still just a baby by a local dog rescue advocate. He has been living at a rescue sanctuary and at a doggie daycare while he waited for his chance to fly to the US to find his forever home!  Storm is around 4 years old and 30 lbs. At best guess, he is some kind of Jindo/Samoyed mix, though we can never know for sure! He is a sweet and gentle dog but is timid and can be scared easily. He is slowly healing from the trauma he experienced on the meat farm and is looking for a patient person to help show him the world isn't so scary after all. He is great with all the dogs he has met at both the sanctuary and doggie boarding and is shy but sweet with people. He met a cat and after a few sniffs he lost interest in the cat. We have not seen him around kids but due to how shy he currently is, he would do best in a home with no kids or older teens only. Storm is a flight risk and requires a home with a securely fenced in yard. He would prefer a home outside the busy city. To adopt Storm, please apply on our website! www.keytolionsheart.org/adopt Please note we cannot guarantee the age or breed of any of our dogs. All of our dogs are working on their crate and house training.January 8, 2025, 2:09 pm
We'll also keep you updated on DA VINCI's adoption status with email updates.
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Photo of DA VINCI

DA VINCI

Pug Beagle

Male, 3 yrs 3 mos
Derwood, MD
Size
(when grown) Small 25 lbs (11 kg) or less
Details
Spayed or Neutered,
Story
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We'll also keep you updated on JULIET's adoption status with email updates.
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Photo of JULIET

JULIET

American Pit Bull Terrier

Female, 2 yrs 2 mos
Derwood, MD
Size
(when grown) Med. 26-60 lbs (12-27 kg)
Details
Spayed or Neutered,
Story
Juliet is looking for her Romeo! But who said Romeo has to be a guy? For Juliet, Romeo can mean so many things. A man, a woman, siblings, a companion... A family. Someone who loves her, takes her on walks, plays with her, hangs out with her, feeds her, and maybe even admires her beauty while she is sunbathing on a balcony? Juliet is a young and energetic pup, loved by staff and volunteers, and easy going. Meet her today and rewrite the story, give Juliet the happy ending she deserves!Juliet is a playful, goofy girl with endless energy. She lives for fetch, enjoys tug of war, and loves tearing apart squeaky toys. In a short-term foster, she was reported to be house-trained and knows commands like sit, paw, and down. Juliet adores people, giving kisses, and resting her head on your shoulder. She’s fun-loving, quirky, and will even join you in the shower if you’re not careful—she’s a fan of running water!She’s got a lot of energy, and she’ll keep you on your toes, but she’s worth it.Juliet urgently needs a home to thrive. If you can adopt or foster Juliet, email FosterMCASAC@montgomerycountymd.gov to get started immediately.Juliet has a very physical play style so does not get along with every dog and takes some management.Juliet does have a prey drive so she can`t share a home with little animals! More pictures of Juliet can be found here: https://photos.google.com/share/AF1QipMK-iv3xOdT7m39H1Zp_2U5ECsWahEmMpeKGJF3mNusQz_oImkMY6LjyNFTmWeflQ?key=eW5aSjhUbFpacHZVN0RITmdpNWxya25jWG1GdHRR

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Dog shelters and rescues in Gaithersburg, Maryland

There are animal shelters and rescues that focus specifically on finding great homes for dogs in Gaithersburg, Maryland. Browse these rescues and shelters below.

Here are a few organizations closest to you:

Shelter

American Lhasa Apso Club Rescue - Northwest Region

P.O. Box 83298, Gaithersburg, MD 20883

Pet Types: dogs

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Rescue

Montgomery County SPCA

PO BOX 637, Gaithersburg, MD 20880

Pet Types: cats, dogs

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Rescue

Friends Of Montgomery County Animals

P.O. Box 386, Germantown, MD 20879

Pet Types: cats, dogs, rabbits, small animals

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Shelter

Montgomery County Animal Services and Adoption Center

7315 Muncaster Mill Rd, Derwood, MD 20855

Pet Types: cats, birds, dogs, farm animals, horses, rabbits, reptiles, small animals

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Rescue

Key to Lion's Heart Rescue

P.O. Box 5570, Derwood, MD 20855

Pet Types: dogs

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Rescue

Forever Changed Animal Rescue

Darnestown, MD 20878

Pet Types: cats, dogs

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Rescue

Annies Orphans

Gaithersburg, MD 20878

Pet Types: cats, dogs

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Rescue

Miri's Haven Senior Dog Rescue

Rockville, MD 20850

Pet Types: dogs

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Hedgesville Hounds

Rockville, MD 20850

Pet Types: dogs

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