Best Charity
Abandoned Pet Rescue
Abandoned Pet Rescue has done the hard, heart-expanding work long before animal rescue became Instagram shorthand for “OMG, look at this cute face.” The Fort Lauderdale no-kill shelter rescues, heals and rehomes abandoned and neglected cats and dogs, handling the messy middle that comes before the happy adoption photo. That means medical care, behavior support, daily shelter operations, volunteer coordination (there are more than 500 of ‘em), community education and the constant push to match animals with homes that actually fit. APR’s Fort Lauderdale shelter stays open seven days a week, and its work ripples far beyond the kennels. Hundreds of pets find homes through the organization each year, and countless others get a second chance because someone here decided their story wasn’t over. Since its 1996 inception, more than 10,000 pets have been adopted thanks to APR. In a region with no shortage of animals in need, Abandoned Pet Rescue keeps showing up with patience, grit and a whole lot of heart.