- 550 Route 22 Pawling NY, 12564
- 845-493-0094
- Contact@happylifeanimalrescue.org
A 501(c)3 nonprofit based in Pawling, NY, dedicated to giving rescued dogs and cats a happy life.
Hope. Love. Adopt.
A happy life starts with a second chance — and a home that's truly right for them.
Happy Life Animal Rescue (HLAR) is a nonprofit Hudson Valley animal rescue organization based in Pawling, New York, serving the Hudson Valley, tri-state area, and beyond. We're dedicated to rescuing dogs and cats who are victims of abuse, neglect, shelter overpopulation, and owner surrender — and finding them loving, permanent homes.
We run 100% on donations, with no outside funding or government grants. Every dollar given goes directly toward rescuing, treating, and rehoming the animals in our care.
Every happy life has a beginning — here's ours.
Happy Life Animal Rescue started with a single foster dog and a family determined to give it a happy life. The Forster family founded HLAR as a foster-based, entirely volunteer-run rescue — and they're still part of Happy Life today.
As we grew beyond foster-only care, we moved into our current building in Pawling, NY — giving our rescue a permanent home base for the first time. Our volunteers kept things running every step of the way.
We ran entirely on volunteer power for our first seven years. In 2023, as our rescue kept growing, we hired our first paid kennel techs to support the volunteer team that built Happy Life from the ground up.
Our needs have grown alongside us. We're preparing to launch a capital campaign to renovate our building, so we can give every animal in our care an even better place to heal.
A few things that guide how we rescue, care for, and rehome every animal that comes through our doors.
Whether abused, neglected, or simply unwanted, every dog and cat in our care gets individualized attention until they find the right home.
Our adoption counselors take the time to match animals with the households where they'll truly thrive.
We run entirely on donations from people like you — no outside funding, no government grants, just community support.
Every animal that leaves our care is spayed or neutered — no exceptions. It's one more step toward ending shelter overpopulation for good.
We're a limited-intake shelter — we only take in as many animals as we can properly care for. Taking in more than we have room for wouldn't be fair to the animals already depending on us.
Everything you've just read about — every animal rescued, every home found — has been made possible by donations alone. No outside funding, no government grants.
Whether you're looking to adopt, foster, or volunteer, there's a place for you at Happy Life Animal Rescue.