RescueGroups

Overview

RescueGroups.org provides animal adoption data — shelters, animals, and organizations — to help build adoption-platform tools. Their v5 API is REST-based.

⚠️ Breaking change (verified 2026-08): the v5 API now requires an Authorization header — requests without one return HTTP 401 “Missing authorization header” (the auth: No listing is outdated). You need a free RescueGroups.org account; API keys are issued via the API console.

Quick Start

With your credentials, authenticate and query (v5):

curl "https://api.rescuegroups.org/v5/public/animals?limit=1" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_TOKEN"

{
  "data": [
    { "id": "12345", "type": "animals", "attributes": { "name": "Rex", "species": "Dog", "status": "Available" } }
  ],
  "meta": { "count": 1 }
}

Authentication

• Create a free account at rescuegroups.org → the API console issues a token.
• Send it as the Authorization: Bearer YOUR_TOKEN header (missing → 401, verified).

Rate Limits & Notes

• Free tier with per-account rate limits (see the API guide).
• v5 is the current API (v2 was deprecated years ago).
• Data: animals, shelters, organizations, species, breeds, and more.

FAQ

Is RescueGroups free? Yes — a free account with rate limits; the API now needs auth (401 without, verified).

How do I get a token? Create an account at rescuegroups.org → API console.

What data is available? Adoptable animals, shelters, and organizations.