4 organizations in Des Moines that take in and rehome beagles, hounds, and other dogs. Always call ahead to confirm current beagle availability.
Des Moines has four organizations serving the metro, anchored by the Animal Rescue League of Iowa—a polished outfit with a strong online presence and steady beagle intake. Alongside it sits Paws & Effect, which also maintains an easy-to-browse site, and two smaller shelters with less flashy digital footprints but real dogs waiting for homes. In a city of over 210,000 people, beagles and hound-mixes cycle through regularly, so your odds are decent if you're willing to call around and ask. Start by reaching out to the ARL; they field a lot of hound traffic and can point you in the right direction even if nothing is available right this second.
Des Moines, IA
Iowa's largest nonprofit animal shelter, serving the Des Moines area since 1926. The ARL adopts out dogs, cats, small pets, and barn animals, and runs foster, volunteer, behavior training, spay/neuter, and cruelty-intervention programs. As an all-breed shelter it takes in hounds regularly, including beagles, making it a reliable first stop for adoption even though it isn't breed-specific.
4.3★ (188 reviews)
Des Moines, IA
A rescue based in Des Moines, Iowa. Details beyond its listing aren't available here, so contact the group directly to ask what dogs it currently has available, whether beagles or hounds are among them, and how its adoption or foster process works.
Des Moines, IA
An animal shelter in the Des Moines area. Details beyond this listing aren't available, so contact the group directly to learn what dogs it currently has, whether beagles or hounds are among them, and how its adoption process works.
4.3★ (27 reviews)
Des Moines, IA
An animal shelter serving the Des Moines area. Details aren't available in this listing, so contact Shelter House directly to ask what dogs it currently has, whether beagles or hounds are among them, and how its adoption process works.
4.6★ (17 reviews)
No organizations match that grade.
Because beagle availability shifts week to week, a quick call to confirm before you visit saves a wasted trip. The ARL and Paws & Effect both make it easy to check online, so start there, then loop in the smaller groups and ask to join a waitlist. If Des Moines runs quiet the week you're looking, West Des Moines and Ankeny are each under fifteen minutes away and worth a call—more organizations mean better odds of catching a hound in time. Adopt one of Iowa's beagles and you gain a devoted nose, a stubborn streak that will keep you laughing, and a dog that'll beam at you like you hung the moon.