A dog resting by the Ganges riverbank near Rishikesh at dusk

Note for Akash: placeholder illustration, low priority.

Read this first - Rishikesh doesn't have its own dedicated rescue NGO

Unlike the other cities in this series, Rishikesh doesn't have a well-established, independently verifiable animal rescue organisation based in the town itself. This guide is honest about that rather than padding it out. What follows is what's genuinely available.

If you're travelling in Rishikesh with your own dog - staying at The Hosteller Rishikesh, Van Vadi, or elsewhere - and come across a street animal in distress, here's what's realistically available.

Govt. Animal Hospital, Rishikesh

A government veterinary facility, the closest thing Rishikesh has to a dedicated on-the-ground animal health resource. It's a hospital, not a rescue-and-ambulance service - useful for getting an animal treated once you've already got it there, not for a pickup call.

Address: Anand Vihar, Dhalwala Colony, Muni Ki Reti, Rishikesh 249137
Hours: 9am–5pm, closed Sundays
No dedicated rescue helpline or ambulance service confirmed - for pickup and rescue, see below.

Doon Animal Welfare - Bhaniawala/Doiwala location

The nearest dedicated rescue operation to Rishikesh, located in Bhaniawala on the Rishikesh road in Doiwala - roughly midway between Dehradun and Rishikesh rather than in Rishikesh town itself, but genuinely the closest option. Note: there appear to be two organisations with similar names ("Doon Animal Welfare Trust" at doonanimalwelfare.org and "Doon Animal Welfare Foundation" at doonanimalwelfarefoundation.org, with similar Hasanpur-area address language). It's not possible to confirm from public information whether these are the same organisation, a rebrand, or two separate groups - treat this as a reasonably confirmed contact number, but one tied to an unresolved identity question.

Address: Bhaniawala, Rishikesh Road, Doiwala, Dehradun 248140
Phone: +91 79002 73333 / +91 79002 83333 (confirmed via their own Instagram bio)
Official source: Instagram

Dehradun - your practical full-service backup

For anything beyond what the above can handle, Dehradun is about 45 minutes away and has a genuinely established rescue infrastructure. See our full Dehradun animal welfare guide for PFA Dehradun's Raahat Animal Hospital and further options.

Frequently asked questions

Does Rishikesh have its own animal shelter?
Not a well-established, independently verifiable one - this is a genuine gap rather than an oversight in research. The nearest dedicated rescue operation is in Bhaniawala/Doiwala, between Dehradun and Rishikesh.

What should I do if I find an injured stray in Rishikesh right now?
Call Doon Animal Welfare's Bhaniawala location (+91 79002 73333) or, for anything urgent that can't wait, head toward Dehradun and PFA Dehradun's Raahat Animal Hospital, about 45 minutes away.

Is there a vet in Rishikesh itself?
Yes - the Govt. Animal Hospital in Muni Ki Reti provides veterinary care, though not a dedicated rescue or ambulance service.

Guides tagged “stray dog Rishikesh”

Animal welfare in Rishikesh: what's actually there, and who to call