Maltese for Sale & Adoption USA

No dogs in this category are available right now.

Listings refresh regularly as shelters update their sites.

No Maltese listed on LocalPetFinder right now

That just means none are on the site at the moment, not that the breed is unavailable. New listings arrive from rescues and local owners all the time. Be first in line, or help one find a home.

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About the Maltese

The Maltese is a small dog breed originating in Malta / Mediterranean. Adult dogs typically weigh 4 to 8 pounds and live 12 to 15 years. Typical traits: affectionate, people-bonded, low-shedding, gentle.

Households wanting a small, affectionate lap dog and willing to commit to daily brushing of the long white coat. Families with very young kids (the breed is fragile at 4–8 pounds) or owners who won't keep up with coat care.

Adult Maltese need about 30 minutes of daily exercise; adolescent dogs typically need 40 minutes. The coat is long-coated with low shedding, and weekly brushing keeps the coat manageable.

LocalPetFinder aggregates adoptable Maltese from rescues across California, Colorado, and Texas into one searchable place. Use the city links above to narrow to your area, or browse the full list below.

Common health concerns for Maltese

Luxating patellas
Kneecap dislocation; common in toy breeds, often manageable without surgery. Source: VCA →
Dental disease
Small mouths overcrowded with teeth; daily brushing is genuinely needed. Source: VCA →
Portosystemic liver shunt
A congenital condition occasionally seen in the breed; testable with bloodwork. Source: VCA →

Editorial summary for adopters, not medical advice. Consult your veterinarian for individual health guidance.

Maltese Adoption FAQ

Tap a question to expand

How many Maltese are available for adoption in the US?▼

As of November 2026, there are no Maltese listed in the US rescue on LocalPetFinder right now — Maltese are among the rarer dogs in local rescue. Inventory turns over quickly, so setting an alert is the most reliable way to catch one, or consider an adoptable Maltese mix.

Where can I adopt a Maltese near me in the US?▼

LocalPetFinder lists adoptable Maltese from rescues across California, Colorado, and Texas in one searchable place. Use the city links above the listing to narrow to a city near you, or browse the full inventory below. Each profile links straight to the rescue to apply.

How long do Maltese live?▼

Maltese typically live 12 to 15 years.

How much exercise does a Maltese need?▼

Adult Maltese need about 30 minutes of daily exercise. Adolescent dogs (under 2 years) typically need 40 minutes — more than mature adults.

What are common health concerns for Maltese?▼

Breed-associated conditions to ask the rescue about include Luxating patellas, Dental disease, Portosystemic liver shunt. See the citations in the Health section above for authoritative information on each. This is editorial summary, not medical advice — consult your vet for individual guidance.

Are these Maltese for sale in the US?▼

Not for sale, for adoption, which is usually the better deal. Every Maltese here comes from a the US rescue or shelter, not a breeder, pet store, or classified seller. Adoption fees are typically $250 to $650, with puppies at $450 to $800 and already include vaccinations, deworming, microchip and spay or neuter when age-appropriate, versus roughly several thousand dollars to buy a Maltese from a breeder. If you searched "maltese for sale the us" or "maltese puppies for sale," adopting gets you a healthy, vetted dog for a fraction of the price.

Where can I buy a Maltese in the US, and should I?▼

You can buy from a registered breeder, but it is worth weighing against adoption first. A reputable Maltese breeder typically charges several thousand dollars and often has a waitlist, while a rescue Maltese costs $250 to $650, with puppies at $450 to $800 fully vetted and may be available now. Be cautious of cheap maltese-for-sale ads on classified sites and marketplaces, which are frequently backyard breeders or puppy-mill resellers with unvetted, sometimes sick animals and no health guarantee. If you do buy, insist on seeing where the puppies were raised and getting vet records. For most families in the US, adopting a rescue Maltese is cheaper, faster, and gives a dog in need a home.

Are there free Maltese in the US, or maltese under $500?▼

Adoption is the closest honest answer, and it is not free. A rescue Maltese in the US typically costs $250 to $650, with puppies at $450 to $800, so the lower end lands under the "$500" people search for and the rest does not. What the fee buys is work already done, the vaccinations, deworming, microchip and spay or neuter, which would cost more than the fee itself if you arranged it yourself, and it is still far below breeder prices. Be wary of genuinely free maltese listings. An animal advertised free to a good home has usually not been vetted, and free rehoming ads are the route flippers and unregistered breeders use to move animals with no health guarantee and no recourse. Paying a rescue fee buys you a dog someone has already examined, treated, and been honest with you about.

Are there Maltese puppies in the US, or only adults?▼

Both, but adults far outnumber puppies, and it is worth knowing that before you start looking. Most Maltese arriving in the US rescue are adolescents and adults, because that is the age at which first homes tend to give up. Puppies do come through, usually as accidental litters or with a surrendered mother, and they are typically spoken for quickly. Setting an alert beats refreshing the page. It is also worth asking whether you actually want one: an adult arrives with a temperament a foster has already observed and described, where a Maltese puppy is a prediction, and for this breed in particular knowing what you are getting is the more useful thing.

Where can I find a Maltese near me in the US?▼

Start with the listings on this page, which pull from the US rescues and shelters and are refreshed regularly, so what you see is what is genuinely available rather than a stale directory. If nothing suits today, that is normal for this breed: rescue intake is intermittent rather than steady, and a breed with none listed this week often has several next month. Setting an alert beats checking back, and it is worth widening to nearby towns, since most rescues serving the US will adopt out across a reasonable driving distance rather than only inside one municipality.

Could you be a Maltese?

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