Homa Rashid, a lawyer and volunteer at the Vafa Animal Shelter, rests with a dog, in the city of Hashtgerd 43 miles west of the capital Tehran, Iran. More than 500 dogs find care and affection at the Vafa Animal Shelter, which was established through an endowment in 2004 and is the country’s only licensed animal refuge.

A dog stands on a rooftop at the Vafa Animal Shelter. Man’s best friend is seen as anything but in Iran, where city workers gun down strays and conservatives view pet dogs as a corrupting Western influence.

Afsaneh Zarrin, who runs the Vafa Animal Shelte, carries an ill dog, in the city of Hashtgerd. "We want to show people that those homeless dogs that they see in streets and alleyways can be our best friends,” said Zarrin, who is in charge of adoptions.

More than 500 dogs find care and affection at the Vafa Animal Shelter, which was established through an endowment in 2004 and is the country’s only licensed animal refuge.

A visitor plays with dogs at the Vafa Animal Shelter.

Dogs cling to Iranian volunteer Hengameh Samifar as she tries to work at the Vafa Animal Shelter in the city of Hashtgerd 43 miles west of the capital Tehran, Iran.

Rana Ashoug stands inside a cage with dogs at the Vafa Animal Shelter. Man’s best friend is seen as anything but in Iran, where city workers gun down strays.

Two dogs welcome a visitor in her car at the Vafa Animal Shelter in the city of Hashtgerd 43 miles (73 kilometers) west of the capital Tehran, Iran.

Iranian volunteer Roya Ahmadi cleans dogs cages. Hundreds of lucky pups have found mercy, and a growing number of Iranians are learning to love them.

Iranian volunteer Rana Ashough and her colleague groom a dog at the Vafa Animal Shelter. The shelter struggles to find homes for dogs, with only around six being adopted each month. Iranians, like many other prospective dog owners, prefer purebreds to strays, something the shelter is trying to change.