Happy Tails Pet Sanctuary

Happy Tails, Sacramento's first no-kill pet sanctuary, was founded in 1993 by volunteers committed to a common goal: To create a safe haven for abandoned and abused animals.

What started out as six like-minded people in 1993, has grown to an all-volunteer organization with over 300 volunteers by November 2002. Our volunteers worked hard to get our Adopt-A-Pet Center open—Sacramento's first cage-free adoption center. We are still working towards obtaining and operating a larger facility to serve as a true pet sanctuary. We are also focusing our efforts on developing a low-cost or no-cost spay and neuter program to help needy and disadvantaged pet owners. This effort is one more step in helping to solve the Sacramento area's rampant pet overpopulation problem.

We have a major program for rescuing homeless and abandoned cats and kittens, dogs and puppies from local shelters. We also rescue animals from the streets and those who have been abandoned at our feral colonies. Although concentrating mainly on feline and canine rescue, we've also rescued rabbits, potbellied pigs, ferrets, and even a box turtle in the past.

Rescued cats and dogs are tested, vaccinated, altered, and microchipped before being placed in loving homes or relocated to controlled colonies where they are maintained in a safe, healthy environment. Volunteers visit our colonies at least once a day. Our extensive Feral Cat program is responsible for maintaining 12 feral colonies as sterile, healthy colonies.

Our assistance program helps the pets of elderly, homeless, and low-income individuals. Through donations, we are able to help provide or assist in providing veterinary care, food, and even a foster home when a stable environment is no longer available.

Happy Tails is operated entirely by volunteers and has no paid employees. Its major source of funding is monetary donations from generous benefactors. Other funding is obtained through adoption fees and volunteer-organized fundraising events. Federal and state tax authorities recognize Happy Tails as a tax-exempt, 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Public Benefit Corporation.

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