A group of 22 people came together January 10, 2009 and held a conceptual meeting to develop a No Kill Community with a No Kill Animal Sanctuary as the center of this vision. Shasta Animal Welfare Foundation was formed and is now a non-profit 501(C) 3 organization. All donations are tax deductible!

We are rapidly moving forward….
   Our short term goals; are to raise funds to cover the costs of spaying and neutering animals in Shasta County.
Proceeds raised for our endeavors will be used for the purposes of achieving a No Kill Community and a No Kill Animal Sanctuary. No dollars will be spent on employee or management compensation.
   We would like to gather a group of people to purchase the land for the sanctuary. The donors would become partners (everyone would have a percentage of ownership) in the purchase of the land. After the land is acquired the partnership would lease the land to the sanctuary (SAWF). SAWF could raise money for the improvements. The partnership would eventually donate the land to SAWF after the sanctuary was up and running with adequate reserves to keep it going (probably within 5 years).
   The reason we are leaning in this direction is to get the land sooner and to protect those who had concerns about donating large sums of money directly to SAWF prior to a sanctuary being built.
   We are looking for people who are interested in committing any dollar amount so we can proceed to purchase the land. We have identified several properties.

Our goals include:

• Construct facilities for a no kill animal sanctuary.
• Accept all dogs and cats, including the hard to adopt pets, such as aggressive, undesirable and senior pets.
• Educate the public about the importance of spaying and neutering their pets, and offer low and no cost programs to help inspire public awareness and action to create a no-kill community.
• Set a world-class standard for animal care by providing comfortable, permanent structures and facilities for homeless pets.
• Organize a group of dedicated people as cofounders/volunteers who will combine their efforts to create a no-kill animal shelter in Shasta County, California.
• To shelter homeless, injured, traumatized, sick, senior and feral animals and provide them with medical attention, if needed, a safe and loving environment until adopted.
• Establish ‘trap neuter release’ (TNR) programs for feral cats. ACHIEVED!
• Provide ongoing medical treatment for all animals in our care at SAWF.
• Provide easy public access, including weekend and evening hours as well as establishing off-site adoption locations.
• Develop adoption policies that are consistent with finding all animals a permanent home.
• Establish outreach programs that educate the public about the humane treatment of animals and about our mission and goals at SAWF.
• Coordinate with local authorities and other groups to establish a Disaster Evacuation Plan for animals.
• To create a low cost spay and neuter voucher program. ACHIEVED!
• Create a Disaster Animal Rescue team. ACHIEVED!
• Establish fund-raising events such as bequests, wills, grants, corporate and private donations, as well as other creative avenues to generate revenue to realize our Mission.
• Establish animal companion trips with volunteers, such as daytime outings and overnight visits to help acclimate the animals to different situations and environments.

A No Kill Shelter:  Implicit within the no-kill philosophy is the understanding that some animals, such as those who are irremediably suffering or hopelessly ill, will be killed for reasons of mercy.  Dogs that are vicious, with a very poor prognosis are also included in this category.  However this is after at least two months of training from 2 different dog trainers and an evaluation by a veterinarian.

The animals are our customers and they need us now more that ever.

Due to the very high rate of foreclosures many animals are being abandoned, surrendered to kill shelters, or left behind.  Many military personnel need a safe place to board their pets while they are gone.