Life4Paws Animal Rescue

Since Sept 2000, Life4Paws has helped 2500+ animals find forever homes. See our adoptable pets here: www.petfinder.com/pet-search?shelter_id=CA317

Life4paws is a non-profit dog rescue dedicated to supporting the adoption and rescue of shelter animals. Every Sunday from 11:00 - 3:00, we adopt out dogs to loving homes for a small adoption fee. This money goes towards food and medical care for all of the dogs, as well as each individual dog's immunizations, microchipping, and spay/neutering. We work closely with our volunteers to ensure that each dog is getting a caring home that fits his or her needs. From the day that they are pulled from the shelter until the day they find their forever home, each dog is placed in a loving foster home with a temporary family that will aid our rescue in finding the perfect home for every individual dog's personality and needs. For some dogs the journey takes a matter of weeks, while others stay in our program for years. Either way, each dog is safe with us and will never, under any circumstances, be put back in the shelter system.

Life4Paws does not simply go into shelters and pick out the dogs that will be easiest to adopt out. Rather, we see potential in dogs that others might have overlooked: we rescue the scared dog who hides in the back of his cage so he can't be seen by adopters. We rescue the mother with her newborn litter that the already overwhelmed shelter workers don't have the man power to care for. We rescue the senior that was dumped by his owners simply because he got too old. We rescue the matted, the frightened, the sick, the injured, and we do everything in our power to bring that dog to its full potential so we can adopt them out to families that they deserve, families that deserve them. To those we can help we offer them hope, and to those that are too far gone we offer them dignity.

But not every dog we receive at Life4Paws comes from a shelter. In September of 2009, we were contacted about a puppy mill bust that left three hundred dogs in jeopardy. After some quick thinking and a little bit of luck, we were able to find enough fosters to take in sixteen puppy mill dogs. Most of these dogs had severed vocal chords, were overbred to unhealthy proportions, and had never experienced life outside of a cage. After a great deal of time, patience, and care, our rescue was able to teach these dogs to trust people and adopt them out into loving homes that they otherwise would have never had the opportunity to obtain. Similarly, Life4Paws has rescued a number of dogs from hoarding situations in more than one incident. Often these hoarders have over 40 dogs in one setting, creating fearful pets that have not been properly cared for, fed, and vetted. These dogs not only require special medical attention, but also special fosters who have the time and experience needed to socialize and build trust. Eventually these dogs are able to find loving homes, but the road to recovery is very steep for dogs who have never known life with people. Many of the other dogs we have received in the recent past have been turned over to us directly by their owners because of the recent economic downfall. While we cannot change the circumstances for these families, it is our duty to provide them with a safe haven for their beloved pets. These situations are hard on everyone involved but it is unbelievably difficult on the dogs, who are noticeably confused and depressed.

Life4Paws Animal Rescue has been saving dogs in the Los Angeles area for over a decade. Over time we have grown both in numbers and in wisdom, but we could not accomplish all we have today without the help of our supporters and fellow animal lovers. Every month we are helping dogs like Sarah, a Miniature Pinscher who requires $4000 surgery to save her eyes, Samson, a Saint Bernard mix who needs $2000 surgery to fix the torn ligaments in his leg, and an unknown amount of funding needed for the Tijuana Terriers, a group of 9 emaciated and neglected dogs tethered in the Tijuana sun that we hope to be able to rescue. These problems are some of the few we are faced with on a daily basis, and the small adoption fee we require is simply not enough to cover the expenses of saving lives. However, with the help of the community, we are optimistic that we can help all of these dogs and more. It is our job to care for the discarded, and it is not a responsibility that we take lightly.

For more information or to see the dogs we currently have up for adoption, please visit www.life4paws.org.

21531 Strathern Street
Canoga Park, CA 91304
United States