Companion Animals

Our Companion Animal Program

The Barry R. Kirshner Wildlife Foundation is best known for it's resident wildlife. After all, lions, tigers and other big cats are real attention getters! But the truth is we care about all animals, regardless of species, and we want to see them all live long, healthy and happy lives.

One step we have taken to accomplish this goal was to start a companion animal program. Started in 1994, the same year as the Foundation itself, our program has since rescued over 2,500 dogs and cats from abandonment, abuse and neglect.

Every animal that finds its way to us receives free medical care, including vaccinations and spaying/neutering. If the animal is sick or injured, we nurse it back to health. Once the animal is healthy, we find it a loving home. And, because the sad truth is that all kinds of animals are abused or abandoned, we provide similar care for reptiles, birds and horses.

We have partnered with the Chico and San Francisco Humane Societies, who will bring us animals when they do not have the space for them. At times the local animal control authorities will contact us and ask us to take animals that have been victims of accident, abuse or neglect. Some of our companion animal friends are brought to us by owners who can no longer care for them adequately.

Love is Not Enough!

It's a cliche', but it's true. A big part of our educational outreach is our "Love is Not Enough" program, which teaches that responsible companion animal ownership and animal care requires a whole lot more than a big heart. Knowing how to address your animal's habitat, dietary, medical and socialization needs, and implementing them successfully is the real key to raising a happy, healthy companion animal.

Would you like to give an animal a loving home?

If you or someone you know is looking for a new animal friend, we encourage you to give us a call. Every animal we adopt out...

• Is healthy.
• Has been spayed/neutered.
• Has been vaccinated against the most common and/or virulent diseases for its species.
• Needs a loving home... like yours!

There is no charge to adopt one of our companion animals. You do need to enter into an adoption agreement with the Foundation that states you will provide proper nutritional and medical care, as well as shelter, exercise, and lots of love and attention.

If you have an animal that could use our services...

We take every animal we can but there is a maximum we can house and care for at any one time. Because demand is greater than our ability to house them is often at capacity, we ask that you do NOT drop off animals unannounced. Please call in advance and let us know your needs and we will let you know if we can accommodate your animal. Unfortunately, we have to turn away approximately 30% of the animals brought to us because we do not have enough room for them.

How you can help.

You can start by spaying/neutering your own companion animals where appropriate. Some of the side effects of companion animal overpopulation are neglect and abandonment, which in turn leads to the animals becoming feral, which in turn leads to greater overpopulation. This puts a greater strain on facilities such as ours. By responsibly spaying/neutering your pets, you will be doing them and the global community a great service.

You can help us with our work directly by making a donation to the Foundation. All our programs have recurring expenses, and our companion animal program is no exception. Besides on-going costs such as food, medication and veterinary care, we are also looking to expand and enhance our program by providing on-site veterinary and lab facilities. Your donations can make this become a reality. If you would like to contribute, please become a member, or make a donation by using the buttons to the left.