GIVING BACK TO THE COMMUNITY
Community Involvement
Giving back to our community isn’t just something we do, it’s who we are. Through fostering, fundraising, and supporting local shelters and dog lovers, we strive to make a meaningful difference for animals and the people who love them.
Foster girl, Annie Bear, made a wish for a forever home. Her wish came true! Thank you, Karla and Tony, for being Annie’s angels.
FOSTERING SAVES LIVES
our Foster dogs
We’re committed to helping dogs that need a “paw up” while on their journeys to their permanent homes and we almost always have a foster dog (often more!) in our care. Fostering provides dogs with a soft place to land, an opportunity to receive some training, and the chance for us to know them and help them find their perfect home.
As a team, we have fostered over 200 dogs for area shelters and rescues. This includes, many of litters of puppies, seniors and special need adults.
Read about our current foster dogs! If you’re interested in learning more about these wonderful souls, please email us HERE and tell us about your living situation and why a particular dog has caught your attention.
Please note… we are picky about placement of our foster dogs. We know our foster dogs very well and want to be assured that the fit is best for them - and you! - so we take our time and thoroughly assess adoption possibilities. We hope you appreciate this and understand.
We adore our foster boy, Reggie. He is silly, sassy, and oh-so-sweet.
reggie
Reggie is our foster from Cassie’s Dream Rescue, originally from Tehama County Animal Shelter.
Overview
Where do we begin describing this silly, sweet, sassy and FABULOUS dog who has stolen the hearts of all of us at The Canine Connection? How about the basic stats: Reggie is: about a year old, neutered male, 75-ish pounds, fully vaccinated and heartworm negative, healthy as a horse and he sometimes seems like one. One important but insignificant characteristic to mention… Reggie only has three legs (a back one was amputated). It’s important because it may limit some things he can do - like he probably won’t be a swimmer and will need a life jacket around the water. But it’s insignificant because it doesn’t slow him down a bit.
Background
Reggie was found, as a stray puppy, when he was thought to be just about 3 months old. The poor little guy was very injured, likely from having been hit by a car. Off he went to Tehama County Animal Shelter where he received medical treatment. Sadly, one his back legs could not be saved but he never really needed it anyhow. The tripod look just makes him that much more special and unique.
Cassie’s Dream, a non-profit, foster-based rescue took Reggie in so he wouldn’t need to stay at the crowded shelter and we offered to foster him for them. Reggie has been with us since summer 2025 and we can’t honestly believe he hasn’t yet found his perfect home yet because he’s just the goodest boy!
His Life With Us
While with us, Reggie has received quite a bit of training in the basic skills. He’s been through several classes and received top honors. All the while, he’s been growing up and into adolescence and that means he can sometimes be forgetful of all he’s learned (that knowledge and skill is in there but sometimes hard to access by the teenage brain). He’s a bit excitable when he’s on-leash and sees other dogs, and a bit fearful of novel situations, but he’s quick to settle down and learn that everything little thing is going to be okay.
Once Reggie gets to know someone, he adores them. And he is very good with other dogs, though a bit strong and sassy in his play cuz (teenager!) He’s high energy but can settle down well. And, he’s crate trained, rides well in the car, and has lived with Sarah’s cat just fine - but note that Sarah’s cat is a badass so not completely sure that will be true of all cats. He is also house-trained in all his usual environments, can be protective and bark with new situations around the house, and is a super cuddler. And… he’s handsome as hell.
Want To Know More?
If you’d like to know more about Reggie, please send us an email so we can start a conversation.
For all with an interest in fostering and / or adopting the many dogs who need our help, thank you! You make a difference!
energizing our mission
fundraising and contributions
With over $285,000 raised for Chico Animal Shelter and Butte Humane Society, your support helps us give back to the animals who need it most!
2014 to 2026 – $255,000+ raised for Chico Animal Shelter
Our annual fundraiser, Walk Woof Wag, and other fundraising efforts for Chico Animal Shelter causes have raised over $255,000 for Chico Animal Shelter! Read more about this annual event HERE!
2011 to 2013 – $28,000+ raised for Butte Humane Society
TEAM CANINE CONNECTION raised over $28,000 for Butte Humane Society through Bidwell Bark. In 2011, we were the top fundraising team, and placed second and third in other years. We’re mighty proud that our little business could do so much!
Supporting Animals & Communities in Times of Crisis
Community Emergency Response
Dr. Sarah founded “Camp Fire Foster Animal Connection” to help place animals affected by the Camp Fire into foster homes while their families worked to rebuild their lives. She and The Canine Connection team also served as long-term volunteers in Camp Fire emergency animal shelters, providing care and support to displaced pets. One of her own, beloved dogs, Rudy, came out of the Camp FIre. He was picked up when running through the flames by a Good Samaritan.
Beyond disaster response, The Canine Connection has stepped up in times of crisis, offering housing and organizing adoptions for Northwest SPCA dogs displaced by the Oroville Dam Evacuation. They also coordinated and delivered daily donations to NVADG shelters during the Camp and Carr Fires.
In partnership with Friends of Chico Animal Shelter, The Canine Connection hosted a no-cost microchip clinic in May 2019, ensuring nearly 344 dogs and cats received permanent identification to help them stay safe and reunited with their families.
“Sarah is a total hero to the animals in our community.
She cofounded “Walk Woof Wag” (helping Chico youth Bryce Velasco realize his dream of creating an event to help Chico Animal Shelter), a huge undertaking, to raise tens of thousands of dollars for the shelter’s medical fund.
When the Oroville dam crisis happened, and the Northwest SPCA animal shelter had to be evacuated… she took 16 of the more challenging dogs in at The Canine Connection, organized a troop of her paid staff and volunteers to walk and care for them, and found homes or fostered herself almost all the dogs so they did not have to return to the shelter.
She has created an army of helpers since the Camp Fire to care for and help foster and home the displaced animals. I could go on….”
- KYM CASPERSON
CHICO, CA