What started as a quiet New Year, changed in an instant when we received a call from Kern County Animal Shelter. Five labs were at risk of being euthanized, then two more. Kennel after kennel. Dogs were everywhere. Time was limited. Space was gone. Incredible dogs running out of time.

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We immediately began scrambling for foster homes, already stretched thin, our most limited resource. With no guaranteed place for seven dogs, we reached out to a trusted boarding partner, Fur & Feathers Pet Resort at Mill Creek as a temporary lifeline. Thankfully, they said yes. It bought us precious time to secure fosters and keep these dogs safe. 

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Then fast-moving, lab loving volunteers in Bakersfield- Jenny, Mindy and Kim returned to the shelter and secured their rescue.

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Next came the challenge of distance. Central California Labrador Retriever Rescue spans from Bakersfield to Redding, hundreds of miles, and with seven dogs needing transport, the odds felt daunting.

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Then, a moment of hope.

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A volunteer pilot with Pilots N Paws stepped in, offering to fly all seven Labradors from Bakersfield to Sacramento, turning what could have been a tragic outcome into a second chance at life. January 14, 2026, they all landed safely and began their second chance.

This is what rescue looks like in California right now:

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• Dedicated volunteers continuing to step up  

• Exhausted and overcrowded shelters

• Limited foster homes

• Ever-growing numbers of dogs needing help

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If you would like to help support our rescue efforts, please consider donating, fostering, volunteering or shopping on our wish list. We are an all-volunteer organization, so every dollar helps save a life.