About Us at NSPA

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North Star Pet Assistance
Non-Profit 501 (c) (3)
# 91-2152835
Verify us at Guidestar.com

"Guiding Pets Home"
est. 2001

Vision: We envision a world in which no healthy, adoptable animal has to be euthanized. Every pet will be well cared for and loved. None shall be abused or neglected.

Goal: To assist in ending the overpopulation of domesticated dogs and cats in cooperation with other animal organizations.

Objective: To promote spay and neuter of animals, preventing the birth of potentially hundreds of thousands more animals who will most likely be abandoned. To encourage new local ordinances to prevent irresponsible ownership and breeding. To encourage responsible pet guardianship to decrease abandonment and relinquishment of pets.

In addition North Star Pet Assistance hopes to set an example on how animal advocates can work together, and not against each other, to benefit the pets. We currently work in cooperation with dozens of full breed rescues as well as local animal controls and all local shelters (Hesperia and Apple Valley). We can provide dozens of references and maintain wonderful working relationships with local vets. We'd be happy to share them with you.

North Star survives by donations only and is run by volunteers. The current director is Linda Glaudel who also happens to be a very busy Mom. Many times the costs involved in a rescue exceed the adoption fee. Many times one deserving pet can't be saved unless additional funds are directed their way. Donations and adoption fees help us continue our work. Adoption fees are actually a great bargain when one considers the actual cost of services provided at a private vet. Adoption fees also detour people that have bad intentions (bunchers and fighting rings). If you would like to donate please click HERE.

*Here at NSPA we do not set the focus on adoptions/rescue only, however we always have deserving pets available. Many of our pets that we post are private rescues by non-affiliated parties or are owners desperate to re-home their pets.

About NSPA ADOPTIONS

All pets are spayed/neutered, vaccinated, dewormed if necessary. They are micro-chipped and provided with visible ID and pets ages 4 and under come with 1 month free pet insurance provided by sheltercare.com Your microchip will also be registered in your name.

Vaccines for dogs are 5 in 1 or 6 in 1, and Rabies if over 4 months of age. Cats receive 4 in 1 or 3 in 1, Leukemia, and are Leukemia tested (if old enough) prior to adoption unless otherwise noted.

Fees may vary but are typically as follows :
Dogs $75-150
Cats $40-65
Senior discounts available on senior pets.
Fees are refundable up to 2 weeks after date of adoption. We always take our pets back at any time! We do require proof of adequate fencing and shelter. We do require that you complete an adoption application prior to meeting with the pet. It is only fair to be certain that these pets will never be unwanted or neglected again. It is only fair to you to find that right match for your lifestyle and family.

NORTH STAR SAN DIEGO !
Founder and President, Gina Downey has relocated to San Diego. We now have a San Diego section on the website.

Click "Jessie" to see A LOT of our rescues. Click here to see newsletters in .pdf format and to see us IN THE NEWS!

North Star Pet Assistance (formerly named "Local Rescue") was established in June of 2001 by Founder and President Gina Downey. At first we were just a website with pictures of local homeless pets from each local shelter. This alone opened a door and provided increased opportunity for pets in local shelters who were otherwise, for the most part, sitting forgotten. They could now be seen by potential adopters and other rescues from all over the state. We initiated contact and developed relationships with other rescues to bring them to the High Desert to help our animals. Then we progressed to rescuing and fostering shelter pets and received federal and state non-profit status. We promote shelter pet adoptions and supply resources on our website to hopefully detour owner relinquishes and encourage responsible pet guardianship as well as spay/neuter.

We are responsible for getting VVAPL (Apple Valley Zuni Rd. Shelter online) and we used to take shelter photos weekly or bi-monthly to get them started. We transport and network as many of the pets as we can and also take special cases of adoptable dogs that are injured or need medical attention and can not be placed for adoption through the shelter. We work in cooperation with VVAPL Board directors to try to improve the shelter (taking into consideration that it is a high volume shelter). If you would like to help photograph and upload shelter pets please contact your local shelter.

We try to help private parties place pets and NSPA also does a lot of indirect rescue by coordinating out of area adoptions and full breed and mixed breed rescues to other groups. We have worked with Border Collie Rescue, Golden Retriever Rescue, Doxie Rescue, Shar Pei Rescue, Australian Shepherd Rescue, Beagle Rescue, Collie Rescue, Great Dane Rescue, Scottie Rescue, Sheepdog Rescue, Weimaraner Rescue, Persian Rescue, Dalmatian Rescue and many, many more. Prior to getting the pictures online and developing the contacts that we have many of these animals would not have had a chance. Pictures make all the difference in the world. We consider this a HUGE SUCCESS!

The impound shelters do what they can, but are over-crowded. The responsibility of a homeless pet lies with the owner. We hope that with nationwide efforts by many organizations the future will bring decreased over-population, a better understanding of why it is crucial to spay/neuter, have visible ID and microchips for pets, why it is a terrible idea to patronize backyard breeders and puppy mills and why it is important to develop that human/pet bond and consider a pet part of the family. Education can bring the knowledge of how to correct negative pet behavior and how to be a responsible pet owner.

"Molly" was our very first "official" rescue back in 2001! See All Rescues

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