About Us

Get To Know Us

The Story:

Bakersfield Strays was formed in June 2022 by Southern California Pomeranian Rescue (SCPR) following the rescue of a stray Pomeranian we named Hudson.

R.A.D. rescue, a boots-on-the-ground group of AMAZING women, initially found Hudson and shared heartbreaking stories and videos about the Kern County Stray Dog Crisis. SCPR reached out to fellow rescuer Steve Spiro of START Rescue; he immediately saw the need and joined the coalition.

The original goal was to rescue 52 dogs identified as strays, July 4th, was approaching, and we feared the dogs running onto the highways would result in dangerous situations for both dogs and drivers. The dogs were rescued, provided the needed medical attention, and moved on to Rescue Groups.

We have continued as a coalition and have successfully thinned out the stray dog population but it continues to grow.

To date over 200 dogs have been taken off the streets.

R.A.D. Rescue our Boots-On-The-Ground Team!

They Never Give Up!

START RESCUE

START Animal Rescue saves animals from overflowing and high-kill shelters, neglect, abuse, and abandonment.

This is accomplished through:

The coordination of large-scale rescue-transport missions, in cooperation with overflowing and high-kill shelters.
Offering Spay & Neuter in underserved communities.
And by saving big-hearted individual animals who have more intensive needs. These 'START Sweethearts' are often found dumped in rural California, starving, sick or taken from the hands of an abuser.

Southern California Pomeranian Rescue

Southern California Pomeranian Rescue (SCPR), established as a 501c3 charity in 2009, is committed to rescuing, rehabilitating, and re-homing Pomeranians in the Southern California area. We are an all-volunteer rescue group that uses our diverse skills to help care for 20+ Pomeranians and honorary poms, daily while they await adoption.

SCPR dogs are fostered in private homes where they receive any necessary health care, and training to help their journey into a new forever home. We hold fast to our belief that 'every dog deserves a home' and strive to make a difference in the lives of homeless dogs. We have partnered with RAD Rescue and START Rescue, using our skills to spearhead Bakersfield Strays in making a huge difference in the Stray Dog Crisis.

Thank you so much for your interest and support. Our long-term goal is to build and maintain a Pomeranian Retirement Home for homeless Poms.

The Important Stuff

Our Mission:

to C.A.R.E.

The Plan:

C. Capture: Spaying and neutering make a big difference. According to popular statistics, one unaltered female dog and her offspring can produce 67,000 in 6 years. Each captured dog will be spayed/neutered, vaccinated, microchipped, and treated for parasites and any existing medical conditions. Spay/Neuter is the only proven humane method in reducing stray dog populations.

A. Awareness: Bakersfield Strays understands the stray dog crisis is a community problem; however, county officials need to enforce current animal laws to ensure dog abusers are held accountable. We have met with Kern County supervisors to offer support in bringing awareness to the stray dog crisis, and to encourage community participation. Bakersfield Strays has been on the local news, and we have billboards in strategic areas.

R. Resources: We aim to create a lasting solution to this ongoing Kern County Stray Dog Crisis by building a low-cost spay-neuter clinic and performing 12,000 annual spay/neuter surgeries, building a safe house for newly captured stray dogs, and maintaining a sanctuary for the strays that need more time to decompress. We have an opportunity to rent 20 acres in Bakersfield, previously used as a Bakersfield dog sanctuary.

E. Educate: Education on animal welfare and responsible pet ownership is desperately needed in this community. Bakersfield Strays has been invited, by the County, to create a curriculum to educate about responsible pet ownership, allowing generations to share the knowledge.

VISION:

Our vision is that every animal has a safe home and Kern County, specifically Bakersfield, becomes known again for its incredible agriculture.

CORE VALUES:

KINDNESS - We strive to be kind.