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Our
History
Before 1982 there were no local animal shelters or resources available to help the Sonoma community cope with the problem of stray and abandoned animals. This lack of animal services motivated a handful of dedicated animal lovers to create a local animal welfare organization. Thanks to the community, Pets Lifeline was established.
The Early Days
In 1987 Pets Lifeline purchased a plot of land and built the first shelter structure. The house on the property became a thrift store serving as a fundraising source for the fledgling shelter.
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In 2000, the thrift store was replaced with a beautiful fenced dog yard and later, a new roof along with temporary mobile structures were added.
The Greater Good
In 2005, Pets Lifeline served on a national level when Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans, leaving people and their pets homeless. The Marin Humane Society called our shelter to ask if we would join them in a concerted effort to save a plane load of stranded cats and dogs flown in from New Orleans. We jumped at the chance and after a long night, the Pets Lifeline team left with approx. 12 dogs and five cats.
Pets Lifeline worked successfully over the next several months to reconnect some of the animals with their original owners, found local homes for others and even placed puppies born during the process—the effort was a collective high point for everyone involved.
Walking the Walk
Today, Pets Lifeline (PLL) has adopted over 20,000 animals, staying with its core mission to find forever homes for the stray and homeless cats and dogs in Sonoma Valley.
In addition, PLL offers a wide variety of programs, such as a free and low-cost spay/neuter clinic, Pet Food Pantry and Tender Loving Paws to assist those in need, dog training classes, a kitten fostering program, and a feral program that is the most successful in the county. The shelter prides itself on its Youth Education curriculum that offers an afterschool program and a 10-week summer camp.
The Future
With the celebration of these past 30 years comes the promise of being around for 30 more and the hope of raising money each year to help modernize Sonoma Valley's only Animal Resource Center.
Pets Lifeline has been a cornerstone of our community, dedicated to enhancing the lives of animals and people alike. As we strive to expand our impact and grow into a larger animal resource center – our commitment to serving our animals and community remains unwavering. Together, we can create a brighter future for all.
​— Olivia Kristiansen | CEO