Our Commitment
Partnering closely with the Tracy Animal Shelter to identify and address its greatest needs. Providing financial assistance for emergency and lifesaving medical treatment for shelter animals. Supporting foster programs that give vulnerable animals the opportunity to heal, grow, and find permanent homes. Funding supplies, enrichment, equipment, and programs that enhance the health and well-being of shelter animals. Promoting adoption, responsible pet ownership, and spay/neuter education throughout our community. Building meaningful partnerships with volunteers, businesses, and community organizations to expand our impact. Organizing fundraising events and securing grants that directly support lifesaving programs. Inspiring compassion through education, advocacy, and public outreach.
Dog Walking Program
There’s nothing quite like seeing a shelter dog’s face light up when they realize they’re going for a walk. For many of our shelter dogs, a walk is so much more than exercise, it’s a chance to leave the kennel behind, breathe fresh air, sniff new smells, meet new people, and simply enjoy being a dog. Every outing provides valuable enrichment, reduces stress, builds confidence, and helps our dogs become happier, healthier, and even more adoptable. Our Shelter Dog Walking Program gives compassionate community members the opportunity to make a real difference, one leash, one walk, and one wagging tail at a time. Whether you’re an experienced dog owner or simply have a heart for animals, we’ll provide the training you need to safely leash and handle our shelter dogs, understand canine body language, and help provide the exercise, enrichment, and socialization they need while they wait for their forever families.
But here’s the best part…you won’t just be changing their lives; they’ll change yours, too. The unconditional love, goofy personalities, grateful kisses, and joyful tail wags have a way of brightening even the toughest day, and many of our volunteers say dog walking quickly becomes the highlight of their week. As part of our Dog Day Out program, volunteers also accompany shelter staff to local parks and community events, giving our dogs the opportunity to explore beyond the shelter walls while meeting potential adopters. These outings spark conversations, increase community awareness, and have already helped connect several dogs with foster and adoptive families. Every walk, every adventure, and every new face brings us one step closer to finding loving forever homes. Ready to join the pack? Comment below or send us a message to request a volunteer application. We can’t wait to welcome you to the Friends of the Tracy Animal Shelter family and introduce you to some truly amazing four-legged friends!
Foster To Adopt Program
Why We Love Our Foster-to-Adopt Program
At Friends of the Tracy Animal Shelter, we believe adoption is about more than simply choosing a pet, it’s about creating a lifelong bond. Our Foster-to-Adopt Program gives both your family and your new companion the opportunity to get to know one another in the comfort of your home before making a lifelong commitment. It allows everyone time to adjust, helps ensure the pet is the right fit for your family and lifestyle, and gives adopters confidence that they’ve found their perfect match.
Our foster families are truly the heart of our lifesaving mission. They open their homes to animals of all ages and needs, from orphaned neonatal kittens and puppies requiring around-the-clock bottle or tube feeding, to pets recovering from surgery, illness, injury, or neglect. A loving foster home provides a quiet, safe environment where animals can heal, be closely monitored, build confidence, and receive the individualized care they deserve. There is nothing quite like watching a tiny bottle baby open its eyes for the first time, seeing a once-frightened dog learn to trust again, or witnessing a medical case blossom into a healthy, happy companion ready for a forever home. Every foster family becomes an essential part of an animal’s journey, proving that compassion truly does save lives.
Doggy Day Out & Sleepovers
Have you always dreamed of having a dog but aren’t quite ready for the lifelong commitment? Our Doggy Day Out & Sleepover Program is the perfect way to experience the joy of canine companionship while making an incredible difference in the life of a shelter dog. Whether you spend the day hiking a local trail, enjoying a pup cup, strolling through a pet-friendly store, relaxing by the water, or simply cuddling on the couch while watching a movie, your adventure gives a shelter dog something they desperately need, a break from kennel life and the chance to simply be a dog. These outings reduce stress, build confidence, and allow each dog’s unique personality to shine, helping them become happier, more relaxed, and more adoptable.
For those who can offer just a little more time, our Sleepover Program gives dogs the opportunity to spend a cozy night in a real home. A peaceful evening, a soft bed, a quiet night’s sleep, and the comfort of being part of a family, even for just one night, can have a remarkable impact on a shelter dog’s emotional well-being. Sleepovers also provide valuable insight into how a dog behaves in a home environment, helping us match them with the perfect forever family. And don’t be surprised if you discover that your overnight guest steals your heart. Many volunteers find that one unforgettable day or sleepover becomes the beginning of a lifelong friendship.
Contact us and let us know which program you are interested in. All fields marked with an * are required for the form to send properly.
Adoption Info
Animal shelters play a vital role in protecting homeless, abandoned, and vulnerable animals, but they often rely on community support to continue their work.
Fostering Info
Adopting and fostering animals both help pets in need, but they serve different purposes. Adoption is a permanent commitment in which an animal becomes a lifelong member of your family.