Bark & Bloom: Bringing Spring Cheer to Shelter Dogs
Spring is a time of renewal, growth, and fresh beginnings. But for the 300+ dogs waiting at Bakersfield City Animal Shelter, time isn’t always on their side. Unlike the county shelter, which receives more foot traffic and rescue support, Bakersfield City Shelter sits on the outskirts of town, overlooked and forgotten by many. With fewer adopters and rescues stepping in, far too many dogs never get the second chance they deserve. Some are euthanized simply because they’ve caught a treatable shelter-borne illness—a heartbreaking reality Foster Tales is determined to change.
That’s why we’re launching Bark & Bloom, a simple yet powerful event designed to bring hope, visibility, and joy to the shelter dogs who need it most. On March 29th at 10am at the Bakersfield Animal Care Center on 201 South Mt. Vernon Ave, Bakersfield, California, volunteers will gather at the shelter to do something incredibly easy—but deeply impactful: hand out handmade treats, make eye contact with the dogs, talk to them, and simply see them. Because when people show up, things change.
More People, More Awareness, More Lives Saved
At our Holiday Shelter Feed, we saw firsthand how transformative this experience can be—especially for young people. Some of the high school students who attended were moved to tears, realizing for the first time what was happening in their own backyard. Some of them have even since become active volunteers in the local rescue community. That’s why we’re focusing our outreach on high school students for Bark & Bloom. We want to open their eyes to the crisis at the shelter and inspire them to take action.
But we’re not stopping there. Local businesses will also be invited to partner with us in support of this event and our ongoing efforts. Together with For the Dogs, a shelter-based nonprofit providing low-cost spay/neuter services, vaccine clinics, and rescue transports, we’re working to make a lasting difference for these dogs.
How You Can Help
Even if you’re not local, your support makes these events possible. Whether it’s through donations, spreading the word, or simply sharing the stories of the dogs who need homes, you are part of the change.
Bark & Bloom is about more than just treats—it’s about bringing new faces into the shelter, creating awareness, and making sure no dog is forgotten. Because sometimes, all it takes is one person seeing a dog, sharing their story, or deciding to take action for a life to be saved.
We’ll be reporting back after the event to share how it went, but in the meantime, we hope this inspires you to continue being part of the solution. Because every set of eyes on a shelter dog brings them one step closer to hope.
