We primarily rescue dogs from two of the highest-kill shelters in California, located in Bakersfield: Kern County Animal Shelter and Bakersfield City Animal Care Center. Over 99% of the 330+ dogs we’ve rescued have come directly from these shelters, where they risked many tragic fates.

In rare cases, we take in abandoned dogs from a small, trusted network of dedicated individuals who monitor and feed dogs at known dumping sites. However, less than 1% of the dogs we’ve rescued have come from the streets.

Foster Tales does not source dogs from breeders or pay individuals for dogs or puppies to adopt out. Our mission is to save the most at-risk shelter dogs and provide them with the care they need to find loving homes.

Yes. It usually takes us about 10 minutes to mark a dog as “pending” which removes them from our Petfinder, making our listings extremely up-to-date. Dogs listed as available may already have meet and greets scheduled, but you are still abe to put your name on the list in the event a meet and greet doesn’t go as planned.

Foster Tales is headquartered in Bakersfield, California, and we rescue dogs from Kern County, home to two of the highest-rate kill shelters in the state. Our adoptable dogs live in foster homes throughout California and Nevada. We strive to find dedicated foster parents willing to care for dogs in need regardless of the foster’s location, which allows us to save as many lives as possible. Many of our dogs are adopted by families in Northern California, and our adoption process is designed to cater to the needs of adopters in this region. Since our inception, we have successfully placed nearly 200 dogs into loving homes, predominantly in the Bay Area.

Our process starts with a virtual meet and greet which allows you to learn much more about the dog you are interested in. While we do not expect any adopter to make a final decision without physically meeting a dog, we do require adopters to successfully complete our adoption process before an in-person meeting occurs because of the significant resources needed to transport the dog to one of our meeting locations near adopters.

Yes, but we charge an additional transport fee on top of the adoption fee to cover costs. This price is available on request and is determined based on adopter’s specific needs.

For NorCal adopters, we travel weekly to Modesto, CA, to meet adopters and introduce them to their potential pup at no additional cost. Modesto is much closer to the Bay Area, and most adopters find the trip free of traffic or hassle.

For adopters in other areas of California, a transport location will be determined based on your specific needs. If direct-to-door transportation is requested, an additional fee will apply.

Yes, we do consider out of state adoptions. However, the process will include extra costs for transportation of the dog. We work with a transport company that averages about $850 for an out of state adoption. We prioritize finding the best possible homes for our dogs, regardless of location.

Our adoption fee covers a comprehensive range of services to ensure your new pet is healthy and ready for their forever home. This includes, but is not limited to:

- Pre-surgical health exam to ensure good health

- Spay/neuter (for mature dogs over the age of 3 months)

- Treatment for common shelter diseases if present

- Rabies, DHPP, and Bordetella vaccines

- Microchip

- Deworming

- Flea and tick medication

- Fresh groom prior to adoption

- Collar and leash

- An adoption day goodie bag including current high quality dog food

- Adoption counseling with a certified dog trainer (a $250+ value)

- For NorCal adopters, transportation to Modesto, California at no extra cost

These services help ensure your new pet starts their new life with you in the best possible condition.

As a nonprofit rescue, we rely on adoption fees to cover the cost of saving dogs. Unlike municipal shelters that receive government funding, we are a small, self-sustaining rescue that covers all expenses—medical care, transport, food, and training—through adoption fees and donations.

The reality is that it costs us an average of $1,000 per dog to provide the care they need before adoption. Your adoption fee helps offset these costs and allows us to continue rescuing at-risk dogs from overcrowded, high-kill shelters.

Many shelters receive millions in taxpayer funding, which allows them to offer lower adoption fees. As a private rescue, we receive no public funding—we rely entirely on adoption fees and donations to operate.

Additionally, while many shelters provide only basic care before adoption—and often euthanize sick or injured dogs due to limited resources—we go further. We actively treat common shelter illnesses, rather than letting dogs deteriorate. We also provide specialized care for sick and injured dogs, ensuring they receive the time, treatment, and attention they need to recover. Our foster dogs benefit from high-quality nutrition, love and comfort of a foster home, and transportation to medical appointments and, ultimately, their adopters. Every dog in our care receives the investment they deserve to become healthy, well-adjusted, and truly ready for their forever home.

Yes, we have three different adoption fee tiers based on the level of care and expenses required for each dog:

- Puppies under 5 months – $775-$525 (due to the extra medical care, socialization, and longer foster care required the fee can range between these amounts)

- Dogs 6 months and older – $625 (our standard adoption fee)

- Long-term residents – $450 (to help them find homes faster)

We frequently revisit our adoption fees to ensure they remain reasonable while reflecting the real costs of care.

The cost of rescuing a dog varies significantly depending on their age, medical needs, and length of stay in foster care.

• Puppies require the most care, including frequent deworming, vet care, multiple rounds of vaccines, and extra socialization—hence the higher fee that ranges between $550-$725

• Adult dogs typically require standard medical care, so their adoption fee remains at $625.

• Long-term residents often wait the longest for a home, so we reduce their fee to $450 to encourage adoptions.

Even with these fees, we still operate at a loss per dog, as the full cost of care and overhead averaged around $1,000 per dog in 2024. The remainder of our funding comes from generous donors who help us continue our mission.

No, our adoption fee is non-negotiable, as it is set to ensure we can provide comprehensive care for our dogs. This fee helps cover essential expenses such as veterinary care, grooming, training, transport, supplies, and high-quality food—all of which are necessary to prepare each dog for a successful adoption. Unlike municipal shelters that receive taxpayer funding, we are a small, independent rescue that relies solely on adoption fees and donations to continue our lifesaving work.

Just as a small business cannot negotiate the cost of its products or services, our adoption fee reflects the level of care, resources, and financial stability required to maintain our operations.

It’s also important to recognize that dogs are a long-term financial commitment, and veterinary care is increasingly expensive. If the adoption fee feels like a financial strain, we encourage potential adopters to consider whether this is the right time to bring a pet into their home. Routine vet care alone—including annual checkups, vaccinations, bloodwork, and flea/tick preventatives—often exceeds $500 per year, not including emergencies or unexpected medical issues.

We appreciate your understanding and support, which allows us to continue providing the highest quality care for our dogs and placing them in well-prepared, loving homes.

If you adopted more than 30 days ago and need assistance, we are here for you! How you go about contacting us depends on what you need.

• If you need another copy of your dog’s records, please send a email titled “RECORDS REQUEST: [FOSTER TALES DOG NAME]” to info@fostertales.org.

• If you are having a behavioral issue with your dog past 30 days of adoption, please complete our Post-Adoption Inquiry Form. A trainer will be in touch with you to gather more information in order to assist you.

• If you are experiencing a medical situation with your pet and would like our rescue team’s insight and support, please text our main line at 661-364-8844.

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