Murphy
Adopted 2024"He arrived a frightened shadow. Eight weeks of patient foster care later, he was a confident, tail-wagging companion ready for his family."
— Sarah K., Foster
Fullerton, California · Est. 2008
Giving every
animal a second chance.
We rescue abandoned, neglected, and homeless animals — funding the medical care, foster support, and family matching it takes to give every dog a real life.
501(c)(3) · EIN 26-3647040Scroll to explore ↓
Our Mission
Chapter 01
Compassion in action for the animals who have nowhere else to turn.
Founded by a small group of volunteers who refused to look away, Barks of Love has grown into a community of hundreds working to give animals a real second chance. We pull dogs from overcrowded shelters, take in surrenders, and rescue strays — funding veterinary care, behavioral support, and foster placement for every single intake.
We believe rescue is more than rehoming. It is medical care, behavior rehabilitation, family education, and lifelong support. Every adopter joins a community committed to responsible, compassionate guardianship — for the life of the animal.
Impact
By the numbers.
Seventeen years of relentless rescue work — made possible by donors, fosters, adopters, and volunteers like you.
01
4,200+
Animals Rescued
02
3,850+
Adoptions Completed
03
320+
Active Foster Homes
04
18,500+
Volunteer Hours / Yr
What we do
Six programs.
One promise.
From the first rescue call to the day a family takes their dog home — every program is designed to honor the entire arc of an animal's life.
Explore programs- 01
Animal Rescue
We pull at-risk dogs from overcrowded municipal shelters, intake owner surrenders, and respond to community calls about strays and neglect — 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
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- 02
Foster Care
Our hand-vetted foster network provides safe, individualized homes where rescued animals decompress, heal, and reveal the personalities that lead to perfect adoption matches.
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- 03
Pet Adoption
Every adoption is a conversation, not a transaction. We match animals to families based on energy, experience, and lifestyle — built to last a lifetime.
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- 04
Medical Rehabilitation
From routine vaccinations to orthopedic surgery and parvo recovery, our partner veterinarians give every rescue the medical care they deserve — no compromises.
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- 05
Community Education
Humane education workshops in schools, scout troops, and community centers teach kids and adults what compassionate, lifelong pet guardianship looks like.
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- 06
Volunteer Program
Hundreds of dedicated volunteers — drivers, fosters, photographers, event captains, fundraisers — make every single rescue possible. There is a role for everyone.
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In the field
"We don't decide who is worth saving. Every life that lands in our care is worth all of it."
— Founding statement, 2008
Happy tails
Success stories.
Luna
Adopted 2024"Surrendered at five years old when her family moved. Luna proved that older dogs adapt beautifully when given the chance."
— The Marquez Family
Shiro
Adopted 2025"Pulled from a hoarding case — undernourished and terrified of touch. Shiro now sleeps in the bed and demands two walks a day."
— Pavel R., Adopter
Trust & transparency
Verified, accredited, accountable.
We are a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit publishing audited annual reports, IRS Form 990s, and a public board roster. Every donation is processed through PCI-compliant providers.
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501(c)(3) verified
EIN 26-3647040
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Candid / GuideStar
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Secure giving
PCI-compliant donations
All-volunteer board
No executive payroll
Tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law SSL-secured site & encrypted forms Annual 990 published publicly
Adopters, fosters, partners
In their own words.
4.9 average · 780+ reviews
"We applied for Murphy on a Tuesday and met him in a foster home that Saturday. The team's honesty about his history, his quirks, and his needs made us trust them immediately. Three years in, he's the best dog we've ever had."
Sarah & Michael K.
Adopters · Murphy, 2022
"Our shelter was at capacity and a senior dog was scheduled for euthanasia. Barks of Love had a transport coordinated within four hours. That dog is now in a loving home in Long Beach. That is who they are."
Officer J. Alvarez
Municipal Shelter Partner
Where it goes
Your dollar at work.
As an all-volunteer organization with no facility lease, no executive payroll, and no fundraising agencies, nearly every dollar flows directly to the animals in our care.
- $25Vaccines for one puppy
- $50A full month of premium nutrition
- $100Spay or neuter surgery
- $250Emergency veterinary visit
- $500Life-saving orthopedic care
- $1,000Full rehabilitation: rescue to adoption