Our Mission
Walk Woof Wag is a benefit for the Chico Animal Shelter’s medical fund, providing critical care to hundreds of animals each year.
This beloved Chico event was inspired by local youth Bryce Velasco, who wanted to honor his dog, Jasmine, adopted through Chico Animal Shelter. In 2014, as an 8th grader at Marsh Junior High School, Bryce took a leadership class that required a service project. His vision was to create a festive and fun walk to raise funds for the Chico Animal Shelter. He approached Dr. Sarah Richardson, owner of The Canine Connection (Jasmine’s favorite spot for training, daycare, and boarding), to help turn his idea into reality.
Together, Sarah and Bryce planned the first Walk Woof Wag event. They decided that the funds raised would support the Chico Animal Shelter’s medical fund, ensuring that animals in their care receive the medical attention they need while awaiting loving, permanent homes.
Each year, the Walk Woof Wag committee selects an inspirational dog to feature on the event’s commemorative posters. These dogs are beneficiaries of the medical fund, serving as reminders of the event's purpose. Walk Woof Wag has since become a Chico favorite, celebrating community spirit and compassionate care for animals.
Join us and make a difference!
Chico Animal Shelter’s Medical Fund
The Chico Animal Shelter’s Medical Fund is a beacon of hope for the most vulnerable and injured animals in our community. This vital fund ensures that abandoned and injured animals receive the essential medical care they desperately need.
In partnership with Chico Police Animal Control, the Chico Animal Shelter rescues and rehabilitates these animals, bringing them back to health and preparing them for adoption into loving, forever homes. Despite the overwhelming number of cases, the shelter's small team of dedicated staff and volunteers tirelessly works to nurse each animal back to health.
Walk Woof Wag Event Posters
Honey
2024
Honey’s life was saved by the Chico Animal Shelter’s medical fund when she was found abandoned and dying while giving birth. Now, Honey found her forever home and loves going for walks, playing with her siblings, and snuggles from her human mom.
Chico Animal Shelter helps the most needy animals who are often abandoned, injured and ill. This is Copper who is currently at the shelter. He was brought in as a stray, dehydrated and emaciated. Medical staff immediately gave him fluids, proper nutrition and has helped him in his recovery. He is now thriving at the shelter as he continues to heal so that he may be adopted to his forever home.
Hallie & Fonzi
2023
These two cuties were found in an abandoned truck soaking wet and were dying of Parvo. Thanks to the Chico Animal Shelter’s medical fund, they were nursed back to health and adopted into loving homes.
Frito
2022
He came to the Chico Animal Shelter as a stray in 2020 and the medical team got to work right away on a mysterious skin condition that causes fur loss and spotty skin. As Frito healed, he started showing his true colors: an affectionate, cuddly pup who loves being held, “talking” with people, and burrowing under blankets to stay cozy. Thanks to the Chico Animal Shelter Medical Fund, he’s found his forever home!
Olaf
2021
Olaf is a big, sweet Siberian Huskey who came to Chico Animal Shelter from the North Complex Fire of 2020. Olaf had four burned paws and an injury to his right eye from what veterinarians thought could have been an ember. His paws healed up nicely, but Olaf’s right eye needed to be removed. It didn’t slow him down a bit! After numerous efforts to find his previous owners, Olaf was able to be adopted to his forever home in February 2021!
2020
Alien Grandpa
When Alien Grandpa came to the shelter as a stray, he was so sad. He was mostly blind, completely matted, lethargic, and covered in foxtails. He had a heart condition, and other smaller issues like ear infections and dental disease. The scariest problem was when when he began to strain to urinate, and the vet discovered a calcified foxtail blocking his urethra.
Once Alien went into fospice (foster/hospice program) and begun to have his needs met, he perked up into a happy and playful dog.
Rudy is a Camp Fire survivor whose original owners never came for him. Perhaps it was for the best as Rudy entered the emergency animal shelter with burns from the fire along with severe health problems that predated the fire – a horrid skin infection that covered most of his body and a mouth full of broken, decaying teeth. Chico Animal Shelter stepped in to house and care for Rudy and many other unclaimed animals. Once these Camp Fire survivors were released for adoption, a shelter volunteer who had fallen in love with Rudy during the months of caring for him, stepped in to foster then adopt this sweet boy.
2019
Rudy
Bernadette
2018
Bernadette arrived at Chico Animal Shelter with sever burns which was healed by the medical fund. The shelter staff and volunteers were patient with her as she built trust again. She was able to get better due to the Chico Animal Shelter’s medical fund.
Lulu
2017
Lulu is the sweetest, funniest dog! She arrived at Chico Animal Shelter needing considerable medical care. It appeared she had been hit by a car or had some other kind of accident resulting in severe trauma to one of her hind legs. That leg needed to be amputated but that hasn’t slowed Lulu down a bit. She is full of enthusiasm for life! Lula was adopted by her forever home.
CJ arrived at Chico Animal Shelter on New Year’s Eve, 2015, a sad, injured, stray pup. At under 12 weeks old, he was thin, dehydrated, lethargic, and sore. Radiographs revealed broken ribs. While we don’t know what happened, one thing was sure, good fortune was ahead. It took a couple of months, CJ healed up and was ready for his perfect home thanks to the medical fund. He was adopted by his forever family on the last day of February, 2016.
CJ
2016
Parker
2015
Parker was found on Park Avenue (hence, his name) near the shelter, a sad stray boy in dire need of medical care. His skin was raw and bleeding from infection. He was anxious and distraught. After months of medical treatment to get his skin infection under control, Parker was ready for adoption. He found his forever home that provided him with the best medical care and oodles of love.
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