Why partner with us
A return is a second heartbreak: for the animal, the family, and the staff and volunteers who made that match happen. Most returns are preventable with the right support at the right moment. Our partner programs put professional, humane, evidence based training into the hands of the people who need it most, right when they need it.
Based in Sky Valley in the Coachella Valley. Partnering with shelters and rescues throughout Riverside, San Bernardino, Los Angeles, Orange, San Diego, Imperial, and Ventura counties, with virtual support available beyond Southern California.
Rescue Partner Program
Adoption retention and foster readiness support you can spread across your adopters and fosters. Prepay once, refer families as they need help, and watch your balance on a clear monthly statement. It works a lot like a law firm retainer: we draw down as support is used, and you always know where you stand.
What it covers
- Life skills and everyday household manners
- Socialization and confidence building
- Settling a new dog into a brand new environment
- Friction between pets or routines in the household
- Bringing home a baby to a newly adopted dog, or bringing a newly adopted dog into a home with a baby
- Separation distress, sorted out from true separation anxiety through a discovery call
Nothing goes to waste
Getting close to the end of your 18 months with hours left? Gift them to someone in your community or auction them to recover that funding. Running low early? Add another 30 hours any time.
Aggression and reactivity are not part of this program. Those cases are covered by the Behavioral Intervention Program below.
Rescue Partner Behavioral Intervention Program
For the dogs your team worries about most. Aggression and reactivity cases need a plan that is followed all the way through, by everyone, every time. This program gives those cases dedicated, start to finish behavioral intervention instead of a few scattered sessions.
Why it works differently
These hours are not meant to be split across many families. Behavior change takes consistent follow through and client compliance, so we commit to a case from intake to wrap up. That makes it a true team effort.
Because this work carries added liability, every case is screened before it begins, and we may pause support if the plan, safety management, or our humane methods standards are not being followed.
Staff Development
Your people are your most important resource. Staff development helps shelter teams, volunteers, and fosters understand what animals are telling them and respond in ways that lower stress for everyone. Training is built around your facility, your animals, and your goals.
Topics we can build around
- Body language and behavior
- Improving enrichment
- Managing problem behaviors in kennel environments
- Reducing fear, anxiety, and stress in the kennel
- Volunteer onboarding
- New foster onboarding
- Safe, low stress handling
- Shelter design consultation for internal spaces
Which program fits?
| Rescue Partner Program | Behavioral Intervention Program | Staff Development | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Investment | $950 | $3,000 | Custom quote |
| Included | 30 hours of training support | 20 hours of behavioral intervention | Built to your needs |
| Best for | Everyday adjustment and life skills | Aggression and reactivity | Your staff, volunteers, and fosters |
| How hours are used | Spread across many adopters and fosters | Dedicated to a case from start to finish | Scheduled trainings and consults |
| Free partner courses | Included | Included | Ask us |
Free online courses for your community, co-branded for you
Every partner gets its own enrollment code for two free online courses. Your adopters and fosters scan the QR code, type in your code, and get instant access for six months. No payment screen, and no cap on how many people can join. We provide display ready flyers with your logo and your code added, right alongside ours.
How to become a partner
- ApplyDownload and complete the Rescue Partner Application. It fills out right on your computer.
- Board reviewOur board reviews and approves every partner application.
- Invoice and prepayOnce approved, we send your invoice and your program window begins.
- Start referringSend adopters and fosters our way, share your free course code, and track it all on your monthly statement.
Rescue Partner Application
Open to municipal shelters and 501(c)(3) organizations. Fill it out, save it, and email it to [email protected].
What we stand for
An animal who is housed, fed, and treated with respect and dignity has a great home. A great home can look very different from family to family.
We use only humane, evidence based training methods and information for people and animals. Partners agree that animals in our programs will not be handled or trained with inherently aversive tools or methods, such as prong, choke, or shock collars, leash corrections, or physical punishment. Those tools undermine the training we do together and the trust our community places in us.
We do not judge a dog or cat home by housing type, income, or lifestyle. Someone who travels full time in an RV with their pet, or who lives in a mobile home park, can meet their animal's needs with the right education and tools. Livestock and other species have their own space and care needs, which we look at case by case.
Questions partners ask
Who can join?
Municipal animal shelters and 501(c)(3) nonprofit animal welfare organizations. Every application is reviewed and approved by the Esperanza's Sanctuary board.
Can we use the hours with fosters, not just adopters?
Yes. Both the Rescue Partner Program and the Behavioral Intervention Program can support adopters and fosters, including fosters preparing a dog for adoption.
How do we know how many hours we have left?
Every month you receive an invoice update listing each client's name, the session date, the time used, and your remaining balance.
What if a case turns out to involve aggression or reactivity?
Every referral starts with a discovery call. If a case falls outside the standard program, we will let you know and walk you through the Behavioral Intervention Program.
What happens to unused hours?
Before your 18 months are up, you can gift remaining hours to someone in your community or auction them to recover funding. You can also purchase another 30 hours at any time.
Is staff training included in the partner programs?
No. Staff development is its own offering with custom quotes, covering topics like body language, enrichment, kennel stress, and volunteer and foster onboarding.
Do you work outside the Coachella Valley?
Yes. We partner with organizations across Southern California, including Riverside, San Bernardino, Los Angeles, Orange, San Diego, Imperial, and Ventura counties, and offer virtual support beyond Southern California.
About Esperanza's Sanctuary
Esperanza's Sanctuary Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit animal rescue and regenerative community farm in Sky Valley, California. Every farm animal in our care came from Riverside County or another animal control shelter, pulled at the very end of their time. We know shelter work from the inside, and we built these programs to protect the placements you fight so hard to make.
Training and behavior work is led by Tabitha Davies, Co-Director, the Coachella Valley's only dual credentialed dog trainer and behavior consultant, with a national shelter and rescue consulting practice focused on process improvement, staff development, and proactive behavior support.
Credentials
CPDT-KA
ACDBC
Fear Free Shelter Certified
AKC CGC Evaluator
Nonprofit information
EIN 87-4749533
CA Charity Registration CT0297516