I have years of experience volunteering with various charities from around the country.  Though I have seen all the good that these charities/rescues have done for the well being of the animals, I have also witnessed the misuse of charitable donations.  It's all too common for donations to be spent on well-intentioned ideas and extravagant overhead, as opposed to directly helping the animals.  Consequently, I have selected the charities listed below because I have seen firsthand how effectively they use each dollar to save and improve the lives of animals in need.

PAWED - People for Animal Welfare in El Dorado County
www.pawedpets.org

Sierra Wildlife Rescue
www.sierrawildliferescue.com

HartSong Ranch
hartsongranch.org