Yucaipa Animal Placement Society (YAPS)
No-Kill Animal Rescue | Since 1957
Yucaipa Animal Placement Society (YAPS) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, no-kill animal welfare organization dedicated to reducing pet homelessness, supporting responsible pet ownership, and ensuring every adoptable dog and cat has the opportunity to live a healthy, safe, and loved life. Founded in 1957, YAPS is one of the longest-standing animal welfare organizations in Southern California. For nearly seven decades, we have served as a compassionate lifeline for vulnerable animals while also supporting families, seniors, veterans, and community members who rely on our programs to help keep pets safe and out of shelters.
Mission Statement
YAPS’ mission is to provide care, rehabilitation, and rehoming for homeless dogs and cats, prevent unnecessary euthanasia, and strengthen the bond between people and pets through community support, education, and accessible resources.
What We Do
YAPS rescues animals facing homelessness, abandonment, owner surrender, overcrowded shelters, and crisis situations. Many of the animals we serve arrive with medical needs, behavioral concerns, or emotional trauma. Each pet receives individualized care including veterinary treatment, vaccinations, microchipping, spay/neuter, enrichment, training, and compassionate handling to prepare them for adoption into loving homes. We pride ourselves on being a no-kill organization, meaning animals remain under our care until they are adopted, regardless of how long that takes.
Beyond direct rescue, YAPS plays a critical role in the community through programs designed to prevent shelter surrender and reduce unnecessary euthanasia. These initiatives support pet owners experiencing hardship, help keep families together, and reduce strain on municipal shelters.
Core Programs and Services
• Adoption & Rehoming: Safe intake, quality veterinary care, socialization, enrichment, and careful adoption placement for homeless dogs and cats. We prioritize thoughtful matching to ensure lifelong homes.
• Medical Support & Rehabilitation: Many animals come to us injured, ill, neglected, or senior. YAPS invests in veterinary care, diagnostics, surgeries, medications, and ongoing management so animals receive a true second chance.
• Community Support & Safety-Net Services: To help prevent surrender, YAPS assists families facing hardship through resource referrals, education, and compassionate guidance when they face difficult pet decisions.
• Pet Pantry Support (as available): Assistance efforts to support families in times of need so pets can remain safe in loving homes instead of entering shelters.
• Humane Education & Outreach: Public education initiatives promote responsible pet ownership, spay/neuter awareness, microchipping, and the importance of adoption. We serve as a trusted community partner and advocate for animal welfare across the Inland Empire.
• Volunteer & Community Engagement: YAPS relies on volunteers and community partners to expand capacity, provide enrichment, exercise, socialization, foster support, and event assistance. Our volunteers are a vital part of animal care and lifesaving outcomes.
Impact and Reach
Each year, YAPS cares for hundreds of animals through intake, medical care, rehabilitation, and adoption services. Our organization has helped thousands of dogs and cats find loving homes over the past 68+ years. We support families across Yucaipa, San Bernardino County, Riverside County, and surrounding regions by offering compassionate solutions that keep animals safe, reduce shelter overcrowding, and improve overall community welfare.
Beyond numbers, our true measure of success is seen in the thousands of lives saved, the senior pets who experience comfort again, frightened animals who learn to trust, and families whose lives are forever changed through adoption. Every adoption represents a second chance—not just for that pet, but for the family that welcomes them.
Our Values
• Compassion: Every animal is treated with dignity, respect, and kindness.
• No-Kill Commitment: We do not euthanize animals due to time, space, age, or treatable condition.
• Stewardship: We exercise strong financial responsibility and ethical governance to honor donor trust.
• Community Partnership: We collaborate with shelters, rescues, veterinarians, civic partners, and compassionate citizens to create a safety net for animals.
• Excellence in Care: We maintain high standards for housing, enrichment, medical support, and quality-of-life outcomes.
Governance and Accountability
YAPS is governed by a Board of Directors and operated by experienced animal welfare professionals supported by trained volunteers. As a nonprofit organization, we rely solely on donations, grants, fundraising events, and community support. YAPS does not receive city, state, or federal funding. Financial transparency, ethical practices, and responsible stewardship guide all operations.
Funding Needs and Sustainability
Operational funding supports daily animal care, staffing, veterinary expenses, enrichment, facility maintenance, community outreach, and lifesaving programming. Veterinary care remains our largest expense as we frequently care for senior pets, medical cases, neglected animals, and emergency rescues requiring hospitalization or specialized care.
To sustain and expand our services, YAPS relies on individual donors, monthly supporters, corporate partners, grant funding, special events, charitable foundations, planned giving, sponsorships, and in-kind contributions. Every dollar directly impacts animals in our care and strengthens our ability to serve the region.
How Donors Are Recognized
We proudly recognize supporters through facility signage, social media acknowledgments, website recognition, event appreciation, donor-sponsored kennels or programs, naming opportunities, and personalized gratitude communications. We honor donor intent and celebrate the generosity that makes our work possible.
Why YAPS Matters
Animal welfare is not simply about adoption; it is about compassion, community stability, public health, and human well-being. When pets remain in safe homes instead of entering already overwhelmed municipal shelters, communities thrive. When animals receive medical care and love instead of neglect, society becomes kinder. YAPS exists to ensure that compassion remains accessible, lifesaving work continues, and vulnerable animals are never forgotten.
Join Us
Whether you adopt, foster, volunteer, donate, sponsor, or advocate, your support saves lives. Together, we can continue protecting animals, strengthening families, and building a more humane future.
Organization Information
Yucaipa Animal Placement Society (YAPS)
Nonprofit 501(c)(3) – Tax ID available upon request
Serving Southern California, primarily San Bernardino County and surrounding communities
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