How to Foster, Volunteer, or Donate to Lhasa Happy Homes

Updated

Lhasa Happy Homes (LHH) offers three main ways to help beyond adopting: fostering, volunteering, and donating. All three start on the same website, lhasahappyhomes.org, where each has its own application or donation page. Fostering and volunteering both require submitting an application through the site; donating can be done directly, and LHH also lists ongoing fundraising programs. There is no public viewing facility, so most hands-on help happens through the foster network and at the organization's bi-monthly adoption events in Santa Monica.

Fostering with Lhasa Happy Homes

LHH describes itself as a "rescue and foster-care organization," which means foster homes are central to how it operates. The site has a dedicated Foster section with a Foster FAQ and a Foster Application, and the homepage includes a "Foster Help Needed – APPLY NOW!" prompt, indicating ongoing demand.

To start:

  1. Go to lhasahappyhomes.org and open the Foster section.
  2. Read the Foster FAQ to understand what fostering involves before committing.
  3. Complete the Foster Application linked from that section.

The site does not publish specific foster terms (such as duration, supply coverage, or which dogs need homes) in the material available here, so treat the Foster FAQ as the place to confirm those details before applying.

Volunteering with Lhasa Happy Homes

LHH maintains a Volunteer section with a Volunteer FAQ, a page describing Our Volunteer Team, and a Volunteer Application. As with fostering, the path is: review the FAQ, then submit the application through the website.

Because LHH has no public viewing facility, volunteer work is tied to its events and operations rather than a shelter location. The adoption events are held:

  • 2nd and 4th Sunday of each month, 11am – 2:30pm
  • 2116 Main Street, Santa Monica, CA 90405
  • Metered street parking

The site advises checking the calendar for changes or cancellations due to holidays or weather. If you want to volunteer at an event, confirm current needs through the Volunteer section before showing up.

Donating to Lhasa Happy Homes

Donations are accepted through the site's Donate section ("Make a Donation"). LHH also lists several ongoing ways to give:

Program What it is
Make a Donation Direct donation page on the website
Urgent Fundraisers Time-sensitive fundraising appeals
Ralph's Program Grocery-linked fundraising program
Amazon Smile Shopping-linked donation program

Note that Amazon Smile was discontinued by Amazon, so that particular program may no longer be active even though it still appears on the site. Check the Donate section for what is currently running.

What Lhasa Happy Homes Is

Founded in April 2001, Lhasa Happy Homes Rescue, Inc. is a private, non-profit 501(c)3 rescue and foster-care organization based in Santa Monica, CA. It specializes in Lhasa Apso, Shih Tzu, and Maltese, and also rescues other small mixed breeds under 20 lbs. The organization states it has saved over 3,000 dogs since its inception, focusing on sick, displaced, and at-risk dogs.

Choosing How to Help

  • Foster if you can provide a temporary home and want the most direct impact on a dog's path to adoption. Requires the Foster Application.
  • Volunteer if you want to help at events or with operations without taking a dog home. Requires the Volunteer Application.
  • Donate if you want to support the rescue financially or through linked programs, with no application needed.

All three routes are reachable from lhasahappyhomes.org, and the site's FAQ pages are the best source for current requirements before you apply.