About Us

History:

In January of 2010, Have A Heart Humane Society, a 501(c)(3) non-profit charity, was founded by Ted And Chelly Kitzmiller. Volunteers came forth, adoption days were scheduled, pets were brought into foster homes

Foster homes are the key to the success of an organization like Have A Heart. Instead of warehousing the pets in cold steel cages, Have A Heart’s pets are housed in loving homes where the animals can be socialized, potty trained and given basic training commands, all of which makes them more adoptable.

In early 2016, long-time board member, Carol Larimore, became the president of Have a Heart Humane Society.   We have continued to grow, and in 2023, we moved to our current location.

Mission:

Have a Heart Humane Society believes that cats and dogs enrich, heal and transform our lives. We believe that each cat and dog deserves a caring home and a safe, healthy environment in which to live.

To fulfill our mission, Have a Heart Humane Society works with local shelters, and when able owners who have to surrender their pets animals, provide spay/neuter programs, educate the greater Tehachapi community about responsible pet ownership, and partner with local organizations to develop and share resources for animal welfare.