Tehama County's Animal Rescue Hero: Karen Hansen's Heart of Gold
- Kari Chilson
- Jan 15
- 4 min read
Updated: Jan 16
"Be the change you wish to see in the world." ~ Mahatma Gandhi
These words aren't just a motto for Karen Hansen—they're the heartbeat of her extraordinary life. At 70, this tireless hero behind CATZ and DOGZ of the North State Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in Cottonwood, California, has turned her 10-acre property into a sanctuary of hope for countless abandoned, abused, and forgotten cats and dogs. In a rural region where animal suffering often goes unseen, Karen's unwavering compassion shines as a beacon in the North State.
A Heart Called to Action
Karen moved from the Bay Area to Northern California in the early 1990s. She was shocked to discover widespread animal neglect and abuse in the area. Unable to turn away, she stepped up, volunteering at local animal shelters and becoming the first in Tehama County to start a "Pet of the Week" feature to highlight adoptable pets and raise awareness of the many animals in need of adoption.
Eventually, Karen founded her own rescue, CATZ and DOGZ of the North State, pouring herself into nurturing the many injured and abandoned animals she takes under her care and finding them families who will cherish them forever. "I love animals... and people who love animals," she says. "There's just a different connection with people who actually care."
A Labor of Love: Daily Rituals of Care, Cost, and Hope
A typical day for Karen starts at 5 a.m.: feeding dozens of cats, dogs, puppies, and kittens. She lets her dogs out to play in their specialized pens and, after several hours outside, it's on to cleaning and laundry. She then shifts to adoption paperwork. She screens applications meticulously, checks references, conducts home visits, and offers trial periods, supplies, and ongoing support to ensure perfect matches.
Food, grooming, and litter cost over $400 monthly—excluding vet bills, medications, specialized food, or emergencies. Donations keep her rescue running, but Karen is frequently forced to use her own funds.
Adoption fees offset costs, yet some potential adopters resist them, unaware of the sacrifices. Every adoption is screened with care because she won't settle for anything less than the right fit for her babies. And when they leave for new lives filled with wagging tails and contented purrs, that's the fuel that keeps her going.
Tears, Triumphs, and Unbreakable Bonds: The True Heart of Rescue
Animal rescue work is heroic but grueling. Karen has entered homeless camps to negotiate and pay for the release of neglected pets, pulled animals from abusive environments, and tackled large-scale hoarding cases (like rescuing 19 cats from one property). "It's really hard," she confesses. "People in rescue cry a lot."
An example of Karen’s rescues involved a pair of kittens. One had a very serious eye infection that required special medical attention to save her from blindness. The other had four deformed legs; she rubbed his legs daily and stretched them so that eventually he could walk.
One heartbreaking yet triumphant story is Chloe, a fearful Shih Tzu mix riddled with worms and prone to biting. Karen spent six months gently and patiently earning her trust. Releasing Chloe to the perfect, patient adopter was tough—but seeing her thrive in her new home made it worth it. She still keeps in contact with Chloe’s new family after several years.
Beyond her own rescues, Karen traps feral cats—a critical effort to control exponential population growth. "Feral cats are in danger of many things and often go hungry," she explains. "They can't just live off mice."
A Dream Worth Fighting For
Karen dreams big: low-cost spay/neuter clinics in every town and limits on breeding to end the heartbreak of overpopulation. In places like Shasta and Tehama counties, where so many animals suffer in silence, her vision could change everything.
Karen uses Petfinder and the CATZ and DOGZ of the North State Facebook page to raise awareness and help find the right fit for her rescues and for other rescues as well. Through collaboration and tireless social media updates, her heroism touches even more lives.
Karen Hansen isn't just rescuing animals—she's restoring faith in humanity, one animal at a time.
Here are some links to find out more:
● Website: www.catzanddogzofthenorthstate.com
● Contact: 530-527-9369
● Donations: Venmo @Karen-Hansen-136
Adopt, donate, or share her story. Together, we can be the change these animals desperately need.
