January 2024, we will be folding into the C.A.R.E.4Paws umbrella of programs and services. A strategic transition to more efficiently care for our community and the animals who need us the most.

The origins of AINF...

The Animals In Need Fund was founded in 2008 with the commitment to help improve the health and 

well-being of cats and dogs in our community. It is our mission to reduce animal suffering by:

• Providing feline spaying & neutering services for just $20 or $40
• Rescuing & advocating for homeless cats, kittens & dogs, many of whom need special veterinary care & treatment.
• Providing food, fostering & adoption services to family-less animals in our program as we search for the perfect home. 
• Provide accessible, affordable veterinary care for families. 

When we began in 2008, our main mission was to intercept stray cats and dogs brought to us by Good Samaritans and San Luis Obispo County Animal Services. We still provide this service, but have become so much more.

We are proud to offer LOW COST ($20-$40) "co-pay" feline spays and neuters to everyone regardless of financial standing. In 2023, AINF increased access to these critical weekly spay/neuter programs by also partnering with VCA South County Veterinary Hospital in Arroyo Grande. 

Since our inception, we have provided shelter, love and veterinary care to over 3900 homeless animals, many with special medical needs, lifting them up in times of worry and matching them with loving forever homes. 

We participate in the SLO County Animal Services' Trap/Neuter/Return program, which saves the lives of our unsocial community cats. They are spayed or neutered, vaccinated and then returned safely to the neighborhood they are familiar with while community members provide food and water. In year's past, prior to the TNR initiatives, these cats were euthanized immediately and it has been proven that this method is not successful when it comes to curbing the pet-overpopulation issue we face year in and year out. TNR improves the lives of cats, addresses community concerns, reduces complaints about cats, and stops the breeding cycle. TNR improves the co-existence between outdoor cats and humans in our shared environment.