Animals are abandoned daily, starving and neglected. To prevent this, our programs educate pet owners, assist the impoverished, promote adoptions and improve shelter conditions nationwide.

Stella

A lost, strayed, or abandoned Chow mix in the dog shelter world, is in double trouble. It's often labeled aggressive just by breed, and black mixed breeds often go un-adopted, as poorly lit kennels may prevent adopters from seeing their friendly facial expressions.

From injury or abuse, Stella had also lost one front paw.

That was Stella, a 3 legged black Chow mix, found by animal control in South Carolina, un-claimed, unwanted and injured in a small shelter with way more adoptable dogs than adopters.

Could Stella's luck change? AFA's mobile outreach program, Training Wheels, was nearby, teaching local shelters about bringing supplies into their communities, and stemming pet overpopulation with free spay-neutering for needy owners, BEFORE unwanted litters are born.

AFA's Assess-A-Pet evaluator, accompanying Training Wheels, searches local shelters for friendly dogs, regardless of breed, color, age or condition. Stella was spotted as a wonderful dog requiring medical care. Stella was transported north to an AFA facility. Partnering nationwide, with rural shelters having limited resources but many great dogs, AFA transfers adoptable dogs to shelters with empty kennels and many adopters.

Through AFA's Train-to-Adopt, Stella received the physical, emotional and behavioral help needed to find a loving home.