First and foremost, Pets In Need aims to find caring and suitable homes for animals who are homeless. We pay particular attention to finding just that right match for each of our animals and human clients through the following five programs:

Sheltered Animals:

All dogs and cats who come to the shelter are guests at Pets In Need until a loving home is found. These pets are health checked, vaccinated, given veterinary care if needed and spayed/neutered. All dogs are exercised regularly. Many of these animals are given special training and handling to enhance their social skills. All potential adopters go through an adoption process to determine suitability. They are fully apprised of the animal's behavior profile and personality, and may receive a home visit by a PIN Adoption Counselor to ensure a smooth transition.

Foster Homes:

We have a dedicated corps of Foster Parent volunteers who care for animals with special needs and would benefit from special in-home training or have medical conditions that are being treated.

Foster Kitten Rescue:

This life-saving program provides special training for Foster Kitten volunteers to learn to care for unweaned kittens, who would be killed in most other shelters. These volunteers then provide foster care for the kittens at home until there are old enough to be made available for adoption.

Referral Service:

Pets In Need doesn't stop with just our shelter dogs and cats. We maintain an active Referral Service matching qualified adopters with pets still maintained in the home of the original caregiver.

Education:

The Pets In Need Education Program begins with the adoption applicants, who receive one-on-one counseling on animals issues such as basic care, exercise requirements, training and health care. Additionally, written information on these topics is available to the public on request.

Subsidized and Free Veterinary Care

The Mahoney Fund realizes a dream of Jean Mahoney to ensure that all people can have the companionship of a pet regardless of their financial circumstance. Pets In Need provides assistance to low-income individuals for veterinary care, including spaying and neutering for their dogs and cats, on a funds available basis.

The Crockett Memorial Fund was established to facilitate the important animal human bond for senior citizens. Pets In Need assists these individuals with veterinary care. Regular clinics are held at Senior Centers throughout the area. Senior citizens can bring their companion pets for an examination by a veterinarian and vaccinations for only five dollars. Low-income seniors can also obtain assistance for other more comprehensive veterinary care through the Crockett Memorial Fund.

Call Pets In Need at (650) 367-1405 for information about the time and location of the next Crockett Clinic or for more information about these programs.

Community Services

Pets In Need was one of the early private animal welfare organizations to form partnerships with the local city and county animal control centers to help these agencies place some of their adoptable dogs and cats rather than kill them. We take dogs and cats from county animal shelters through our Animal Rescue Program.

PIN offers regular dog training classes (Canine College) and special help with pet behavior problems. Canine students can earn diplomas for Puppy, Beginning, Intermediate and Advanced Obedience Training classes.

Pets In Need also takes an active role in reuniting lost pets with their care-givers by providing resource information to callers who have lost pet companions and also by maintaining a current listing of reported missing animals through our Lost and Found Program.