Stories of care, patience, and new beginnings from the animals and people of Pets In Need
Where It Begins
There is a moment I often notice at this time of year.
The number of animals needing our support begins to increase each day. The light lingers longer in the evening, and so do adopters in our shelters. And throughout our spaces, there is a more urgent kind of energy. More movement. More tiny voices. More life. More need, and therefore more opportunities for loving healing and stories of overcoming.
Spring has a way of reminding us of what is possible.
At Pets In Need, we begin to see it everywhere. In the puppy discovering how to play again. In the dog taking careful steps after surgery. In the cat, once unsure, slowly leaning into a gentle hand.
These moments may seem small, but they are nothing but.
They are part of each animal’s journey. A journey that often begins with uncertainty and possibly fear or pain. And, with the right care, time, compassion, and medical and behavioral intervention, can lead somewhere entirely new.
In the stories that follow, you will meet animals who arrived in very different circumstances, each one requiring something unique. What they share is what happened next:
The chance to move forward.
The chance to trust again.
The chance to find a home is great.
With your generous partnership, we Connect hearts. Complete homes.
With gratitude,
Laura Toller Gardner
Chief Executive Officer
Care in Action
The box was small, but inside were seven young puppies pressed closely together, each one trying to settle against the other.
They had likely been uncomfortable for some time. Patches of fur were missing, their skin irritated, and they scratched often, never quite able to rest. At that age, puppies should be exploring, playing, and discovering the world around them. Instead, these seven were simply trying to find relief.
They arrived during an already busy start to the year. After placing 134 animals into homes in December, our team welcomed 137 more in January, each with their own needs and circumstances.
Ringworm, while treatable, requires consistency and care. It spreads easily, not only between animals but also to people, which means thoughtful handling, careful separation, intense cleaning and treatment are essential from the very beginning. For young puppies, it is especially uncomfortable, affecting their ability to rest, play, and settle into a normal routine.
From the moment they arrived, our team began that process. Medical staff started treatment right away, while animal care staff prepared clean, separate spaces to prevent the spread. At the same time, our behavior team helped ensure each puppy remained engaged and comforted, even while apart, and our foster team prepared for the next stage of their care.
Over the following weeks, their progress came in small but meaningful ways. With regular treatment and steady care, their skin began to improve, and the constant scratching eased. As they became more comfortable, they started to rest more easily and, in time, began to play and interact in the way young puppies naturally do. They also started to gain weight, which is critical for their long-term thriving.
What followed felt simple, but it was the result of many thoughtful, coordinated steps along the way. As they grew stronger, their personalities began to emerge, and with that came the opportunity to connect with the people around them. Their emotional and behavioral maturing at each stage is crucial for their long-term well-being. Our staff and volunteers ensured that they never lost out on important behavioral growth and engagement because of their need for special care.
In time, each puppy fully recovered and found a loving home.
Their journey is a reminder that what happens after intake matters just as much as the moment an animal arrives. With the right care, even a difficult beginning can move, steadily and quietly, toward a brighter future.
Care Considered
Sweet pup Allie arrived alongside her sibling, Coco, after their owner was no longer able to keep them due to financial hardship.
Situations like this are becoming more common. Families facing housing challenges are often left with difficult decisions, and Allie, it meant leaving behind the only home she had known. The routines, the familiar spaces, and the person she trusted and deeply loved were suddenly no longer part of her daily life.
Coco adjusted quickly and was soon ready for adoption. Allie needed more time.
During Allie’s intake evaluation, our medical team noticed a slight abnormality in the way she walked. It was subtle and warranted for more advanced assessment. Further evaluation revealed that Allie would need a complex orthopedic procedure to restore stability in her leg, and that without it the situation could become debilitating.
Moments like these require careful consideration. The decision is not simply about what can be done, but what will give an animal the best opportunity for a high-quality life moving forward. What is in that animal’s best interest, short and long term.
Since May of last year, Pets In Need has performed 1,820 surgical procedures for shelter and community animals, each reflecting that same dedication to providing animals with a high-quality life. Allie’s procedure was part of that dedication.
Following surgery, her recovery required time, consistency for her rehabilitation, and a calm, quiet environment where her activity is closely monitored and managed. Through our foster program, Allie was placed in a home where she could heal away from the activity of the shelter, with the structure and support needed for a successful recovery.
Over the weeks that followed, her strength returned gradually. With careful monitoring and steady care, she regained stability in her leg and began to move with greater confidence.
Today, Allie continues to complete her recovery and is back with us, spending her days meeting potential adopters, greeting new friends, and taking in the world around her.
She is ready for what comes next.
For the person who ultimately adopts her, it may begin with a walk, a quiet moment, or the simple recognition of a familiar and inspiring kind of connection. And from there, something new will take shape, and it will include love and a hopeful future together.
Care with Patience
Louie spent most of her life in one home.
For seven years, she knew the same routines, the same spaces, and the steady presence of the family who raised her and adored her. When she returned to Pets In Need due to severe allergies in the household, that sense of familiarity was suddenly gone.
Transitions like this can take time, especially for animals who have only known one environment. While Louie’s physical health was stable, it became clear that her adjustment to shelter life, and the loss of her family, would be more gradual.
In her first days with us, she kept to herself and showed little interest in food. The sounds and rhythms of the shelter were unfamiliar, and she needed space and time to understand that everyone loved her and was there to help her.
Our behavior team worked closely with staff and volunteers to create an approach tailored to her needs. The focus was simple and intentional: consistency, quiet, gentle interaction, and allowing Louie to move at her own pace. Time was an important part of her care, just as much as anything else. There was no rush to getting her back to “normal”. Ever. Louie received loving kindness, patience, and reassurance that she was safe.
Over the days that followed, small changes began to emerge. She started eating more regularly, spending time outside of her resting space, and showing moments of curiosity about the people around her.
Earlier this year, Louie was adopted into her new home, where she had the opportunity to settle into a new routine and build a new sense of connection.
Since May of last year, Pets In Need has served more than 9,800 animals. As we look ahead to kitten season, when many more animals come through our doors, Louie’s experience is a reminder that each animal’s journey is different. Some require medical care, others' behavioral support, and many need both. All require time, attention, and a compassionate approach to help them move forward.
Because of You
What stands out to me in these stories is how different each animal’s journey can be, and how much care it takes to support each one along the way.
That work is not always visible, but it is steady, thoughtful, and deeply important.
On average, it costs $1,300 to care for each animal who comes through our doors, reflecting the full scope of support that makes each outcome possible.
Recently, we traveled to Los Angeles to assist with a large-scale hoarding case, welcoming animals into our care so others in immediate crisis could be brought to safety. It was one of many moments that remind us how important it is to be ready to respond when animals need us most.
At the same time, our work remains deeply rooted here at home. Since May of last year, we have helped 1,536 animals find homes, with 88% of those animals coming from within our own community.
Our commitment is to our community, our neighbors, and animals across the Bay Area, and in extraordinary circumstances, to step in where we are needed.
And it is only possible because of you.
When a pet is in need, we are here for what comes next.
At Pets In Need, were walking alongside them every step of the way. I am hopeful for all that lies ahead this year, and grateful for the role you play in helping us care for the animals and people who rely on us.
Together, we ensure that every animal has the opportunity to move forward. Thank you for supporting us in this work all year long.
With gratitude,
Laura Toller Gardner
Chief Executive Officer