OUR STORY
Valley Animal Center houses thousands of dogs and cats annually until they are placed in loving homes. Majority of our shelter animals are rescued from local animal control agencies who have no more space for their animals. Even animals who have been abused, mistreated, abandoned, and injured are cared for and nurtured until a loving home is ready to adopt them.
We are easily accessible to the residents of the entire six-county region it serves. Even individuals from out of the area and out of state have come to Valley Animal Center to adopt animals from us and utilize our clinic services.
Our mission is to unite dogs and cat with loving people but it does not simply end at the adoption process. With our low-cost clinic, a membership-based dog park, and humane education resources found on our website, we want to ensure our community has easy access to resources that will help them along in their pet ownership journey to become happy furever home with their furry companions.
Upon entering the shelter, cats are tested for Feline AIDS and Feline Leukemia. Both dogs and cats are spayed or neutered, fully vaccinated, microchipped, and administered any additional medical care as needed. Even those once considered un-adoptable due to their medical conditions or disabilities have been rehabilitated and, ultimately, adopted into loving families.
As a no-kill shelter, any animals we take in stay with us until they have found a furever home. Euthanasia is performed only when an animal is suffering from a serious illness that cannot be cured or is in such a painful condition that cannot be alleviated.
Day-to-day shelter capacity can comfortably accommodate more than 100 dogs and 300 cats, and our emergency capacity can accommodate 200 dogs and 500 cats.
Valley Animal Center is a community-supported organization. Financial support is derived solely through donations from the community, grants, program services, and fundraising efforts. Unlike traditional shelters, no funds are received from government sources.
Our state-of-the-art Dog and Cat Adoption Centers emphasize comfortable and sanitary conditions. Separate dog and cat living quarters allow indoor/outdoor access and exposure to fresh air and natural sunlight. All employees adhere to strict cleaning and maintenance protocol. Antimicrobial flooring throughout the facility, along with an air-ventilation system which completely exchanges the air in all animal areas, are in place to combat the spread of any illnesses that may arise.
OUR HISTORY
In 1992, Valley Animal Center's predecessor, the California Feline Foundation, was founded in Downtown Fresno as a no-kill shelter for cats.
Thanks to the generosity and support of the community, along with the dedication and hard work of countless volunteers and staff members, this humble, no-kill cat sanctuary grew to include a low-cost spay and neuter clinic and eventually became a no-kill shelter for dogs, also.
The Greater Fresno Area has long had a need for no-kill humane efforts due to the unfortunate fact that the San Joaquin Valley has one of the highest euthanasia rates in the United States. Our high stray population contributes to this dilemma. For years, Fresno County's animal control agencies have been overburdened with stray and surrendered dogs and cats. A variety of factors have contributed to the severe overpopulation and under-adoption of dogs and cats. These factors include:
- a historical lack of a progressive animal welfare presence
- insufficient public awareness regarding the importance of spaying and neutering
- a temperate Central Valley climate which has allowed for higher than average reproductive rates
Valley Animal Center, along with numerous no-kill shelters in the area, are working together to try and stop the use of euthanasia by rescuing animals from animal control agencies.
Valley Animal Center is taking the lead on reducing the use of euthanasia and to help decrease the stray population. There are many ways we go about accomplishing this. Our low cost clinic offers affordable spay/neuter services as well as other comprehensive veterinary care. We offer humane education to the public on how to be responsible pet owners. Finally, we rescue animals from animal control facilities whose time has run out and bring them to our facility for another chance at finding a forever home.
