Our Story
Since 2006, Anna Pet Rescue has saved and placed in forever homes more than 16,000 dogs and cats that would otherwise have been abandoned or killed. This success is the legacy of Daina Lewis.
Judge Daina Lewis became involved in animal rescue in the late 1960s, when another animal-related organization trapped a feral mother dog and puppies on the family’s property. Although Daina fought to save them, all were ultimately euthanized by the animal organization that had trapped them. Daina, who had been only vaguely aware of the plight of homeless animals prior to this tragedy, joined a series of animal rescue organizations believing she could prevent this kind of incident from happening to other innocent animals. Failing to find an organization that adhered to a strict no-kill policy, Daina founded her own organization, Anna Pet Rescue for Shelter and Guardians of the Homeless Animals. Since then, she has devoted the remaining years of her life to the rescue and care of homeless animals.
Who We Are!
Animals need us. They need us now. Animals all over world are being killed, tortured, starved to death, abandoned. The law isn’t protecting them well enough and it’s up to foundations like ours to reach out and help. We want to do everything in our power to help the animals in need. We started as a group of volunteers, united by their love for animals. Our devotion to rescuing, caring and finding new homes for stray dogs and cats helped a lot of animals be saved. Inspired by these results, our co-founder decided to set up our animal rescue foundation – “Anna Pet Rescue”.
Our No-Kill Philosophy
Our No-Kill Philosophy and Lifetime Commitment to Our Animals Anna Pet Rescue makes a lifetime commitment to every cat and dog we bring into our organization. If at any time after an adoption is completed, the adopter can no longer care for the animal for any reason, they must return it to us. Anna Pet Rescue is committed to taking that animal back and searching for its new home. This is written into every adoption contract signed by our adopters.
We are also committed to keeping our long-term, harder-to-adopt resident dogs comfortable at our shelter in their own individual homes equipped with a bed, front porch, turf outdoor running area, and air-conditioning and heat. We are a true no-kill organization that rarely performs euthanasia except in situations where animals are suffering and can’t be helped medically.
Vision & Mission
Our Vision
Giving animals the best chance of a happy and healthy life.
Our Purpose
We care for lost dogs, cats and other companion animals. We reunite lost pets with their families, find new homes for others, and always seek the best possible outcomes for all animals that come into our care.
Our Strategic Pillars
1. Compassionate care for our animals.
2. A modern and sustainable charity.
3. A trusted and ethical partner.
4. An employer of choice.
5. A fierce advocate for animal welfare.
Why Choose Us
Our organization was founded on the belief that animals are entitled to kind and respectful treatment at the hands of humans and must be protected under the law. We maintains a strong local presence, and with programs that extend our anti-cruelty mission across the country, we are recognized as an animal welfare organization. We are a privately funded not-for-profit corporation, and are proud to boast more than 95, 000 supporters across the country.
The Daina’s mission, as stated by founder, is “to provide effective means for the prevention of cruelty to animals.”
“In January of 2021 I started volunteering at Anna Pet Rescue. It was the greatest decision of my life! I mentioned that if they ever got a tuxedo with a white-tipped tail, I would want him. Two weeks later, Piglet, now known as Roscoe, showed up. What a guy he turned out to be. He follows me all over the house, greets me at the door with a “meow” when I come home, and snuggles in bed sometimes, and I would not have it any other way. He settled in with my nine other indoor cats, all rescues, very easily!”
“Though living with Buttercup, the bulldog whom we adopted from Anna Pet Rescue in April 20122, can be challenging, it has also been incredibly rewarding. A puppy-mill rescue, she has many quirks and behaviors that we’d never encountered before with our other dogs. Anna Pet Rescue has been wonderful in terms of helping us to smooth through the rough patches. Watching Buttercup blossom has been deeply rewarding for us all.”
“Over the last two years we’ve learned a lot from Beaker (like why he was named Rocket while at Anna Pet Rescue!). We’ve certainly had some challenges, but he has made tremendous progress and has taught us to be more patient and to enjoy the small things in life. We couldn’t be happier! Beaker is a great companion, whether we’re running, hiking, or just sitting at home. We can’t imagine our lives without him! Thank you for bringing him into our lives.
“I had the most wonderful experience adopting a dog from Anna Pet Rescue this summer. Biscuit is a year-old terrier mix and the absolute sweetest girl, and she came house-trained, too. Everyone who sees her loves her, and she has settled in perfectly.. She loves my two cats, although it’s not entirely mutual! I can’t say enough about Anna Pet Rescue. They have an experienced, caring staff, and I highly recommend this rescue organization without reservation!”
“Finn has fit so wonderfully into our home, with 15-year- old feline brother Weezer and 11-year-old canine brother Harley (an Anna Pet Rescue as well!). He is so loving and purrs all the time. He is very well behaved and never uses his claws on people, animals, or furniture. He made a wonderful addition to our family! Thank you for the gift of Finn.”
“We adopted Tatze and Felix as kittens, thanks to Rita Del Rey, who rescued them from a feral colony on the North Fork. They have become famous on Facebook because they are so cute together that we are often posting pictures and videos of them. They are very sweet and give us lots of laughs!”