The Animal In Need Foundation (AINF) is a foundation that was founded in 2007 on the initiative of three Dutch ladies. The main goal of the foundation is to improve the living conditions of stray dogs in Europe. A group of passionate volunteers is strongly committed to this. AINF is an idealistic foundation, all income will fully benefit the dogs.
What does AINF do?
AINF helps to make life as pleasant as possible for dogs in captivity and offers assistance in reducing the number of stray dogs (in practice these are dogs from Spain). AINF does this by:
- To mediate in adoptions of stray dogs in Europe
- Provide financial assistance to asylum seekers in Europe
- Carrying out preventive activities, such as setting up castration and sterilization programs
Since 2009, AINF has a permanent partnership with asylum SPAMA from Gandia in Spain. Taking care of all dogs and keeping them healthy costs a lot of money. Investments must also be made on a project basis in order to realize improvements in the field of health care and maintenance of the shelter. The shelter itself does not have sufficient funds, so AINF offers help with the realization of projects.
The number of dogs in the shelter in Gandia has been reduced from 850 to 150 in early 2016. Due to the success of the cooperation with shelter SPAMA, AINF is investigating the possibility of supporting a second shelter in Spain. This project is still under development (status February 2016).
How do you adopt a dog?
Dogs in Spain
On the AINF website you will find photos (sometimes also film material) and short descriptions of all the dogs that you can adopt. If you are interested in a dog, you can make this known to AINF. AINF provides extensive information about everything that is involved when you take a foreign stray dog or shelter dog into your home. Any adjustment problems are also discussed. Of course AINF also wants to receive the necessary information from possible future owners. In addition, if there is serious interest in a dog, a home visit will be made by AINF. The interest of the dog is paramount, so AINF would like to form a picture of the possible future home situation with its own eyes. When both AINF and the future owner of the dog are positive about an adoption, an adoption contract can be signed.
Dogs in the Netherlands
A number of foreign dogs already end up in a foster family in the Netherlands before they are adopted. These are dogs, which are not doing well in the shelter for various reasons. Either way, these are dogs deemed fit for adoption. Dogs that come back from an adoption (for example due to illness or divorce from the owners or because there appears to be no connection between the owner and the dog) also end up in a reception family. In general, the chance of placement is greater when a dog is already staying with a foster family in the Netherlands. In addition to taking care of the shelter, the foster family also ensures further socialization of the dog. The possible future owner can meet the dog and the foster family can create a good picture of the dog.
Cost of adoption
As soon as the adoption contract has been signed, the adoption amount of 250 euros can be transferred to AINF (an elderly dog has a lower adoption rate). The adoption amount is based on the average costs that must be incurred to prepare a dog for travel and to bring it to the Netherlands. Think about:
- Investigate any illnesses
- Vaccinations against various diseases
- Castration / sterilization
- Chip
- European pet passport
- Travel ticket for flight attendant and dog
Travel and transfer
It takes at least three weeks for a dog to be completely ready to travel. (If one of the blood tests turns out to be positive, the owner will be notified and informed of the consequences of the disease. Adoption of the dog may be waived, the adoption amount will be refunded in that case.) dog makes the trip together with a flight attendant, a volunteer. The transfer of the dog to the new owners is done at the home of the chairman of AINF in the Netherlands. During the introduction to the dog, the most important things are explained again and there is an opportunity to ask questions.
Follow-up process
After you have picked up your dog, AINF will contact you by telephone at various times to ask how it is going. This happens after a week, after six weeks and after six months. If you have a question or a problem in between, you can contact AINF about this. AINF has dog behavior therapists on the team, who are happy to assist you. If the dog is relocated, for whatever reason, AINF will take the dog back and place it in a foster home.
Virtual adoption
You can also adopt a dog remotely through virtual adoption. There are many different dogs in the shelter. Young and healthy dogs, but also older dogs and dogs with health problems. This last group of dogs is hardly adopted. They stay in the shelter and receive the care they need there. These dogs incur extra costs for the rest of their lives, for example for medicines or special food. These dogs can be helped through virtual adoption. So it is a remote adoption, where you are kept informed via computer or internet about how the dog is doing. You can donate an amount of your choice to one or more dogs per month.
Financial help
AINF tries to financially support the shelter in Gandia (possibly also a second shelter in Spain) with various projects. Money is raised through, among other things, virtual adoptions, donations and fundraising campaigns. Some projects that have been realized at the shelter in Gandia are the construction of a small clinic (first aid post), renovation of a number of heavily damaged kennels and the construction of new heated kennels. AINF also collects goods, such as benches, bags of food and medicines and arranges the transport of these items to their destination.
Preventive activities
The number of dogs that end up on the streets in Spain is enormous. Because many dogs are not neutered or sterilized, this number is increasing. AINF helps to reduce the number of stray dogs by setting up neutering and sterilization programs and organizing the necessary money and materials for this.