About

Fueled by love, decades of experience and a desire to help all unhoused animals, founder Alec Torres created AFN, in response to the epic wave of unwanted animals in 2022. With her extensive experience in rescue and dog training, Alec knew that animals do not thrive in a shelter-type environment and that building a connection with each other was the foundation to saving the lives of animals in need.

Unfortunately, during the height of this wave, two senior dogs named Banjo and Ripley became homeless when their only family member died suddenly. The two dogs were removed from their home and placed in the local animal shelter. Banjo & Ripley did not do well in that environment and sadly, were at risk of euthanasia. But due to the media attention surrounding their guardian’s tragic death, the story went public and Alec stepped in to help, networking the dogs and quickly finding a foster home for the two seniors… which eventually led to their successful adoption. Shortly thereafter, several other families reached out to AFN offering to foster. That was the answer, the way Alec could save the many unhoused animals – commitment.

AFN is a network of like-minded individuals with a desire to help create a safe, warm and loving environment for shelter animals. An environment that sets each animal up for success in their forever home. However, it is a network and then some. Those who foster receive the full support of the organization including but not limited to medical needs, transition coaching and training. Becoming a foster home for AFN means that you are giving an animal something they may not have had in a long time, if ever – love. Our fosters are also never alone. You will always be a part of the community.