At Sheltered Paws for Friends and Neighbors (SP4FANs, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization), we believe that pets are family — and no family should ever be separated in their time of greatest need. Our nonprofit began with a simple but heartbreaking reality: warming centers and emergency shelters across the Tri-County region had to turn people away who arrived with their pets. As longtime volunteers, our team watched neighbors face an impossible choice — stay warm and abandon their pet, or stay outside in the cold so their animal wouldn’t be alone. This broke our hearts and ignited our mission.

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A First-of-Its-Kind Solution

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SP4FANs is now home to the Tri-County’s first mobile animal shelter, a fully equipped trailer designed to keep pets safe, warm, and cared for — right onsite with their owners.

Our trailers feature: Clean, climate-controlled kennels; Running water; Heating and air conditioning; Starlink internet; Backup generators; Overnight monitoring and care; A dedicated veterinary station; and more!

 

When our community warming center opens, we open with them.

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More Than Shelter — Complete Care

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A licensed veterinarian remains on-site to care for every animal who enters our trailer. This includes: vaccines, microchipping, wellness checks, emergency evaluation, basic treatment and triage. And for pets belonging to neighbors who are homeless or low-income, we partner with CARE to ensure ongoing veterinary care for the rest of the animal’s life — free of charge.

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Mobile. Compassionate. Community-Driven.

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Our trailers also deploy throughout the community during natural disasters, power outages, and community emergencies. Wherever pets and families need us — we go.

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We Can’t Do This Alone

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SP4FANs is powered entirely by generosity: volunteers, donors, and neighbors who believe in protecting the most vulnerable among us — both human and furry. Together, we are building a community where families stay together, pets receive the care they deserve, and no one is turned away.

 

You can be part of our story!