Our history

Growing since 1992

#ADOPTDONTSHOP

#SAVETWOLIVES

ANAA was founded in 1992 by three compassionate young students from Madrid when they found out about a group of neglected and abused animals in a nearby town, and decided to step in and take care of them, as well as of all the ones that followed.

Making great efforts, with very limited financial resources but a great spirit of commitment both the organization’s administration and facilities were improved, thus giving birth to ANAA’s first Adoption Center: animal health protocols were developed in collaboration with veterinary clinics; kennels were built, so was a quarantine area, nursery, operating room… All put together by a small but very committed group of volunteers. At the same time, ANAA started looking for new partners, volunteers and potential adopters.​

Thanks to the commitment and good management of all the people involved, ANAA has been able to grow year after year, achieving goals and national positioning, both for its facilities and management excellence. After years of hard work and thanks to the cofounders, volunteers and all the people who selflessly collaborated, in 2003 ANAA transferred its headquarters to its current location, where more than 2,000 animals are cared for every year.

What has ANAA accomplished?

  • The increase in the number of animals rescued and cared for: from 246 dogs in 1993 to 2.097 in 2017 (793 dogs, 1,253 cats, 50 rabbits and 11 birds).
  • The increase in the number of adoptions in Spain and other European countries: From 112 in 1993 to 1,275 in 2017 (707 dogs, 519 cats and 49 rabbits). In addition, more than 693 feral cats where reintroduced in colonies in 2017 (TNR program).
  • The reduction in the average length of stay for shelter pets to 3 months.
  • The improvement in the living conditions and animal care standards at the shelter to help speed up their recovery, and to make the wait for their forever home more bearable.
  • The creation of a pioneering animal protection center that has an Adoption Center, quarantine facilities and different areas for each species, where over 2,000 animals are taken in each year, rehabilitated and cared for until they are adopted; the ANAA veterinary clinic, where already adopted animals are checked and looked after; a training room, where all the awareness-raising initiatives take place.
  • The development of animal birth control campaigns with over 2,000 cats and dogs spayed/neutered throughout the year.
  • Becoming an example for other animal welfare organizations in Spain, and one of the founding members of the Federación de Asociaciones Protectoras y de Defensa Animal de la Comunidad de Madrid- FAPAM and of the Coordinadora Española de Protección Animal – CEPA, with whom ANAA works jointly in legislative proposals, awareness campaigns and animal cruelty and abandonment reports.Coordinadora Española de Protección Animal – CEPA​
  • ​ANAA EDUCAThe creation of a pioneering nationwide educational project, ANAA Education, to promote responsible pet ownership and increase children’s sensitivity to animals and their environment by teaching values through the human-animal relationship.
  • The creation of qualified and specialized work groups to attend different areas and show the essential purposes of ANAA.
  • Carrying out numerous campaigns, events and information stands to make our work known, and spread the animal rights and respect message to the public.
  • Achieving recognition for our work from prestigious institutions such as Fundación Reina Sofía, Seprona, Comunidad de Madrid, Fundación Biodiversidad, Fundación Affinity or Fundación Vodafone.
  • Being classified as a Public Interest Entity, a social recognition for ANAA’s work over the years, and the fiscal benefits that come along with it.