Established in 1998 by Sky Valencia, the St. Martin’s Animal Foundation (SMAF) has dedicated its efforts to educating the public about responsible pet ownership. Not only is it the first and only animal foundation in Los Angeles that has targeted the growing Latino community by conducting an aggressive bilingual outreach campaign, but it also stands up for all animals – not just pets – by promoting a vegan lifestyle, both in people and in the animals it rescues. It is the Foundation’s belief that all animals have the God given right to live out their lives in peace and harmony and it works to promote this message at various fundraisers and adoption events, and within its own organization.

The St. Martin’s Animal foundation also hosts events of “eco-tainment”, including the lovely Vegan Vixens singing group that travels around the United States singing about issues of the planet.  They also run the Hunks for Hounds Capmaign, which encourages men to abstain from supporting dog-fighting, instead becoming responsible pet owners, either to the animals they already own, or by adopting animals from shelters.  This “eco-tainment” venture is featured weekly on Good Day LA Fox 11, where SMAF promotes their semimonthly adoptions at Whole Foods, where they recently adopted a live and oinking, fifty pound pig that was supposed to have been a family’s Christmas ham.

Morover, the St. Martin’s Animal Foundation is proud to announce that in their mission to save the animals of the world, they are also helping the environment by running an organization that is 100% self-sustainable.  They have organic gardens to grow food, solar panels to provide their organization with power, and use trucks that run off of biodiesel.

Sky Valencia envisioned a world that put an end to the senseless suffering of animals, especially that of dogs and cats that are abandoned on the street, abused by their owners, or await their death in an animal shelter. The St. Martin’s Animal Foundation is her rendering of that vision, a safe haven and sanctuary for the rehabilitation and safety of those abused and neglected animals and an educational center for the human beings who wish to make a positive impact on those unfortunate lives.

It is the Foundation’s mission to:

1) Lead aggressive educational outreach programs about responsible pet ownership and about issues that are pertinent to ensuring the welfare of animals in our community, especially in the inner-city.

2) Rescue and rehabilitate abused and/or injured dogs and cats, and place these animals in permanent, loving homes. They also provide a life-long, secure home for those animals that are deemed ‘unadoptable,’ where they can live the rest of their lives in peace.

3) To teach and promote the ideologies that support the undeniable connection between Mother Earth, human beings and animals that will hopefully result in the observance of a vegan lifestyle.

Visit the St. Martin’s Animal Foundation website to learn about all aspects of their various programs and the most up to date information on their advocacy events and conferences. There is also a donation page, if you choose to do so.