About Our Founders

Gwen and Jenifer celebrating the 5th anniversary of All Animal Rescue & Friends’ 501(c)3 non-profit status.

All Animal Rescue & Friends started out first as a street rescue in 2015 helping to round up the many pups and kitties that were loose and/or nearly getting hit by cars. With little animal control and no shelter services available to most of South County during that time, community volunteers really had to step up and help the most vulnerable. After many lives were saved that also needed placement into new loving homes, the vision of becoming a non-profit animal rescue became a reality on May 5, 2016. Over the years Jenifer and Gwen have worked side by side focusing on the lives of ALL animals in our community and beyond. AARF is 100% volunteer powered - with leaders and volunteers having a shared passion and commitment for our animals we share our community with.  

Jenifer began rescuing cats over 30 years ago. Back before trapping and altering feral cats was widely done, she was taking care of multiple colonies in San Jose. When trapping, one also finds kittens and so she discovered her true calling by fostering and nursing the tiniest and sickest babies back to life and finding homes for all of them!  She lives in Morgan Hill with her husband and their sons. The Lepows are owners of their family business in San Jose, Almaden Valley Nursery. If you have ever visited, you’ll meet some of the nursery’s resident cats that were kitties Jenifer has rescued. She also maintains a very happy colony of semi-feral cats on her property here in South County, as well as three house cats and two rat terrier pups - many of their pets started out as AARF rescues! The Lepow family is always fostering - usually a good handful of foster kittens and special medical-needs puppies.   

Gwen began in rescue over 10 years ago as a transporter; picking up animals that needed to get to their rescues from the shelters. Many of our rescue community start as a transporter! Gwen lives with her husband and their adorable rescue pup, Luna and their senior cat, George, who was actually rescued while Gwen and Jenifer were helping rescue animals in the Loma fires. Gwen has fostered a few kitten litters, pups and any other strays that need a place to stay overnight! Her favorite fosters are always the seniors with medical needs or the underdogs that need her most. Gwen is passionate about saving the lives of animals that are loose in our community and leads a very active street-rescue team of volunteers who work so hard to save lives every single day of the year.  

Jenifer and Gwen continue to focus on the animals in need in our community but also save lives from all over California from high-risk shelters and areas with no resources. Since the formation of AARF, there have been thousands of lives saved, and thousands of adoptions. They are both incredibly proud of the positive impact AARF gives to the lives of so many animals and those who love them.