A Valley supermarket chain is helping animals by raising money for local rescue groups.

Food 4 Less is collecting donations at all of its locations through May 6, 2012.

You can help out by giving a donation at the check-out.

The money will go to six organizations:

- The Cat House on the Kings
- Westside Rescue
- Pawsitive Connections
- The Friends of the Madera Animal Shelter
- Central Valley Railroad Rescue
- Heart of the Horse Therapy Ranch

For more information, you can visit www.food4lesscentralvalley.com.

Brenda Mitchell with the Animal Compassion Team wasn't sure this day would ever come.

"We've been working for this as a community for so, so very long," Mitchell said.

Hundreds of local rescue workers converged on city hall Thursday, one day after the Central California SPCA announced it's ending its animal control contract with the city and county, effective October 1st.

"I was completely floored by the decision. It came out of the blue. I really regret that we had to find out about it on a radio program," Clint Olivier, Fresno City Council President, said.

"As I go through the information that was given to us, I think there might be some posturing going on. I'm pretty anxious to figure out how this is going to play out," Andreas Borgeas, Fresno City Council Member, said.

Whether or not the SPCA is bluffing, as many people think, the city now has six months to figure out another option.

Katie Applin with the Animal Compassion Team was walking through the SPCA last Sunday when she saw Malaya, a tiny mixed-breed black and brown dog.

"She was hiding and cowering in the corner because she was pretty scared. I have a soft spot for the scared ones. So we went in there and picked her up. She went and cuddled right up into me and was just being super sweet," Applin said.

Katie told the staff there she wanted to rescue Malaya. But because her rescue hadn't signed the SPCA's contract, she was told no.

"I was upset and heartbroken for her. Because I know as a scared dog, she stands very little chance of getting out of this shelter alive," Applin said.

Katie and a friend went back to the SPCA Wednesday to check on Malaya.

"We walked over to rescue and Alan asked them what happened to this dog. And they looked it up and said it was euthanized," Applin said. "She was declined by rescue, I believe was the words they used."