We are thrilled to announce our partnership with Michelson Found Animals Foundation to open Clancy’s Closet: Pet Support Space and affordable pet supply store! This program is made possible in part by a generous grant from Michelson Found Animals We are extremely grateful for their ongoing support and generosity. 

Clancy’s Closet is one of a kind community space that gives back to community pets in need. All proceeds from Clancy’s Closet directly supports our Pet Support Space, which increases access to veterinary care. What makes Clancy’s Closet special is that we provide volunteer opportunities to previously unhoused individuals who are re-entering the workforce. This opportunity allows individuals to find purpose and motivation in their daily lives. We provide volunteer opportunities to community high school students who need volunteer service hours. Clancy’s Closet also works with a local program to help employ adults with autism in Los Angeles. 

“We are so excited to open Clancy’s Closet as a unique community and Pet Support Space. Our community’s never ending support makes it possible for our program to continue to provide resources and care to folks and families with pets transitioning from crisis and isolation to stability and independence.” Clancy’s Closet Project Coordinator Liv Sigel said. 

All day long folks stop by with their pets to shop for necessities, goodies, and to get spay/neuter and other pet resources. 

This is foster dog Honey stopping by to pick out her favorite treats donated by I and Love and You Pet Company. 

Clancy’s Closet offers a wide range of quality pet supplies from leashes and collars to custom I.D. tags and comfortable beds. At Clancy’s Closet you can take what you need and donate what you can. Shop for your pet and help pets in need!  #ShopForGood #Shop4Good

Clancy’s Closet is located in the heart of South Gate, CA on the #TweedyMile and they offer affordable, discounted, and quality pet supplies to the community. Clancy’s Closet is located at 3925 Tweedy Blvd South Gate, CA 90280 and is open every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 10am to 2pm and every Saturday from 1pm to 4pm.

In June, we provided services for 513 pets, of which 401 were new clients and 112 returning.  A total of 309 dogs and 204 cats received the following services:

Spay and Neuter -28%  We work with Spay4LA and Amazing Animal Practice’s mobile clinics to provide free to low cost surgeries with vaccines and microchips each month. An amazing addition to June was the ASPCA mobile spay/neuter clinic coming out to provide surgeries for pets who live on Skid Row, with surgeries done in the heart of Skid Row, where anyone living in the area had access to free surgeries with vaccines and microchipping.

26% met one of our counselors at the South LA Shelter or the Harbor Shelter because they were contemplating surrendering their pet due to being unable to pay for veterinary care.  We cover some or all of the costs, depending on the person’s ability to pay.  Services included caring for chronic painful conditions which relieves daily suffering to major life saving surgeries.  Most low income families with pets can afford to pay some of the cost, but need help with getting an appointment and covering the total cost.

4% of pets were humanely euthanized at one of veterinary partners instead of being surrendered to a shelter.  Humane euthansia is accessible to only those who are aware of what this procedure is, and second can afford it.  For everyone else, surrendering a terminally ill, suffering pet to a shelter is their only known option.  We provide a compassionate alternative, meeting families with pets at both the South LA and Harbor Shelters as well as receiving texts and phone calls, as referrals from all City of LA Shelters.  Our counselors work almost 24/7 speaking to people who are trying to decide the best option for end of life for their beloved pets.

38% received wellness / preventative care such as vaccinations, deworming, flea treatment, and basic exams for cats and dogs at our monthly free clinic with the SCVMA.

We could not continue to provide all the services that we do without your support.  Please consider making a donation or even better, sign up to become a monthly donor.

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THANK YOU!

Baby Buster was a total surprise. Our outreach worker Gabby had been helping an unhoused family with their dogs.  The family made a difficult decision to give up mama Lucille formerly known as Berlin, because they were being forced to move their trailer to a high traffic dangerous street. They knew Lucille’s personality, and worried that she would dart out in traffic and get hit.  They loved her so much that they wanted DDR to find her a forever family.  Lucille entered our adoption program, was sent to Alondra Animal Hospital for board and spay, when we discovered that Lucille had one puppy overnight, and the staff could not believe what they saw that morning, since no one knew that she was pregnant.  Volunteer Siobhan agreed to foster this little family.

Buster has been lovingly raised by his mama dog Lucille, with 24/7 care and attention, making him a sweet puppy.  He has had two sets of vaccinations, has been dewormed, and if you agree to adopt him, we would consider a “foster -to – adopt” agreement, where he would be officially adopted once he is old enough to be neutered.  Buster is a BIG baby! You see mama is some type of husky mix, about 35-40lbs.  We think daddy dog was definitely a large breed dog, maybe shepherd, we don’t know for sure since mama dog often ran freely in the streets, meeting lots of other dogs.

We hope that if you can’t adopt, you will share this post with friends and family who might be looking to adopt a puppy.  To learn more about Buster and mama Lucille go here Adopt Buster

This is 4 month old Bryce who we rescued from an abusive situation on the streets of Skid Row.  We paid his owner $50 to let us take him into our adoption program. Our outreached worker knew that his broken leg was in bad shape, but it wasn’t until his xrays revealed just how bad of a break we were dealing with. He required an expensive orthopedic surgery and after care in order to save his leg.  The alternative would have been amputation. Because of the high cost of care, we started a GoFundMe for this specific case.  https://gofund.me/4f7f260b

Once he is healed, he will be available to adopt.  We are also looking for a foster for Bryce when he is released from California Animal Rehabilitation Center.

You can also donate on our website

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DDR will be part of the panel on Saturday from 11am to 1pm to discuss how we can support the ASPCA in their efforts to remove breed restrictions and increase pet friendly housing.  We especially need our supporters who live in South Central Los Angeles to show up.  If you live in one of the following zip codes PLEASE register to attend this important event!

90002 * 90003 * 90043 * 90044 * 90045 * 90047 * 90056 * 90059 * 90061 * 90220

Many of the families with pets that we help on a daily basis, live in these zip codes, especially our Watts families with pets, we need you to show up?  We also need support from anyone who lives in Westchester, Playa del Rey, Torrance, Gardena, Hawthorne, Inglewood, Lawndale

In addition to learning more about how YOU can take action to support families with pets, especially families with pitbulls, there will be free pet food for everyone who attends while the supply lasts.

CAN WE COUNT ON YOU?

7 year old “Bubba’s” dad, who is homeless, brought him to the South LA Shelter, pleading for help after they both got locked into an abandoned building where they were squatting.  Out of desperation they were living there because City of LA workers towed away his car where they had been living.  He lost his car, and all of his personal belongings.  In a state of panic, not wanting to have Bubba taken from him too, he lifted Bubba up and over a locked fence.  In doing this, Bubba’s stomach was cut open, badly. Three days later, Bubba could no longer walk, he stopped eating. With no transportation, no money, dad walked around all day, begged people to help him save Bubba. Then he remembered an old friend’s number who is a dog lover, and got in contact with her, asking for ride to the South LA shelter.  Our counselors were on site, set up at a table in front of the receiving area at the South LA Shelter, when they saw Bubba and his dad.  Immediately, they took action by getting an immediate veterinary appointment.  Due to the extent of his injuries, and the infection that had set into the wound, the decision was made by his dad per our veterinarian’s suggestion, to humanely euthanize Bubba.  Humane euthanasia for pets like Bubba is something that we sponsor on a weekly basis.  Keeping more senior pets and terminally ill pets with their low income families until the end of their life instead of being surrendered to the shelter due to financial hardship, and because there is no other option, is to be of the highest service to the community

Here is a what our counselor Amanda wrote in a text,

“This case really affected me and Yessi.  We see a lot of horrible cases, but this one just really messed us up. I literally had to go to the restroom and cry afterwards.  Just thinking about the pain and agony that poor dog went through for three days.” 

Bubba’s dad did the best he could with what he had available to him as a resource.  For many of our clients, the shelter is their only known resource for an emergency.  The mental toll that this takes on our counselors and the shelter staff is immense. In fact, there was a period of time when counselors Amanda and Yesenia did not work at the shelter as counselors because we all needed to take a break for our collective mental health.  But, once you seen the suffering, the families who cannot afford veterinary care, and the range of emotions they display from rage to shame to complete and utter despair, it’s impossible to not be directly involved.  Our counselors are at the South LA shelter every Tuesday and Thursday, at our Pet Suppor Space office by appointment Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and counselors/volunteers are available by phone/text seven days a week to assist any low income […]