Thank you to the ASPCA!
We are so grateful to the ASPCA for supporting our work! Thanks to their generous grant, we were able to provide free services to 625 cats and dogs over the course of six months. Spending a total of $62,088.64, our average expense was $99.34 per pet.
The total of 580 dogs and 45 cats we helped received a variety of different free services such as: spay and neuter surgeries, vaccinations, microchipping, de-worming medication, treatment for mange, and treatment for ear, eye or skin infections. Dental work (including pulling infected, painful teeth) was also carried out, as were X-rays and blood work, mostly for the senior dogs we helped. Some of the animals we saw were having seizures or had chronic arthritis, others had bladder infections or tumors needing removal. Lastly, there were a few senior dogs at the end of their lives and suffering; we paid for their humane euthanasia.
Helping families who need us is our pride and joy. There was one requirement in 
order to receive the free services however: pets had to be spayed and neutered or pet owners had to agree to get their pets spayed and neutered if they weren’t already (a cost we also covered.) Our work focused on Compton, Lynwood, Maywood, Huntington Park, Cudahy, South Gate, Bell, Bell Gardens and part of South LA. Pet owners there were low income or living on a fixed income, and many were on disability or were senior citizens who had no means to pay for what their pets needed.
Partner veterinarians donated their expertise. We also issued vouchers and worked with mobile clinics, stationing them at East Rancho Dominguez Park in Compton on a monthly basis. We witnessed happy tears and heard excited cries by pet owners so relieved to give their pets the medical care they desperately required for a healthier and happier life. Several people had lost hope and thought their pet might die. Can you imagine the comfort they experienced when they learned there was another option?
But none of this work would have been possible without the ongoing support from the ASPCA. We appreciate them and their generous grant more than we can express, for they allowed us to provide these communities with attention, compassion, and assistance. We look forward to doing more, and to sharing all that we have to be grateful for.
The C3 team is simply amazing! They work right on the streets of Skid Row, their feet on the pavement, developing relationships street by street, identifying areas block by block, and addressing the needs of those who want help. For example, last week we got a call from them about a homeless person who desperately needed to be hospitalized in order to receive necessary health care. However, he would not go to the hospital until he knew that his dog was safe. We were happy to work with C3 to organize care for this pup so that his guardian could receive assistance.
use our funds for other medical issues, of which there are no programs for. In 2014 we paid for 1110 spay/neuter surgeries; in 2015 we covered 300 spay/neuter surgeries; and in 2016, we paid for only 248 surgeries. Of those 248 surgeries, many pets required bloodwork for being a senior pet, had seizures to contend with, or needed a tangential medical procedure such as dental work, making it cost effective to perform both the spay/ neuter while attending to the other issue. Of course we still support spay and neuter, but our focus has moved further out into the community through offering three mobile clinics which happen the first Sunday of the month in Compton, the second Sunday of the month in South LA, and the 3rd Sunday of the month at our newest location in Lynwood. That means three out of four weeks of every month are reserved for spay/neuter mobile clinics, and we fill those clinics by mailing out vouchers to cat and dog owners in the areas every day. This draws people out of their homes, into the community, and engaging with us. We’re excited to report that we see firsthand how encouraging proper care and a personal investment in their pets is changing perspectives and lives!
We’re so proud of the work we do at the Pet Resource Center. Not only did we open PRC in 2016, here’s our end of the year wrap up where you can see how many people and pets we helped in the first year alone.
had a case manager working with them, most of the people we served were between the age of 30 – 69, and 65% were unemployed. Six out of ten clients were women, as well as receiving public assistance. In terms of education, 35% had some college experience or a degree and the rest completed high school or up to 8th grade. Almost half the population we worked with was African American, 27% were Hispanic, and roughly 19% were caucasian. A few of those we helped had cars or were driven to us, but about 60% walked to our office. Three out of four people needed assistance with dogs, and half of them got their pet from a friend or family member.
As for services provided, we gave 80% of people food, almost 30% a collar and leash, vaccines for 31% and microchips for 25%, 10% needed medical help for their animal, and 36% were given flea meds. ESA assistance was requested by 30% of our clients.
to support the Skid Row community. We believe in the love of family, and hope we can continue to support pets and people who need an extra hand staying together. Without judgement and with a whole lot of compassion, along with your generosity and encouragement, we are certain anything is possible. Last but not least, a special thank you goes out to Inner City Law Center and LA Animal Services for their support and partnership. Together we are making a difference.