In December, our Cat Box Clinic vaccinated 35 kittens and cats and provided more extensive veterinary services, including treating skin, ear eye, and upper respiratory infections, for a total of 14 kittens and cats.  Kittens like “Boots”, a 6 week old who was rescued off the street, covered in motor oil, in an area where cats are not treated well.  Even though Boots’ person is unhoused at the present time, and did not plan on adopting a kitten, they could not “leave him on the street to die”.  Our medical director Dr. Rachel Hoffman and RVT Claudia, gave the kitten the best possible care, with instructions on how to bathe, administer meds, and provide ongoing care for little Boots.  So sick when he arrived, he could barely move, and now look at him, just days into his treatment plan.  In order to make sure this kitten and his brother “Puss” receive no cost veterinary care, we arranged for this little family to be picked up, and taken back home at the end of the clinic.  Because their person does not have access to warm water for bathing, we made it possible for Boots to get a bath at Clancy’s Closet the following day. Now, they have a place to go, people to turn to whenever they need help, or just someone to listen to them with empathy.

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Check out some of the other cats that receive veterinary care in our rented 20ft storage container that we converted into an animal hospital. A model that can and should be scaled up so that our mission of decreasing unnecessary suffering for pets and their people can expand.

When people find themselves in a situation where they cannot afford necessary veterinary care for their beloved pets, it can lead to immense emotional distress and mental anguish. The deep emotional bond between a person and their pet often parallels the connection shared within a family. As a result, witnessing a pet in distress or knowing they require medical attention but being unable to provide it due to financial constraints can trigger various forms of emotional suffering that includes feelings of helplessness and guilt, increased stress and anxiety that can negatively impact their mental and physical health, and in a worse case scenario grief and loss.

Too often we hear phrases like “Don’t get a pet if you can’t afford to take care of the pet.” The reality is sometimes that cat or dog rescued the person, no matter how much money they have, or their ability to pay for veterinary care.  We know that for many of us, our pets have saved our lives by giving us a reason to live, and to hope for tomorrow.  How about you? Did you plan on getting your pet, or did he or she just “happen” or “show up […]

Every month, DDR provides free to low cost veterinary services for the communities that we work in.  We wanted to let all of our supporters know what your donations are supporting.

We contract with Spay4LA mobile spay/neuter clinic to provide surgeries for up to 30 pets once a month in South Los Angeles.  We have now added another location that we want to go to monthly, The Refresh Spot on Skid Row. This clinic is free spay and neuter for all Skid Row residents with cats and dogs.

One of the Eight Cats that was spayed and neutered

One of the five dogs that were spayed and neutered

DDR covers the cost of a one year dog license

In order to get the word out, our team goes out with a Los Angeles Animal Services staff member, walking the dense blocks of Skid Row, connecting with unhoused people with pets.  It’s through these conversations that we book the surgery appointments.

Meeting people where they are, offering them services that help them reach their goals

For the past seven years, in collaboration with the Southern California Veterinary Medical Association, we have hosted a monthly free vaccination clinic for low income families with pets.  This month, we vaccinated, microchipped, dewormed, and provided flea and tick meds to more than 200 pets.

Volunteer veterinary staff makes these large scale clinics possible

We offer vaccinations to puppies and always provide spay and neuter resources and support

Approximately 2000 -2500 pets are vaccinated yearly thru our monthly free clinics

Some of the pets need more care than our basic drive thru clinic can offer. Especially the cats! We started the Cat Box Clinic which is a monthly free to low cost cat clinic that treats ear and skin infections, offers more extensive exams, we can give IVs, draw blood, etc.  Basically veterinary care without surgeries.  Our medical director is Dr. Rachel Hoffman. 

3 month old Osito was sick and suffering

The Cat Box Clinic consists of a rented contractor’s container style office, with two exam tables, and all of our supplies.  We have no specific funding for this cat clinic.  No support from the City or County of Los Angeles.  We pay 100% of the cost of medicine and staffing this clinic.  Most families can donate about $20.  It’s because of your donations that we are […]

Photo of Stormy when she was healthier

12 year old Stormy’s elderly and ill person, who is currently unhoused, came to the Harbor Shelter, pleading for help.  Stormy was recently diagnosed with diabetes. She has not wanted to eat or stand up for the last week.  Her quality of life had declined rapidly.  Our shelter intervention program manager, Amanda listened to Stormy’s person tell her how much she had gone through over the past few weeks.  Being very ill, recovering from a major surgery, getting the news that Stormy was sick hit her hard. Watching Stormy suffer daily, was too much.  With the little money she had after paying for the diagnosis, she decided that humane euthanasia was the best option.  However, the animal hospital where she went would not euthanize Stormy because they told her that “She didn’t try everything”  First, she couldn’t afford to try everything, the hospital didn’t offer to treat Stormy for free or give her resources for low cost, which pretty much don’t exist.  So she drove around with Stormy getting sicker each day. With no other options, she arrived at the Harbor Shelter, and instead of surrendering Stormy, we offered to send her to a partner animal hospital where she could hold Stormy, and have her cremated.  This was her only companion for the past twelve years.

Imagine knowing that your pet is slowly dying, is suffering, and because you can’t afford veterinary care, you helplessly watch, or surrender your pet to a shelter.  No one should have to make that type of decision, especially someone who is unhoused and seriously ill.  Yet, everyday, low income families with pets bring them to the shelter to surrender them because they cannot access affordable veterinary care.  We have counselors at the South LA Shelter and the Harbor Shelter to meet people with pets who are in crisis, need some type of support or resources, access to spay and neuter, and provide ongoing, long term support through our Pet Support Space.

Counselor Yesenia speaking to a family needing help with their pet

Because we have so many low income people in need of basic veterinary care for their pet cats, we created “Cat Box Clinic”, which is a clinic in a rented contractor’s office.

20 ft container that can moved anywhere

At a cost of $450 per month, the container was delivered fully finished with flooring, shades, lights, and air conditioning. Next, we partnered with an awesome veterinarian and RVT who are helping us every step of the way, telling us what equipment and supplies to order.  Our goal will be to see patients one evening per week from 5PM – 9PM by appointment only.  No emergencies, no surgeries, we will focus on treating chronic suffering from skin and ear infections, conditions like mange or ringworm. We will offer […]

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