The Savings Pet Challenge is ending soon – but our work isn’t! Please support us.

There’s a Bonus Challenge going on right now as part of the Michelson Found Animals Saving Pets Challenge that we’re involved with! In short, the first 200 donations made online of at least $25 will get a $25 matching gift! That means Found Animals is giving away $5,000 worth of matching donations. Can yours be one of them? Can you shower DDR with some double love? As you know, every dollar we raise goes towards our programs. Programs designed to help animals and the people who care for them.

13645086_10157196165940384_717937027164994534_nLike this woman pictured here with the amazing smile, who we were able to help through our Pet Resource Center at the Inner City Law Center in downtown LA.  She is another grateful pet parent who received free  supplies and services from us. Without our help, she and her dogs had nowhere to turn and no idea how to get what they needed.

As a donor, you will be fueling the good work we are proud to do. You will also have the chance to win a Petcube, which is an interactive pet camera that lets you watch, talk, and play with your pets from your phone when you’re away from home! There will be two winners among those who give $25 or more online, and we wish you the best of luck in being one of them.

We already consider ourselves truly lucky because we have you. Without our supporters, we wouldn’t have the means to be able to keep going. Thank you for giving us the ability and the motivation to fight on. We hope you will make a donation today and help us take advantage of the matching gift offer. Together we can help more families in need.

 

January numbers are in — We’re starting 2016 off right!

In the first month of the new year, our South LA Shelter Intervention Program prevented 91 family pets from entering the shelter. Being there to talk to people, and more importantly to listen to them, made it possible for us to provide services that changed the fate for these 91 animals. Here’s what it took to make this possible:

SLA-teacup64% of our clients needed help with medical expenses. The problems ranged from skin treatments to ear infections, from paying for X-rays to getting blood tests to removing tumors. Many animals required treatment for upper respiratory infections, Parvo, broken bones and so much more. More often that not, the cases were emergencies, with the pet being in extreme pain. In situations like this, the owner usually doesn’t know where else to turn but the shelter. We assisted 15% with spaying/neutering their dogs or cast.

9% of the families needed help getting their cat or dog out of the shelter. It costs money to redeem a lost pet, and in order to send them back home together, we helped pay the fees. The most common reason for being impounded in the first place was that their dog accidentally got out of a gate.

7% of people had a senior or terminally ill pet. We sent them to our local vet for care or humane euthanasia, instead of watching them get surrendered to the shelter. We are grateful for the opportunity to help old animals pass in a calm environment, surrounded by the people who knew and loved them.

We were able to help about 2% of those we served with pet deposits, making it possible for them to keep their dog or cat. Another 2% had no alternative other than rehoming their pet. We supported them through it. Lastly, 1% needed dog training to solve their issues. We offer training classes every Saturday morning, free of charge, not only to people who are facing extreme challenges with their dogs, but to the entire South LA area. Our dog training classes have been going on for years, offering community as well as bonding between pets and owners.

So that’s 91 animals who avoided shelter life, avoided clogging up the system further, and were able to stay in their first homes, their forever homes. We want to thank our major funder Found Animals Foundation, because without their support this program would not function, and we would not be able to do what we’re doing. We also want to thank LA Animal Services staff and volunteers who are terrific partners to work with and who allow us to be in the shelter, helping families with pets. And of course, we’d be remiss if we didn’t thank all of YOU again and again. You, who donate to support us and believe in our efforts. Without you, we wouldn’t be able to offer so many options and such a range of resources. You give us the confidence, and the energy. You make us stronger.

Because everybody needs help sometimes. We know it. You know it. Thank you for trusting us to be that help.

THANK YOU/YEAR END MESSAGE FROM DDR FOUNDER, Lori Weise

MERRY CHRISTMAS, HAPPY HOLIDAYS AND A WONDERFUL 2011 to all our friends, family and supporters!!! -From DDR founder Lori Weise, volunteers and of course dogs!!!!!
===
Dear Friends of Downtown Dog Rescue, 
As we close out 2010 we want to thank you for your involvement in the last year; a commitment that is clear through your volunteerism and/or financial support. 
We prepare for 2011 with anticipation, knowing that there are communities and concerned citizens like you supporting our various programs to help keep dogs from entering the shelter system; to continue changing community perceptions about the benefits of spay/neuter programs—and to continue saving lives in the process.
In 2010, our Compton Community Dog Clinic spayed/neutered over 700 dogs out of one park! Imagine the impact that this will have on the number of unwanted dogs entering the shelter. DDR is the only humane organization that offers free spay/neuter services on a regular basis to dog owners in the South East county area, such as Lynwood, South Gate, Paramount, and of course Compton, targeting pit bulls and other large breed dogs. (Photos from our Compton Clinic below)

We’re together in a powerful endeavor
In today’s financial climate, knowing that shelter surrender numbers in underserved communities are at an all time high is—quite honestly—difficult. But we’re in this together. We are choosing not to see this community problem as a burden, but to take it on as a challenge —and to succeed in helping various communities become responsible and knowledgeable dog owners.
So—despite the odds—our plan is to continue moving forward by continuing to expand life saving programs such as Operation Safety Net, which assists dog owners keep their dogs out of shelters. We pay for spay/neuter surgeries, vaccinations, dog licenses, impound fees to get dogs out of shelters, repair fences that a dog might be escaping out of, build dog runs and pay for minor medical expenses that a homeless or low income dog owner may […]

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!! DDR is pardoning the TURKEY this year!

We at DDR are thankful for everyone’s support throughout the year!
Saving lives and improving the quality of life of both humans and dogs 
has always been our priority. 
Our volunteers, supporters, donors and friends 
have made it all possible!
Thank You!

In keeping with the positive emphasis on life and light,
we will pardon the “Turkey” and just let him or her “be.”

The party and cheer go on with TOFURKEY and wonderful side dishes!!!!!

FRIDAY SHOUT OUTS – Giving Thanks! WE’RE BACK!!!!!!

We’ve been away for a couple of weeks BUT WE’RE BACK!!!
And ready to make Friday the sweet 
Thank You Fridays DDR friends and volunteers enjoy!

We want to give a big thank you to ALL the participants 
that joined the BEST FRIENDS STRUT YOUR MUTT 
walk that happened in Santa Monica. 
TEAM CLANCY ROCKED!!



WHO WANTS TO DO THE HONORS!!!!???? 
WELL IT’S OUR RESIDENT PRETTY PUP, SHERRY
Who no longer lives in the DDR Kennels because she has been adopted!!!!


HOORAY!!!!!!!!!!!
Here she is in her new Dada’s arms!!!!!
AND HER NEW NAME IS MIA!!!!!!


YAY!!!!! Ok Mia, get off the couch and let’s thank 
our generous DDR friends and family!!!
Ok, on behalf of DDR I would like to 
thank a bunnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnch of folks!

MIA resting at STRUT YOUR MUTT!!!

Here is the official roster of those that walked 
AND helped raise money for DDR and South LA dogs!


Irene Soriano Brightman (Co-Captain)
David Arranaga
Puppy Mill Awareness
Melanie Begian
jennifer berent
Mirja Bishop
Wendy Blanda
Miriam Brock
Linda Bruce
Nick Carranza
Effie Chang
Effie Chang
Debbie Chao
Nadine Donat
John Drouillard
Natalie Drouillard
Jessica Endaya
Debbie Fan
Brittany Fulgoni
Ricardo Galindo

LORI’S CORNER: STRUT YOUR MUTT PICTURES

Strut Your Mutt happened yesterday and what a wonderful group of Downtown Dog Rescue friends, family and supporters have come together — here are some wonderful pictures from the event — we were able to raise $7500+ and will be able to pay for Stone’s ear surgery and provide vetting care for more South LA dogs that have come through DDR’s doors.
THANK YOU EVERYONE!

PICTURES BY DEBBIE FAN

HERE’S OUR TEAM DOG CAPTAIN!!! CLANCY!!!!
















THANK YOU EVERY ONE FOR COMING OUT!!!!!!

DDR MEDIA: Walking for Stone

“Walking for Stone” article on LOS ANGELES BEST FRIENDS Website


Home » Go Local » Los Angeles » News » Walking for Stone
NEWS

WALKING FOR STONE
September 07, 2010, 1:49PM MT
By Sandy Miller, Best Friends staff writer

Strut Your Mutt team comes together to help pay for pit bull terrier’s surgery


The first time Lori Weise saw Stone was when his owner brought him to one of Downtown Dog Rescue’s free weekly training classes in South Los Angeles.

The pit bull terrier’s ears were infected and swollen, the result of a botched ear cropping (see Stone to the right).

She knew the dog’s person was a breeder and that he probably planned to use the puppy for that purpose someday. After all, there’s big money to be made breeding pit bull terriers in South L.A. A stud fee can bring $4,000 to $5,000 and puppies can sell for $1,500 a piece.

“The bottom line is that these guys don’t look at dogs as pets,” says Weise, founder of Downtown Dog Rescue. “They’re money-making machines and when they can’t produce, they get rid of the dog one way or another.”

But Weise didn’t give Stone’s person a lecture on the evils of dog breeding, even though it turned her stomach. Instead, she took the opportunity to educate Stone’s person about how to properly take care of Stone. She also told him about the resources Downtown Dog Rescue had to help pay for the veterinary care Stone so obviously needed. She knew that if she could establish a dialog with Stone’s person, she could work on changing his mind about the breeding later.

But Stone’s person never came back to the training class. Two years later, Stone’s person dropped him off at the trainer’s house, saying he was moving and he didn’t have room for him. Stone was in bad shape. His ears were still infected and he was 20 pounds underweight. Stone was fortunate in that his person put him in the hands of Downtown Dog Rescue instead of dropping him off at one of the shelters.

Today, Stone is living in a foster home and doing much better. Thanks to Downtown Dog Rescue, Stone is putting on weight and is receiving veterinary treatment for the infection, which robbed him of some of his hearing. However, Stone still needs surgery to correct his ears, and that’s one reason Downtown Dog Rescue is just one of the Best Friends Network Charities that will be taking part in the upcoming Strut Your Mutt event Sept. 19 in L.A. Some of the money raised by Downtown Dog Rescue’s Team […]

LORI’S CORNER: Why we’re doing Strut Your Mutt next weekend!


STRUT YOUR MUTT FUNDRAISER 2010
TEAM CLANCY!
Join our Pack and lets raise more $$
for South LA dogs like Stone

A PORTION OF THE FUNDS RAISED FROM STRUT YOUR MUTT WILL GO TOWARDS STONEY’S EAR SURGERY FROM A BOTCHED EAR CROPPING PROCEDURE THAT HAS DEVELOPED AN INFECTED HEMATOMA.


Click on the links to see pictures of his:
Ear-crop-gone-wrong
and
Wounds in his body

-Warning, Very Graphic-

STONEY’S VACCINATIONS WILL BE UPDATED AND HE WILL ALSO NEED NEUTERING. STONEY WAS USED AS A “STUD” FOR A PROFITABLE BREEDING VENTURE IN SOUTH LA. WHEN ALL HIS PROCEDURES and LOVING CARE ARE DONE, HE WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR ADOPTIION. HE IS HOUSETRAINED, SOCIAL WITH OTHER DOGS AND GREAT WITH KIDS. PLEASE KEEP STONEY IN MIND!
From Lori:
Stone was owned by a breeder who showed bully dogs, used him as a stud and didn’t “invest” one penny into his care. I offered to do the surgery on his ears almost two years ago at pit bull class where I met him, he never bothered to call me and I’m guessing, as a stud dog, he brought his former owner a lot of money. This is a great dog with a wonderful temperament. I never gave up hope on getting him!

STRUT YOUR MUTT PLEA
COME JOIN US ON THE 19th of SEPTEMBER
Click here to register and
walk with Downtown Dog Rescue

Dear DDR Friends and Family,
Downtown Dog Rescue’s Top Pit, Clancy is appealing to you to join his Dog Pack and walk proudly beside him and Lori for the mile-long hike along the Santa Monica Pier on Sunday, September 19th, 2010 at 8:30 in the morning.
Other than the yearly calendar donations, STRUT YOUR MUTT is really DDR’s only self-organized fundraiser. The money we raise from this walk ($30 walker fee per dog) will go towards rescuing more pit bulls from the South LA shelter.
So, please support this fundraising […]

Translate »