Pet Support Space 2023 Review

In 2023, we provided services for 6,413 family pets: 4627 dogs and 1784 cats living in South East and South Central Los Angeles, Boyle Heights, Skid Row, and parts of Wilmington.

Humane Euthanasia for terminally ill, suffering, mostly senior dogs. For many of these pets, their families could not afford the cost of humane euthanasia, or they were unaware of what it is.  Without our support, some of these pets would be surrendered to the shelter system not because their family wanted to “dump” their old dog or cat, the families were low income, and could not raise enough money to go to an animal hospital.  We partner with Los Angeles Animal Services (LAAS) staff, who refer cases to DDR, keeping more pets from unnecessarily entering the shelter system.

General Wellness is offered through our free vaccination clinics with the Southern California Veterinary Medicine Association.  Volunteer veterinarians and techs come together once a month, for the past eight years, to vaccinate, microchip, deworm, and provide flea + tick medication for thousands of cats and dogs.

Medical Expenses for more extensive veterinary care such as ear, eye, skin infections, but include medical emergencies such as pets that were hit-by-car, poisoned, of which the majority are referred to our counselors through LASS where we have counselors on site at the South Los Angeles and Harbor Shelters.  Meeting low income families with pets in a time of crisis is the shelter intervention component to our mission of keeping pets and people together, and to eliminate suffering.

Spay/Neuter is still the best solution to preventing suffering. Currently there are more families who want to spay/neuter their pets than there are available and affordable appointments.  

The Food Program collects data on people with pets who receive ongoing monthly food and supply support.  Our food program numbers do not take into account all of the one-time meetings where we offer people with pets food, and other necessary supplies like a leash or a crate.  Working with agencies such as Los Angeles Homeless Service Authority LAHSA outreach workers who often stop by Clancy’s Closet to pick up everything that they need for their clients with pets. Making it a one-stop-shop place to get food, crate, blankets, collar & leash, etc.

The majority of all of our donations go towards funding our Pet Support Space program.  We are always happy to share our data, answer any questions, especially from other non profits interested in doing this type of work.  We could not continue our mission without YOUR support!  THANK YOU!

Clancy’s Closet 2023

About this time last year, we signed a one year lease on a retail storefront located on the Tweedy Mile in South Gate. With a goal of creating a safe space where all community members with pets feel understood and supported, this space became our new location for our Pet Support Space office and Clancy’s Closet, a thrift store for pets, named in honor of Clancy, one of the greatest dogs who ever lived. We accomplished a lot in 2023, and wanted to share some highlights with you!

 

We opened for business in February, with limited store hours, but we’ve expanded our hours to Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday 10am to 2:30pm, and Saturday 1:00 to 4:00 because the South Los Angeles community supported us by shopping, and donating to give back to our community. And, of course, there are the volunteers!

There is no way we could receive donations, prepare them for the display, assist customers, decorate the store, and so much more without our dedicated volunteer participants.  These are the volunteers who have been DDR clients with their pets, who were looking for a way to return to work part time, wanted to go back to school, had a goal of getting and maintaining stable permanent housing.  Each participants volunteers a minimum of four hours per week, and in exchange, DDR gives them gift cards to buy groceries, pays monthly school tuition, furthering their personal goals. In addition, DDR staff continues to support each participant through their journey of signing up for online benefits, dealing with various agencies that distribute benefits.  We advocate for them, making sure that they are on the fast track to housing, or if in housing, stay in it, and create a safe place to call home. We enrolled a total of six people, and three have worked for six months or more.

On Saturdays, our outstanding high school students run Clancy’s Closet.  The store is often their first opportunity to learn job skills, such as customer service, making pet ID tags for $1 donation, pricing items, making change + counting the drawer at the end of the day. They stock our “little free library” with books for children.  The students bring so much positive energy as our next generation of animal welfare advocates.

 

During this past year, we met a lot of families, who needed help with finding low cost spay/neuter, especially for cats.  Some of our customers were reluctant to get their pets spayed or neutered, but with lots of great information that included having a conversation about the benefits for the pet, their family, and the community, changed some people’s opinions on […]

Increasing Access to Veterinary Care

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 […]

Community Pet Clinics

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 […]

Cat Box Clinic

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.

Location: Receiving area for "owner surrendered animals" 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 […]

Kid’s Reading Hour & Merchandise Launch

CELEBRATE NATIONAL DOG DAY WITH US AT OUR KID’S READING HOUR AT CLANCY’S CLOSET

On Saturday August 26th from 11am – 12pm Clancy’s Closet will be hosting a free Kid’s Reading Hour! We will be reading animal themed books and will have a puppy and a kitten to pet and play with. Celebrate national dog day with us! Entry is free for all. We would love to have kids of all ages and families of all kinds come to our community event! Before and after the reading hour you can shop for your pet at discounted rates! Bring your family, tell your friends and join us for family friendly fun! Address is 3925 Tweedy Blvd South Gate, CA 90280 from 11am to 12pm.

SHOP OFFICIAL DDR MERCHANDISE TODAY

We have exciting announcements to share! Downtown Dog Rescue has released official merchandise! Shop official DDR shirts, hoodies, and tote bags on our Bonfire storefront. All proceeds support our lifesaving access to veterinary care programs.

Click the ‘SHOP’ tab on our website to shop our merch today!

Courage Compassion Connection

On Thursday at the LAAS Harbor Shelter, our counselor Amanda met “Queen” and her person who is currently experiencing homelessness.  Although she is not staying on the streets, she is “couch surfing” staying with friends.  She came to the shelter because she was contemplating surrendering 2 year old Queen due to her chronic ear infection, and now even worse, a ear hematoma.  Knowing that she could not afford veterinary care, she had no way of charging on a credit card, or borrowing from friends or family.  The little money that she makes working, she had spent on Queen’s care, but even with some care, her ears got worse.  Because she loves Queen so much, she believed that her dog deserved a better life with someone who could afford the veterinary care Queen desperately needed.  Her only known option was surrendering her dog to the Harbor Shelter, which is something she never wanted to do.  Queen has been her “rock” during a difficult period in her life, she loves and needs Queen in order to get by one day at a time, but she could not continue to watch this beautiful soul suffer.

It took a great deal of courage to come to the shelter, to put her dog’s needs before her own. Shelter staff referred her to Amanda who actively listened to what she was going through, without judging how Queen looked.  Amanda was able to offer an alternative to surrendering Queen.  DDR could help her register for AlignCare and guide her through a treatment plan for Queen, paying for whatever she was not able to afford.  Like Queen’s person, maybe you have never heard of AlignCare.  https://www.aligncarehealth.org/main  This program that DDR is part of, helps families with pets, who live in poverty, access veterinary care, much like MediCal for people.  The program works like this: Veterinarians who join the program agree to discount their services by 20%, AlignCare pays 80% and the family is responsible for paying only 20% of the cost of care.  For people like Queen’s person, who cannot afford the 20%, DDR pays the family co-pay.  To be clear, this is not a “hand-out”, a one-time assistance for a pet’s medical care. This is whole health.  This is the future of animal welfare.  Once a family is enrolled into the AlignCare program, our counselor Amanda leads the enrollment efforts, the family forms a relationship with a veterinarian, their pet can access care when needed without waiting for a pop-up clinic, or some free pet fair that may or may not be able to assist them.  AlignCare puts the access to veterinarian care where it should be, directly with the low income family who needs it.

Friday, Queen had her first appointment and will have surgery soon to repair her ear.  It will be a series of treatments, medications, exams and rechecks to get her ears in healthy shape, but with the […]

Clancy’s Closet

 

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.

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