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 […]
Chevy’s person was referred to DDR by an employee at the Harbor Shelter preventing another dog from entering the shelter. 
21 year old Chica was brought to the South LA Shelter because her family could not afford the special kidney diet that she must eat, and could not afford the dental care that she desperately needed 
Clancy the therapy dog 
Happy Customer! 
Collars, leashes, harnesses for Cats and Dogs 
Donate $20 and get a DDR coffee mug 
Lots and LOTS of t-shirts, dresses, sweaters and coats for every size dog 
Clancy’s Closet LOVES cats and have a variety of toys and supplies for kitties 
