Pets are such an important part of households.
Yet not all households are created equal.
While some have the deep love for their pets, they lack the education or financial resources to provide some of the care they would benefit to receive. There are even homeless people whose only thing in life is their pet! They would feed them before themselves.
Some say that if you can’t afford to care for your pet you shouldn’t have one. While countless pets remain abandoned and homeless. The issues are difficult, as are the solutions. Yet the bond of human and pet is so vital. We must continue to strive to find solutions!
Some programs reaching out to the underserved:
HSUS Pets For Life program works with the underserved communities providing direct care in Philadelphia, Los Angeles, and Atlanta but has a mentorship program with an official presence in many more states. PFL reaches out door-to-door to pet owners in communities that are underserved in education, funds, and resources. While they may not have the info or funds, Pets For Life provides a way for these pet owners to provide the care their pets need which creates a win-win!
Charm City Companions
A nonprofit based in Baltimore providing support and many free services.
Charm City Companions ( 501c3, non-profit): CCC is a community outreach initiative, modeled after The HSUS Pets for Life community outreach program reaching under-served communities across the country, which was co-developed by illume communications’ Annie Pruitt, co-founder of CCC. Charm City Companion’s goal is to extend the reach of animal welfare services, resources, and information to under-served communities in Baltimore City.”
Emancipet brings underserved and bilingual communities in Texas quality pet care services and information. Their program has expanded into Philadelphia as well!
All About Animals Rescue
A Michigan-based nonprofit providing services and support to the underserved communities in their State.
All About Animals Rescue is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, founded in 2005, is dedicated to ending pet overpopulation. They describe themselves as “the largest high quality, high volume, low-cost to no-cost spay and neuter, non-profit animal wellness organization in Michigan with clinics in Warren, Detroit and Auburn Hills. Our focus is on spay/neuter, community cat management, pet adoption and pet wellness care in the pursuit of No More Homeless Pets! “
Best Friend Society’s National Conference in 2016 included a presentation related to helping to assist those in underprivileged areas to keep pets in their homes.
Click here to view Maddie’s Funds report about the presentation.
PetAid Colorado Community Outreach strives to meet the needs of pet owners with fixed incomes and issues of access by bringing veterinary care and healthcare information to the home. It also strives to provide pet owners with valuable information about pet behavior and diet.
Shelter Medicine Program at the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University
Fantastic program linking training of veterinary students with the underserved pet owning community. As described on their website:
Shelter Medicine is a field of veterinary medicine dedicated to the care and needs of underserved animals. At Tufts, the Shelter Medicine Program works with underserved animals such as community cats, shelter animals and animals belonging to pet owners in need, while teaching students practice-ready skills. A host of area partners work with the school to provide opportunities for students to observe and gain experience working in shelters in Massachusetts.
Writings on the topic:
ASPCA – link between pets, people and poverty
Vet care is one area that is often unavailable to many due to financial constraints. Below is a link to an article about this topic.
Article about the crisis related to lack of vet care for underserved populations.