Emergency Veterinary Care for Pets of the Homeless

An eye and ear problem can cause anguish and anxiety for the owner of a pet when they have limited or no resources.  These two stories demonstrate how your support has helped two loving dogs.   

My name is Tuff. I am a two-month-old male Pitbull and live with my human who has been experiencing homeless for the last three years.  We live in a tent in Riverside, CA.  

Recently I have been dealing with an allergy issue with my eyes. My owner did not think much of it at first until one day when I woke up, I couldn’t open my eyes. My eye lids were swollen shut. He immediately started to panic and started to go online on his phone to look for some help. Fortunately, he was able to come across an organization that helps homeless pets like me.

Once an intake was completed an exam was approved immediately, I was able to go and see the doctor although I really couldn’t see him, but he evaluated me and a treatment plan was done which included: injection, eye ointment, and medications to take home.

I am forever thankful that there is an organization out there who can assist less fortunate ones like us.

Feeding Pets of the Homeless contributed a total of $404 towards my care.

Hi, my name is Lola, and I am a four year old spay female boxer mix.

I have been living on the streets of Sacramento CA with my dad for the past two years.

My dad is employed and receives food stamps. We do not have any transportation.  We have friends in the encampment that give us rides.

I was having some issues with my ear and my dad became very concerned, so he called Feeding Pets of the Homeless.

An intake was completed, and an exam was approved for me.

After my exam it was determined that I had a baseball size abscess in my ear that needed to be surgically removed.

 In total Feeding Pets of the Homeless contributed $784.

Form Doug and Lola,

“I just wanted to thank you folks and your awesome organization for helping me and Lola through this difficult time I do not know what we would have done without you guys, you must be or are associated with a bunch of angels.  I'm on my way to pick her up right now thanks again from the bottom of my heart.”

“Just thought we'd send you a final thank you Loloa seems to be making a total recovery thanks to you folks there and what you do.  Her abscess is about the size of a quarter compared to the softball size it was.  Thanks again we love you folks!”

Our thanks goes you!  You helped Tuff and Lola with your support. 

Links:

• Modern Dog Magazine
• Feeding Pets of the Homeless website

Under the umbrella of our Emergency Veterinary Care Program, we have implemented the Veteran Pet Support Program. This program holds particular significance for me, as my husband and many members of my family are Veterans.

This program operates with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, and together, we aim to assist veterans who are currently experiencing homelessness or were previously homeless in accessing veterinary services and pet food from local food banks and pantries.

Over the past twelve months, through this collaboration, Feeding Pets of the Homeless has supported 49 Veterans in the HUD-VASH program by covering the costs of basic veterinary services. These services include annual wellness checks, vaccinations, spaying/neutering, flea/tick prevention, heartworm prevention, and treatment for acute injuries or illnesses. Additionally, we have assisted another 40 homeless veterans with pets who were not part of VA programs.

“A pet can be a source of joy, love and comfort but sometimes, individuals experiencing homelessness may lack sufficient resources to care for both them and their pets, with many sacrificing their own needs to prioritize those of their animal,” said Executive Director for the Homeless Programs Office Monica Diaz. “Partnerships like this one are especially important in helping Veterans avoid having to choose between caring for themself or their best friend.”

Feeding Pets of the Homeless estimates that among America's estimated homeless population of 3.5 million, between 5-24% have dogs and/or cats as companions. Pets can provide protection, both in terms of warmth and their ability to recognize when an individual is experiencing a medical crisis.

In 2022, Feeding Pets of the Homeless assisted 128 veterans, with 77 of them participating in the Housing and Urban Development-VA Supportive Housing program. The average cost per household was $538 per pet, resulting in veterinary invoices totaling more than $68,800.

I have included VA information so that if you know of a Veteran in need of assistance, you can direct them accordingly. The VA offers life-saving services to eligible Veterans who are at risk of or experiencing homelessness, as well as those participating in the HUD-VASH program. Veterans can visit their local VA medical center or contact the National Call Center for Homeless Veterans at (877) 4AID-VET (877-424-3838) for assistance.

We are committed to continuing our support for Veterans' pets well into the future. Additionally, Feeding Pets of the Homeless actively participates in Stand Downs with the assistance of volunteers from across the country.

Stand Downs are events during which VA staff and volunteers provide homeless and at-risk Veterans with food, clothing, and health screenings. Furthermore, Veterans also receive referrals for essential services, including healthcare, housing solutions, employment assistance, substance use treatment, and mental health counseling.

As the saying goes, "Helping one person might not change the world, but it could change the world for one person."

Links:

• Feeding Pets of the Homeless
• Your Make a Difference - Video
• 2022 Annual Report