Emergency Veterinary Care for Pets of the Homeless

During this unprecedented pandemic, we are committed to providing pets that belong to the homeless with emergency veterinary care across the country.

Our mission, for those of you who are not familiar with our national nonprofit:

Feeding Pets of the Homeless believes in the healing power of companion pets and of the human/animal bond, which is very important in the lives of many homeless. They find solace, protection and companionship through their pets. They care for their pets on limited resources so they themselves have less. Our task, nationwide, is to feed and provide basic emergency veterinary care to their pets and thus relieve the anguish and anxiety of the homeless who cannot provide for their pets.

So what is happening to the homeless during the COVID-19 ???

• With the fear of contracting COVID-19 many homeless have no place to “shelter in place”. 

• Homeless shelters are not taking in new clients.
• Larger cities are opening up hotel and motel rooms to the homeless but “no pets”.
• Homeless are told not to leave their encampments and have no way of getting food or supplies; they rely on the generosity of nonprofits, faith organizations and the public to bring it to them. 
• Feeding Pets of the Homeless requires verification of homelessness before we can assist with emergency veterinary care.  Most agencies that used to do it are now closed. 
• Homeless are hearing rumors and are fearful their pet has contracted the virus when the pet is vomiting or has diarrhea. 
• Homeless have limited access to current news.  
• Homeless are more stressed than usual when calling for help. 
• Homeless are more concerned about their pets than themselves.

Here are a couple of examples from callers today that have pets:

Client stated that sometimes when the weather is bad she could stay with a friend, but people are no longer willing to take her in due to the virus. Sometimes a group gets together to pitch in for a hotel, but she isn’t able to find anyone to pitch in with her. Now staying in a tent for the last month.

Client a carpenter/landscaper lost his job and is unable secure any more work, currently living out of his RV for the last 9 months.

This week we have 23 cases that are being treated in CA, WA, OK, OH, MT, CO and NV. We have a network of over 960 hospitals in 50 states.  Most hospitals have new protocols in place that clients and the homeless must call and then wait in the parking lot for staff to come out and take the pet.  People are not allowed in the building.  This causes separation anxiety for the human and the animal. 

Case Managers are working at home and our voice mail is working.  So if you know of homeless in your community, let know we are here to help with emergency veterinary care.  The number is 775-841-7463.

Your support has been and is awesome.  If you are a recurring donor please consider increasing your monthly giving even by $5.

As a reminder. . .  The law allows an above-the-line income tax charitable deduction up to $300 ($600 for a married couple) even if you don’t itemize your 2020 income tax return. The break is available to people who claim the standard deduction, which is $12,400 for singles or $24,800 for married-filing jointly in 2020. This provision was inserted specifically to encourage charitable giving this year.

 With sincerely gratitude, 

Genevieve Frederick, Founder

Links:

• Help Pets of Homeless