Emergency Veterinary Care for Pets of the Homeless

Worldwide the COVID-19 cases are still rising.  According to the New York Times, 6/8/2020, the world has over seven million reported cases and over 403,000 deaths.    

The United States has the highest rate of recorded deaths.  In many areas in the country, we are observing a downturn of COVID-19 cases.  In my community, that is not the case.  Even so, the country is slowly opening up.  Researchers are working as fast as they can to find a vaccination that will protect us.  I fear that it will not be fast enough before a second wave of the pandemic will reappear causing economic disruption and a looming recession. 

While many people are going back to work, the chronically homeless will remain unemployed.  They are people, young and old, who have a mental or physical disability, an addiction, young people turned out of foster care, people escaping domestic violence (young and old), elderly whose pensions do not keep up with high rents.  Sixty percent of our fellow citizens are a paycheck away from homelessness.

If in fact the virus resurfaces, at Feeding Pets of the Homeless^TM, we are prepared to return to our homes and continue to serve pets that belong to the homeless across the country.  Our plan has worked well during the last few months and will again.  We have received SBA’s EIDL and PPP loans that have allowed us to continue to pay staff, keep our office lease, along with all the other overhead and programs that are required to keep helping pets that are suffering or hungry.

In April, we helped 58 pets of homeless people at a cost of $22,190 (after hospital discounts).   Of the 58 cases, 68% of the pet’s owner were homeless women.  Of the total cases, they have been homeless for two years and eight months. Only six were living in a shelter, 30% were living in a vehicle and 29% of callers were living in a tent. 

Your donations at GlobalGiving have been a blessing that I am truly grateful. 

One case in April . . .   Feeding Pets of the Homeless^TM received a call from Sheri, a homeless woman in Oakland, CA regarding her dog Peanut, a 13-year-old Miniature Pinscher Chihuahua mix that she rescued eleven years ago.  Peanut had bitten by another dog.  She said she took Peanut to the emergency room the night before she called us.  The doctor there told her that Peanut requires six medications that she could not afford.  She said that Peanut might need eye surgery.  The woman is homeless and living in a bus that was given to her by someone on Craigslist as a donation.  She has been homeless for one month and does not receive any aid.  She was referred to us by another social agency that verified her homelessness.  We approved an examination at a participating network veterinarian. 

After the exam, the veterinarian recommended and we approved an eye stain test of the cornea, Rimadyl (a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory), an e-collar and eye drops.  We assisted with $118 and received $85 in discounts.  We have not heard back from Sheri and hope that Peanut is doing well.

Your support is needed to help dogs like Peanut and women like Sheri.

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