Animal Welfare Professionals

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  • 1.  Care Packages for pet owners experiencing homelessness

    Posted 09-28-2021 03:09 PM
    Hi all!  How many of your organizations put together care packages for pet owners experiencing homelessness?  We have figured out a way to put them together without a budget and without taking up staff's time which I thought would be great to share. 

    We receive a wide array of donations and utilize volunteer support to go through the donations and put the packages, together with leashes, collars, treats, toys, food, bowls and a blanket or bed.  Our officers carry the packages in their vehicles and offer them when they see pet owners experiencing homelessness with their pets.  It makes it so they can open a conversation to tell the person about resources they may be able to utilize such as our pet food pantry.  It has been great for the officers as they get to make an immediate impact for a person and their pet and see the gratitude.  It has also made the community feel better about interacting with our officers.  We currently have officers with a pet wheelchair on the  look out for an individual who has a German Shepherd that is having difficulty walking, hoping to find them and offer resources of organizations which will help them with continued care of their dog to keep their family unit whole.

    What is your organization doing to help the unhoused pet owners in your community?
    #FieldServicesandPublicSafety*
    #PetSupportServices*

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    Annette G. Ramirez
    Assistant General Manager
    Los Angeles Animal Services
    213-482-9558
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    Field Services and Public Safety &
    Laws and Public Policy Specialist
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  • 2.  RE: Care Packages for pet owners experiencing homelessness

    Posted 09-28-2021 03:27 PM

    Hi Annette, This is so cool. So ya'll include: leashes, collars, treats, toys, food, bowls and a blanket or (pet) bed... Do you work with any human services? and, any kind of written guidelines around the program or just going rogue and getting it done one person on the street at a time? Thanks so much!!!



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    Cheryl Lynn Boquet
    Franklin City PAWS
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  • 3.  RE: Care Packages for pet owners experiencing homelessness

    Posted 10-07-2021 08:43 AM
    Hi Cheryl, for the care packages we just have our officers carry them and offer them when they see a need.  We do partner with local human resources organizations to offer our Safety Net Fostering Program.  With that program we place animals into foster care when the owner is unable to care for their pet for a temporary reason such as going to the hospital, rehab or a shelter.   Just another way to keep families together!!

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    Annette G. Ramirez
    Assistant General Manager
    Los Angeles Animal Services
    213-482-9558
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    Field Services and Public Safety &
    Laws and Public Policy Specialist
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  • 4.  RE: Care Packages for pet owners experiencing homelessness

    Posted 10-07-2021 10:35 AM
    This is such a great idea Annette! Thank you for sharing.  Do you have any photos and stories about a specific pet and owner who received a care package? We might be able to share this on HASS social media.

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    Sara Miller
    American Pets Alive!
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