News from Pets of the Homeless

Providing Pet Food and Veterinary Care

February 2010

Dear (Contact First Name),

We all know that our dog or cat can almost always cheer us up after a bad and stressful day. Think how much comfort they would be if you were alone and homeless living on the streets.

Research into human-animal bonds is still in its infancy. The National Institutes of Health states that a growing number of studies are discovering the ways pets can help us lead healthier lives. From cardiovascular health to social connections our pets bring us more than health benefits. They give us unconditional love, and loyalty.

We recently received a note that expressed shock that we do not mention spay/neuter in our brochures.

We agree that spay/neutering is essential and for the sake of over-population of pets it should be a part of our program. Indirectly it is. This procedure is one that the veterinarians provide at free clinics through our grant program. They are in the best position to carry out as many spay/neuter as possible. And we look for this in their grant applications. We know the vets encourage the homeless to spay/neuter. Many homeless decline the offer because of the transportation issues, a pet usually has to stay overnight for observation. Then there is the issue of separation anxiety. Their pets are with them 24/7 and the only family they have. In some cases the homeless are afraid that their dog will not be returned because society judges that if they can not take care of their self, how can they take good care of a pet? Many homeless will not seek medical treatment for their self because they have no one to care for their pet. So we leave it up to the vets and their staff to speak to and reassure the homeless that spay/neuter is the right thing to do.

Due to their devotion to their pets many homeless will not seek medical treatment for their self because they have no one to care for their pet while in the hospital.

Another donor wrote "If any of you every have any information about the haunting figure and his dog in our newsletter, please write a piece about them and put me out of my misery."

We know the photo was taken in Toronto more than two years ago. It is very moving and we are grateful that K. Bole allowed us to use it. If you have a photo that you would like to submit for our use please send it in for review.

Member Feature

It would be difficult to find a more dedicated, hard working volunteer for disadvantaged animals and Pets of the Homeless than Donna Butler-Gates. Her outreach extends beyond her own business, Donna's Pet Grooming Mobile Service "At Home Sweet Home and includes: recruiting volunteers, members, organizing food drives and veterinary care for pets of the homeless.

Donna is a one-woman army for Pets of the Homeless and the many pets that she visits at a homeless camp. She delivers pet food, blankets, collars, flea and tick treatments and talks with the homeless about vaccines and spay/neuter. She helps with transportation of pets that are in need of veterinary care.

In 2008, Donna reported the efforts of Mrs. DiMaggio's 1st grade class at McKinley Elementary School. "I was floored the teacher sent me some of their flyers about how they tried to reach the public, they gave a huge supply of goodies from food, to dishes, flea treatment, Frisbees and cash donations totaling $82.00. They called it "Show a little love."

Donna set a goal to put out Pets of the Homeless donation receptacles, encourage publicity on radio and TV, and getting the word out to the homeless in her area. She requested grant applications and information for veterinarians in the area including Russell Hackler, DVM at the Grove Way Veterinary Hospital and Dr. S. M. Schuchman at the Boulevard Pet Hospital in Castro Valley, CA. Both hospitals have been awarded special grants that go to treating the pets that Donna brings to them. As in the case of all grants, salaries and wages are not part of the award and detailed accounting of each pet treated is required.

An elderly homeless woman at the homeless camp told Donna how she used up her savings to rescue pit bulls from fighting rings. She sometimes bought animals from the ring leaders. One of Maria's dogs, Rafy, a 64 pound pit-bull mix, was in danger of dying due to a very bad case of a yeast infection. Because of Donnas' training, she knew the dog was in trouble.

Donna contacted Feeding Pets of the Homeless to ask for help. Genevieve Frederick told her, "We may have to rethink how we give out grants because this case was so special. I have a feeling you might run into a special homeless person that needs help again."

Though individual care to one animal at a time is not the intent of Pets of the Homeless, checks have been sent to cover veterinary expenses for Maria's dog, Rafy. Since March 2008, Pets of the Homeless has awarded $1,065 for medication for Rafy, which includes Prednisolone, Cephalexin, Mometamax, and Malaseb shampoo.

In 2008, Donna was involved in a flea clinic. She said, "The animals and people were definitely disadvantaged and needed the supplies. The four volunteers and I spent 4 hours on 8/23 and three volunteers spent 6 hours on 9/20. Twenty animals were treated. I was able to use my grooming services to aid the disadvantaged as well. All were very grateful. We hope to do this once a month."

In December 2008, Donna helped with a Frontline Flea Clinic for 88 dogs. Steve Sapontzis said, "700-800 cans of dog food were given, whose owners belong to clients of the Fort Bragg Food Bank. This effort was in cooperation with Friends of Mendocino Coast Animals, The Eileen Hawthorne Fund, FoMCA, EHF, Sunshine Rescue, Pets of the Homeless and Hayward Friends of Animals (Second Chance Rescue).

Donna's enthusiasm for feeding pets of the homeless and sincerity is shared by many of her clients who have also generously donated to Pets of the Homeless.

Pet project