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Greetings!
It has been two months since I began as Executive Director with Pets of the Homeless. I could not be more thankful to be part of this amazing organization. Words cannot describe the feelings I have when we're able to help these animals.
Each and every day we receive phone calls from people all over the country telling their stories. So many have been heartbreaking. When we're able to help them, they are so grateful and usually in tears.
I spoke to a woman living in Florida the other day who is fostering her brother-in-law's 17 year old dog named, Apollo. The brother-in-law is currently living in a homeless shelter and cannot care for his dog.
Apollo needed to be looked at for an ear infection. I called Don Swerida DVM, in Venice, FL. He has a mobile veterinary service called, Dr. Don's Mobile Vet Service. The woman was sick herself and did not drive so Dr. Swerida was happy to be of service.
When I tried calling back to tell her about the mobile vet, I found her phone had been disconnected. A couple days later, I decided to try again to check on the dog and she answered.
She started to cry and said, "I can't believe you called back. No one in my own town would give me the time of day, but here you are calling from across the country."
She was so grateful she took our mailing address and said she will donate money to us in the future. Apollo was treated by Dr. Don, the mobile vet, for his ear infection and is doing fine. The woman was able to pay herself.
It is stories like this that make my job so wonderful!
Sincerely,
Renee Lowry, Executive Director775-841-7463
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Pablo
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A homeless gentleman called Pets of the Homeless because a dog, Pablo, needed a rabies shot and licensing or the owner would be fined by the local Animal Control.
Martin, the owner, is temporarily living with a disabled woman in Nebraska.
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Woman Previously Homeless Writes
I gathered some dog and cat food and dropped it off at a few shelters and gave to some at the shopping center where a few of the local homeless were panhandling.
I do not judge. They are hungry and this is the only way for most to get money. I bought some treats for their dogs. I hope this all helps.
I was like those 5 months ago, homeless living in a park with my two cats. I know how guilty and heartbroken one feels when you can't feed your pets. I was lucky strangers gave me food and I recycled every day to buy them food.
It breaks my heart to think about it. I lost one of my cats through that ordeal. The void it left will never be filled.
God bless all of you at Pets of the Homeless for doing what you do. Let's hope and pray that soon all pets and their owners will have a warm home and that living in parks and shelters and shopping carts will be a thing of the past.
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Miami, Florida
Thanks to the generous donation of $1,500 from Pets of the Homeless, Veterinary Care and Human Services was able to continue outreach to the pets of homeless individuals in the Miami-Dade area.
On April 3rd, VCHS volunteers were performing routine wellness checks on dogs housed in outdoor kennel facilities in the homestead area. It became apparent that one patient, Princessa, a 6-year-old German Shepherd, was in need of medical attention.
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Princesa
before surgery |
On the right side of her head was a mass the size of a tennis ball. With your donation, VCHS used the facilities of Tropical Park Animal Hospital and the labor of Albert R. Iglesias to successfully remove the mass.
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happy owner |
Princesa made a full recovery and her owner could not have been happier.
On May 25th, a 6-month-old terrier mix we named Magic was found in an area commonly trafficked by homeless. He had paralysis of his left hind leg and of the lower half of his tail from being hit by a car.
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Max at his new
'forever' home |
Dr. Albert R. Iglesias performed an amputation of the left hind leg and of the lower half of his tail.
On June 3rd, VCHS was notified that a dog we had micro-chipped as part of our routine wellness checks had been picked up by Miami-Dade Animal Control. We identified and contacted the owner, and the next day volunteers picked up Max.
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Max before shave
and haircut |
Although Max was in good health, his long hair had become extremely matted. A local grooming shop, Kute Kuts, volunteered their services and shaved away all of Max's matts.
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Max after |
Max is currently being boarded at Tropical Park Animal Hospital until the homeless individual is able to pick him up.
Routine wellness checks were performed as well with the help of your donation. We appreciate your help and your continued support of our efforts.
Kathleen Temple
Operations Coordinator
Veterinary Care and Human Services
Pets of the Homeless learned that volunteer, Kathleen Temple, was accepted to veterinary school and moved away. We wish her the best in her studies.
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About Pets of the Homeless
Thanks to all volunteers and donors, Pets of the Homeless has an outreach across the United States and into Canada. Renee Lowry, Executive Director
206 S. Division Street Carson City, Nevada
89703
775-841-7463
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Kathi Giurlani, a Board Member of Pets of the Homeless, is a registered nurse and pet advocate. She is the Editor of this newsletter.
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Donors of the Month
for
December 2011
Ms. Tufte
Bell Rock Growers
Tizzio Foundation
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Kindness in Royal Palm Beach, Florida
Amy Rohan, owner of Coffee News, an entertaining weekly newspaper, donated a free ad to Pets of the Homeless. She has also placed donation cans in establishments where her newspaper can be found.
Amy was on her way to Mario Bros. Gourmet Pasta Restaurant which is a collection site for Pets of the Homeless, to pick up donations to take to a distribution center. While there, the owner asked how things were going.
She related to him the story about the dogs of homeless gentlemen. Without a word, he opened the cash register and gave our volunteer $100 to help!
Pets of the Homeless is always moved by the kindness of strangers.
On our behalf and that of the pets of the homeless who will be helped by his generosity, Amy gave him a big hug of appreciation. Her eyes were not dry when she left the restaurant.
Amy works directly with the homeless. Fleas are a problem for animals in Florida, so Pets of the Homeless was delighted to send her 48 doses of flea treatments to help.
Among the homeless, Amy learned of a gentleman with two dogs in need of care. One of his dogs needed a tooth extracted and the other needed treatment for a boil on its ear.
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FYI$7.79 a day feeds and provides veterinary care for one dog.
Over 100.19 Tons of Pet Food Collected & Distributed Since 2008
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