The week of August 7-14 is the seventh National Feeding Pets of the Homeless "Give a Dog a Bone" Week. Pets of the Homeless asks the public to locate a donation site in their community by visiting Pets of the Homeless Website - Find a Location Near You. Donations of pet food should be taken to one of the identified local sites.
Homelessness is still an issue in many cities even as the economy brightens. Those left in the shadows and on the streets with pets are in need of pet food. There are over 400 Pets of the Homeless pet food donation sites across America. Donations of pet food and supplies are received at member donation sites and distributed to food banks, soup kitchens, and homeless shelters which then give the pet food and supplies to their clients.
Genevieve Frederick, Founder said, "Since 2008, donation site members have taken over 432 tons of pet food and supplies to homeless shelters, food banks and soup kitchens across the country. Some of our volunteers take it to the streets and/or camps where the homeless congregate. It is a combined effort to continue year-round collections of pet food. We applaud the caring, member sites who have reported their contributions. The need is great for communities to continue to donate to this on-going effort."
As an outreach to the homeless who own pets, Pets of the Homeless also uses cash donations to provide veterinary care to pets of the homeless at free wellness clinics as well as emergency veterinary care across the country. Over 13,820 pets have been treated.
Pets of the Homeless received a call from a participating veterinary hospital about a dog named Sparkle Face who was hit by a car that morning. Sparkle Face, a 2-year old female Australian Shepherd Queensland Blue Heeler mix, lives with her homeless guardian in a dirt lot behind a commercial location.
Pets of the Homeless assisted with an examination, x-rays of her pelvis, pain and antibiotic injections, as well as additional medications to continue treatment.
Two weeks later the hospital representative called again that Sparkle Face was there and had a 106 degree temperature. We assisted with Lyme and distemper tests and iv fluid therapy. Sparkle Face was hospitalized and Pets of the Homeless contributed the remainder to reach the maximum benefit allowable for daily hospitalization treatment. Sparkle Face was diagnosed with pancreatitis.
The bond between a pet and its homeless guardian is deep and soulful. Homeless individuals tell us that their pets offer them unconditional companionship. Their pets, just like your pet, offers them comfort, loyalty and love in the form of licks and wagging tails. Research has reported that an animal's response is independent of its owner's age, or economic circumstance. Owners say their pets "cover their backs" when they sleep in abandoned buildings, ditches and in the woods. To break the homeless cycle requires the owner to move into a shelter. Most shelters do not allow pets unless they are a service animal. Homeless pet owners will not abandon their pet and do not have the funds to board the pet.
Pets of the Homeless offers crates to shelters that will allow a pet to stay with the owner. We recently helped by sending 3 crates to a Women's Shelter. Pets of the Homeless shipped the crates directly to the shelter at no cost to the pet owner or shelter. Share Women's Shelter passed along this note: "Please pass our appreciation along to everyone. On behalf of Share, our clients, and their four legged family members.."
The crates become property of the shelter for future use.
