In these trying economic times, the importance of our accessible services cannot be overstated. Among the hardest hit by these challenges are the houseless, whose loyal animal companions often share in their hardships. In our own community, we see people and pets together through the struggles of houselessness, becoming a pair that relies on each other. In such moments, our...Read More
I’m watching the blood roll down Dr. Carey’s arm, but he isn’t letting go. We’ve been working with this dog, Patsy Mae, for several minutes, trying to get her vaccinations done. One of her nails got doc on the arm as she struggled, so it’s just a minor scratch that’s bleeding, but still. This is likely a far different retirement...Read More
The nonprofit life can be frustrating at times because of the limitations of any organization. You want to grow, you want to reach more people, you want to be able to have a more holistic approach to the problems you address. But you can’t always do that because of limitations on resources, funding, staffing, etc. #nonprofitlife That’s where partnerships come...Read More
It’s easy in the day-to-day to put your head down and do your work and not look at the big picture. Days are busy, and full of pets who need help. You look for the bright spots that make all the effort worthwhile. The success stories, the families we keep together through supportive services, the person who managed to come...Read More
As we head toward the end of another year of saying “yes” to clients and providing as much help as we possibly can, we inevitably look back to see how we’re doing, what kind of impact we’re making in our community, and how far we’ve come in helping keep pets and people together. We just finished up the fiscal year,...Read More
We lost a client last week that we’d been working with for at least a decade. His name was Carl, and he was one of the best friends to cats that I’ve ever met. Even so, the first thing I heard about Carl was that he wasn’t always easy to deal with. I have to scroll all the way back...Read More
Some things, you don’t forget. You can’t. For me, Lucas’ face will be one of those things. I’m not a veterinarian, I’m in communications. Working here, I’ve gotten used to the idea that I’m going to see some things that might be off-putting to most people. Sometimes you see a dog that’s been bitten by another dog. Sometimes you have...Read More
Not every outreach case is something huge. Sometimes what people need isn’t something big; just some advice, maybe a few resources. It’s knowing that we’re here that makes all the difference. This was the case with Tony, Tina and their daughter Kayla. Someone Kayla knew had a dog that had just given birth. Having fallen in love with them (and...Read More
Everything’s different. We show up later, for one thing. The sun is already up when we get here, and has been for a little while, which makes the empty streets feel even stranger. Troost, normally bustling with traffic, is nearly silent, except for the occasional bus. It’s unsettling because this is our home; we get used to the sounds of...Read More
Interconnectedness. It’s a big word, with even bigger implications. Nothing happens in a vacuum. Our workplace culture is based on this idea. All your decisions have consequences, whether it’s for you, a coworker, or a client. You decision will eventually affect someone else’s decision, or their ability to make a decision. Your choices can help provide or take away choices...Read More
