ASPCA Partners with People Assisting the Homeless and Long Beach Health & Human Services Department to Assist Pets of Individuals Experiencing Homelessness

On Tuesday, July 29, we partnered with People Assisting the Homeless (PATH) to provide medical services to pets who belong to individuals experiencing homelessness. During this community event, we parked our mobile primary pet care clinic at an interim housing establishment in Los Angeles that provides shelter for the unhoused and their furry family members, and we treated several sick and injured animals, as well as provided wellness care and vaccinations for several other dogs and cats. In total, 34 pets and their people were served.

"Seeing the impact, we have on the pet parent's faces makes it all worth it,” said Tasha Crabtree, the ASPCA’s Director of Nursing for our Community Medicine team in Los Angeles. “It does not feel like hard work when you are able to get out in the community and help people and their beloved pets. I am grateful for partnerships like this that help connect us to those in need and allow us to do what we do best every day."

The event in July was the second of the summer with PATH, with the first taking place on Friday, June 6, at PATH’s Hollywood location. In total, 15 animals were helped that day through primary pet care and surgery services for both dogs and cats. 

These events, which will be hosted monthly, bring a range of animals, from young adult pets to senior animals, and through them we are able to provide wellness exams, vaccines, flea prevention, minor treatments and surgical procedures including spay and neuter to those in need in these communities. We also provide pet parents with education on preventive care, guidance on follow-up needs, personalized name tags, goodie bags with supplies and information about future resources.

In addition to our work with PATH, we also partnered with Long Beach Health & Human Services Department in July at their Multi-Service Center, which provides a variety of services for individuals experiencing homelessness.

There, we provided care for 51 pets through sick and wellness appointments, completed 13 spay/neuter surgeries and performed one enucleation (eye removal) surgery to relieve a dog of chronic pain. We also provided support and education tailored to each pet and pet parent.

“Every time we show up for a community event, we’re reminded that compassion is a powerful form of care,” said Stephany Soto, the ASPCA’s Senior Director of Operations for Community Medicine. “Our team isn't just offering medical support, they are providing dignity, relief and a moment of hope to people navigating some tough circumstances. It’s humbling and deeply rewarding to be a resource for these individuals when they need it most.”