A Lifeline for Seattle’s Homeless Pet Owners
On Saturday, February 13, Helping Homeless Hounds will have a one day free pet store for low income and homeless pet owners from Noon-5 PM at the Union Gospel Mission in downtown Seattle.
” their dog is their only family, their reason to stay sober if they struggle with addiction, their reason to keep going, their safety.” Image from Pets of the Homeless.
Danielle Shepherd & Sean McCarthy organized the event. They also started a group called Pit-a-Billy to raise awareness about Pit Bulls.
Last month I wrote that Danielle Shepherd initiated the donation drive because she works near Pioneer Square and sees “the hardships of homelessness daily” and “how many homeless people have dogs.”
Care Packages
The goal of the donation drive is to provide care packages for Seattle’s homeless dog owners.
The store will be set up under tents in the parking lot of The Union Gospel Mission during The Doney Memorial Pet Clinic which provides free veterinary care to the pets of homeless and qualifying low income people in the Seattle area.
Qualified dog owners will be able to take anything they need for their dog. There will be a limited amount of cat supplies as well.
Community member donations and local business sponsorships from ZOOM ROOM, Muttley Crew Cuts, Thunderbird Tavern, Pegasus Coffee Bar, Addiction Foods & The Animal Aid & Rescue Foundation funded the store’s set up.
Please help get the word out on this event. As you can imagine, many of Seattle’s homeless pet owners don’t have regular access to email or the internet.
If you know anyone that works with homeless and low income families, please let them know about this event. Many homeless pet owners will forgo eating so they can feed their dogs. Providing dog food for their pets makes a huge difference in their lives.
Pit-a-Billy is planning another free pet store in North Seattle/Shoreline area. I’ll post the details when I have them.
How can one help at these events?
Here’s a message from the event organizer about how you can help.
Please tag anyone you would think might be interested in this Helping Homeless Hounds opportunity!!
Due to many amazing people still wanting to donate to our cause, we are currently working on long term donation drop of locations for our Helping Homeless Hounds Free Pet Stores. We can’t tell you how amazed and shocked we are at the amazing out pour of support.
We are looking for locally owned small business pet stores, in hopes to support small business while helping dog owners in need. We are looking for ONE store in each of the following locations:
*Shoreline/Edmonds
*Northgate/University District
*Kirkland/Bellevue
*West Seattle
*Tacoma
Each store would be provided a large donation bin, that would be in store for a minimum of 6 months. Pit-A-Billy would provide a once a month pick up of any collected items.
I am sure Next to Nature in Edmonds or All The Best Pet Care in Edmonds would jump in to help. Just contact them
Excellent, thanks.
Maybe Denny’s pet world Kirkland? On 124th across the street from Toyota of Kirkland
thanks!
Yes, I would like to volunteer to help. How can we do that?
Go to the event Facebook page and let them know. Thanks for doing it.
Would love to help in any way I can.
Here’s a message from the event organizer about how you can help.
Please tag anyone you would think might be interested in this Helping Homeless Hounds opportunity!!
Due to many amazing people still wanting to donate to our cause, we are currently working on long term donation drop of locations for our Helping Homeless Hounds Free Pet Stores. We can’t tell you how amazed and shocked we are at the amazing out pour of support.
We are looking for locally owned small business pet stores, in hopes to support small business while helping dog owners in need. We are looking for ONE store in each of the following locations:
*Shoreline/Edmonds
*Northgate/University District
*Kirkland/Bellevue
*West Seattle
*Tacoma
Each store would be provided a large donation bin, that would be in store for a minimum of 6 months. Pit-A-Billy would provide a once a month pick up of any collected items.
Is there a way to donate to this event?
Here’s a message from the event organizer about how you can help.
Please tag anyone you would think might be interested in this Helping Homeless Hounds opportunity!!
Due to many amazing people still wanting to donate to our cause, we are currently working on long term donation drop of locations for our Helping Homeless Hounds Free Pet Stores. We can’t tell you how amazed and shocked we are at the amazing out pour of support.
We are looking for locally owned small business pet stores, in hopes to support small business while helping dog owners in need. We are looking for ONE store in each of the following locations:
*Shoreline/Edmonds
*Northgate/University District
*Kirkland/Bellevue
*West Seattle
*Tacoma
Each store would be provided a large donation bin, that would be in store for a minimum of 6 months. Pit-A-Billy would provide a once a month pick up of any collected items.
This really touches my heart. I suffer from Major health issues. Without my dogs I would have no reason to get up, no reason to take my medication & at times I felt no reason to live. Though I’m much better now I can’t imagine life without my dogs, it’d be no life at all. ❤
I’m glad they’re helping you.
So the homeless can come in and receive pet food, beds, and coats for their pets?
Yes.
I have some items to donate where can I drop off? Closest to Beacon Hill please.
Here’s a message from the event organizer about how you can help.
Please tag anyone you would think might be interested in this Helping Homeless Hounds opportunity!!
Due to many amazing people still wanting to donate to our cause, we are currently working on long term donation drop of locations for our Helping Homeless Hounds Free Pet Stores. We can’t tell you how amazed and shocked we are at the amazing out pour of support.
We are looking for locally owned small business pet stores, in hopes to support small business while helping dog owners in need. We are looking for ONE store in each of the following locations:
*Shoreline/Edmonds
*Northgate/University District
*Kirkland/Bellevue
*West Seattle
*Tacoma
Each store would be provided a large donation bin, that would be in store for a minimum of 6 months. Pit-A-Billy would provide a once a month pick up of any collected items.
Seems like drop off hasn’t been arranged yet? If there is a way, please let us know. This is important work! Well done!
Not yet. Watch the event’s Facebook page for more info. I’ll post it too.
Hi! I am a board member of Puget Sound Pet Food Bank. We serve the low-income and needy pets/owners in our area twice a month in Tacoma (2nd and 4th Saturdays 10 a.m. – noon) and in Spanaway/Graham on the 3rd Saturday of the month. We also help the local homeless with their pet needs. We just wanted to let you know we’re here and we are on facebook (web site coming soon!)
Thanks for letting us know. I’ve gotten several messages like this so when I have time (ha!) I’ll put together a list of places that provide pet food banks for the homeless.
Robert thsnks for posting this…I am going to go help and Voluteer and hit Mud Bay up
facebook.com/animalhousebuilders
Board Director
SeattleCOLA.org
Thank you for your work! Happy to help get the word out, and I could reach a lot of people. (I work for Healthcare for the Homeless.). Any chance you have a simply worded (the fewer words the better), very large-font flyer for me to forward? Would love to post and hand out; just swamped today and on vacation next week. Again, thanks for your excellent work. You have probably already connected with area foodbanks, who sometimes have pet food and may be open more days than you are able to be and taking donations. (I know the collecting and distribution is a giant job…)
You should click on the link in the story to get to the organizer’s FB page. You can ask there.
How about helping the homeless in Bremerton many whom have pets as well.
What about Olympia. Many homeless animals here too. Do you have any Vet care on board? Some of these homeless animals might need a once over.
The Doney Clinic in Seattle provides free vet care for pets of the homeless 2 times a month. I don’t know if anyone is doing it in Olympia.
Will they be doing this in any other state. I know a.few people who really are having a hard time feeding thier dogs and cats.
No, but the people you know should check with local rescues to see if they provide pet food/supplies to low income/homeless pet owners. Many do.
Please let folks know, in addition to providing veterinary care to the pets of homeless and very low income folks in Seattle, The Doney Memorial Pet Clinic also provides pet food (dog, cat, and other small animals) and supplies (leashes, coats, carriers, etc) at each Clinic. They are held the 2nd and 4th Saturday of each month at The Union Gospel Mission. Donations are always appreciated, as there is such an ongoing need. Thanks for spreading the word!