Poverty's Pets

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Poverty's Pets

Poverty's Pets supports under-served communities with a focus on spay/neuter & community education.

Poverty’s Pets was incorporated in 2005 under the direction of the Founder and Animal Advocate, Kate Sivolella and is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. With a mission of aiding abandoned, neglected, and abused companion animals in low-income and underserved communities, Poverty’s Pets also provides education programs and veterinary care services (including spay/neuter) to families in the low-incom

e areas of Phoenix, AZ. In addition to these initiatives, Poverty’s Pets partners with local schools to educate students on the respect and welfare for all beings, and to promote positive interactions between the dogs and students. Since 2008, Poverty’s Pets has facilitated the adoption of over 1000 animals, provides medical services (including spay and neuter) to over 800 each year. With a compassionate volunteer network, it is Poverty’s Pets goal to end animal cruelty, suffering, overpopulation and homelessness.

06/03/2026

It has been a long time coming!

For over a decade, Poverty's Pets has been on the front lines advocating for anti-tethering legislation in Phoenix. It has been a painstakingly slow process, often frustrating, and a lesson in understanding how animal welfare legislation moves through our city. We have met with Councilmembers, the City of Phoenix Police, and numerous animal welfare organizations. We have seen proposed language revised, delayed, and put on the shelf.

But today, we are celebrating an important victory.

The proposed anti-tethering language is one step closer to becoming law after passing unanimously through the subcommittee.

While there is still work to do, we are incredibly encouraged by today's vote. For years, we have advocated for stronger protections for dogs in our community, and today feels like real progress.

Poverty's Pets will be sharing action items in the coming days to help ensure our elected City of Phoenix Councilmembers vote "yes" when this measure comes before them (June 17th). If it passes — and we are hopeful it will — tethering a dog as a means of confinement will be illegal and enforceable in the City of Phoenix.
Stay tuned. The finish line is finally in sight.

06/02/2026

We came across this homeless embankment a few weeks ago, and we went back with dog food in hand.

The older woman living there is anxious to get her female pit bull spayed. The dog recently had puppies, and the woman told us the man in the "other tent" killed them. We take these stories with a grain of salt, but it's clear the dog did recently give birth.

She also shared that months ago, a kind woman had promised to help get her dog spayed but never returned. "If she had come back, my dog wouldn't have had puppies," she said, still upset.

There are other dogs wandering the embankment too—scruffy, thin, and just trying to survive.

But back to the mama dog. Once her teats dry up, we will get her spayed.

06/01/2026

It is never-ending...the suffering.

What the hell is going on in this city? It has never been worse. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise.

Poverty's Pets is on the front lines, not the receiving end. This dog had been on our radar for some time. Doodle and poodle-type dogs are incredibly popular in many underserved communities. They are also high-energy dogs that require consistent grooming and care. Nevertheless, they are bred over and over again, and far too many end up like this sweet boy.

If not for our friends at , who made space available for him, he would still be sitting in that side yard. We simply do not have the resources to take on the dozens of dogs and cats we come across who deserve better.

What we can do is educate—both pet owners and the general public. Too many people remain unaware of the scale of the suffering and the realities of animal welfare in the City of Phoenix. Until our community takes pet overpopulation seriously and embraces responsible pet ownership, the cycle of neglect, abandonment, and suffering will continue at its current pace.

If you are concerned about what is happening to animals in our city, contact your City Councilmember. Ask what is being done to address pet overpopulation, increase access to affordable spay and neuter services, and address the growing animal welfare crisis facing Phoenix. Rescues and shelters cannot solve this problem alone. Meaningful change will require community involvement, public awareness, and leadership from our elected officials.

05/31/2026

Sunday Funday at the Columbus House!

Rango and Sunshine are enjoying the cool morning weather and some quality time together. We had originally deemed Rango an only-dog kind of guy, but it turns out we had him all wrong. Rango is a laid-back senior who truly enjoys the companionship of other respectful pooches.

Sometimes all a dog needs is the right match.

05/30/2026

These situations are always difficult, and far too common.

“I don’t want them,” is what the owner kept telling us. Their living space was filled with f***s and flies. The dogs have shade under a porch, and the owner provides a pool, but it sits in the sun and quickly becomes dirty and murky.

We have two options we can offer: we will sponsor sterilizations, knowing aftercare may be a concern, but at least the cycle of litters will stop. Or we can turn the dogs over to county. These situations are never easy.

As we encounter so many dogs and cats living in survival mode, we do our best to improve conditions and provide education. The City of Phoenix simply does not offer enough resources or meaningful, enforceable laws to curb the nonstop backyard breeding.

We are currently focused on 4–5 blocks near 37th Avenue and Polk. The level of suffering is overwhelming. So many dogs and cats are born into neglect and hardship. Those few blocks alone keep us very busy.

05/28/2026

Tonight we visited a feral cat colony and spoke with the caregiver. There are more than 20 cats living there, and none have been spayed or neutered.

We receive a constant stream of requests for help with feral cats, while also maintaining a mile-long list of families in our targeted underserved communities that are in desperate need of TNR services.

The feral cat population is a community issue, yet resources for community cats and TNR programs are few and far between in Phoenix. The suffering is immense, and the emotional and financial burden placed on caregivers is heartbreaking and never ending.

The cats pictured here are among the lucky ones because someone shows up every single day to feed and provide fresh water. But the colony has now grown to more than 20 cats and kittens, and more continue to appear. Without accessible spay and neuter programs, the cycle simply continues...in lighting fast fashion.

Soon all these cats will be sterilized. We are not saving the world, but to this caregiver, having these cats spayed and neuter means the world to him.

05/25/2026

It is a difficult day for many Americans today as we think of their loved ones who made the ultimate sacrifice. We honor and remember you, your families, and the many brave dogs who also served alongside them with such loyalty and courage. Happy Memorial Day.

05/22/2026

Oh Gordy! What a sweet, lovable grouch he is!

The first ten minutes after meeting Gordy, he does not sell himself well. But then, for the rest of your life — and his — he becomes the most devoted, loving, sweet, hilarious companion.

Gordy came into our care back in January. He was humanely trapped, and he was nervous, insecure, and very fearful.

Gordy has been thriving in a very unique situation. Volunteers come multiple times a day to care for him. He has so many friends now, even though he was initially terrified of each one of his caregivers.

Now Gordy is a champ on the leash, loves to go cruisin’, and does great at local drinking establishments.

All Gordy needs is a patient (cat-less) person who understands that it may not be love at first sight with him… but it will be for the rest of his life.

05/20/2026

You build it, they will come. Yesterday we hosted our free community spay and neuter clinic. Spay and neuter days are by far the most important work we do. We see many dogs living outside 24/7, and many others who are deeply loved companion animals living safely inside their homes. But the majority share one thing in common — at some point, they were strays.

We are grateful to the folks who continue opening their homes and hearts to a never-ending stream of street dogs and cats, making sure they are sterilized, cared for, and given a chance at a better life. Yesterday was a good day! We built it, and they came.

Address

PO Box 40112
Phoenix, AZ
85067

Website

http://www.povertyspets.org/

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