Poverty's Pets

Poverty's Pets Poverty's Pets rescues abandoned, neglected, and abused companion animals in low-income communities i

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.

Whew, we’ve been busy lately!Over the past few weeks, our focus has been on a two-block area in southwest Phoenix. We pr...
07/08/2025

Whew, we’ve been busy lately!

Over the past few weeks, our focus has been on a two-block area in southwest Phoenix. We previously passed out flyers here for one of our spay/neuter clinics—and the response was overwhelming. The number of requests we received for services—and the number of free-roaming dogs we encountered—was off the charts.

We can’t stress enough how critical spay and neuter services are in our underserved communities. This work is urgent.

Right now, the house we’ve dedicated to hosting our feral cat clinics is temporarily being used to shelter some very special guests: a litter of kittens and a mama dog with her two babies (from different litters). They’re taking up some real estate—and we’re okay with that.

The mama (Maggie) and her pups (Cloud and Tinky) are slowly learning to trust. For many dogs, the July 4th weekend is hell on earth..not so for this family. Stay tuned.

These sweet pooches are closing in on a year old. They were timid souls when they crossed our paths back in December. ...
07/07/2025

These sweet pooches are closing in on a year old. They were timid souls when they crossed our paths back in December. The siblings are best buds but will thrive separately with furry playmates to romp with. Zina and Rigby... adorable and adoptable.

For those of us in animal rescue, the 4th of July is not a celebration — it’s the most dreaded day of the year.Shelters ...
07/04/2025

For those of us in animal rescue, the 4th of July is not a celebration — it’s the most dreaded day of the year.

Shelters are bracing for the influx of terrified, displaced pets. Emergency animal hospitals are preparing for chaos. In the days and weeks that follow, displaced animals who bolted in fear will be at risk, or will have lost their life.

The skies will sound like a war zone — not just terrifying for animals, but deeply painful for our veterans. Air quality will plummet. And in a time when our nation feels more divided than ever, this holiday holds little joy for many.

We know this may sound grim. But when you work in animal rescue, you see the cost of these violent celebrations firsthand — and you feel not just for animals, but for all who are vulnerable in a country that has gone mad. Happy 4th of July!

💔 "I can't afford to feed them," the man said quietly, having just returned from the dollar store, holding a small bag o...
07/03/2025

💔 "I can't afford to feed them," the man said quietly, having just returned from the dollar store, holding a small bag of dog food.

When one of our volunteers came across this home, she simply asked how she could help. The owner, overwhelmed and doing his best, had opened his yard to strays. Then came the puppies. Now, he's struggling to keep his dog separated from the others, and there's just not enough food—or resources—to go around.

We have found a safe place for the mama dog, who was painfully thin and in need of medical care. And bags of ice were delivered to help keep the puppies and others cool. But we are urgently seeking rescue or foster placement for four innocent puppies (3 boys/ 1 female) and their gentle dad (only 25–30 lbs, though he looks bigger in photos).

With the madness of July 4th fireworks, we are desperate to move them before the skies turn into a war zone. These pups don’t deserve to endure fear or hunger.

If you can help—or know a rescue that can—please message us or email: [email protected].
Please share. Thank you.


We did something meaningful today — 40 feral cats were sterilized!Huge kudos to the team for their hard work and dedicat...
07/02/2025

We did something meaningful today — 40 feral cats were sterilized!
Huge kudos to the team for their hard work and dedication.
Spaying and neutering saves lives. It prevents suffering. It makes a difference.


Today we are hosting a feral cat clinic. Volunteers were out trapping late into the evenin. We set traps by the dumpst...
07/02/2025

Today we are hosting a feral cat clinic. Volunteers were out trapping late into the evenin. We set traps by the dumpster and trapped the little black dog....and soon after, the little white pup. Both dogs were loaded with ticks. According to the locals, both dogs are "street dogs". We saw so many free-roaming dogs, both big and some. It is absolute madness.


Some people simply should not own animals. And the lies—the absolute bullsh*t—we see right through it:“It’s not my dog.”...
07/01/2025

Some people simply should not own animals. And the lies—the absolute bullsh*t—we see right through it:
“It’s not my dog.”
“It’s my son’s dog.”
“The dog is three years old.”
“No, he’s five.”
“He’s eating fine.”
“Well, he stopped eating.”
“The bugs just showed up.”

But the truth? This dog isn’t even a year old. And his body has been hosting a severe tick infestation for months. Every single person in that household had a different story—but none of them cared enough to do anything. Not one.

We’ve placed free spay/neuter flyers on their door more than once. This pup was always outside, alone, sitting in the dirt. We even delivered a pool to help him stay cool. But this time, we knew something was wrong. He wasn’t okay.

The vast majority of people welcome our help. Many are deeply grateful. But sometimes, our kind offers are met with nothing but lies—and complete indifference to an animal’s suffering. Watching people walk past a dying dog like he’s furniture… it’s gutting.

Owning an animal is a right. Allowing one to suffer is not.

We’ve reported the situation to the Arizona Humane Society. This is an owned dog, and we can only hope he finally gets the help he deserves.


We see a lot of tethered dogs. The problem? Tethering is only illegal on certain days, making it nearly impossible to en...
06/30/2025

We see a lot of tethered dogs. The problem? Tethering is only illegal on certain days, making it nearly impossible to enforce. This legal inconsistency allows agencies like and the Arizona Humane Society to craft carefully worded PR campaigns that focus more on optics than real protection.

Meanwhile, our small grassroots org has been blocked by AHS from tagging them on social media 🙄 — likely because we’re saying what they won’t: both AHS and Phoenix Police are pro-tethering.

Their messaging leans on the word “unlawful”, as in: “It’s unlawful to tether your dog.” But is it really? In truth, it’s legal — depending on the day. That word choice misleads the public and provides cover for inaction, while dogs remain tethered in the heat.

Take the dog in this photo. We reported him back in February — chained to the tree. AHS marked the case as “resolved.” But the only change? The chain was swapped for a cable. This happens often. It appears AHS is handing out cables to the pet owners. As for the AHS “Break the Chain” campaign? Feels more like “Extend the cable.”

Adding to the issue: a massive lack of public education. We’ve seen time and again that many offenders simply don’t know better... don’t understand heat risk, and have no concept of humane treatment. The good news is that when we engage and educate, we can make a difference. Handing out tarps and cables to prolong the cruel confinement is NOT education.

This particular dog is on our radar. Often, his only water — a mop bucket — is tipped over and empty. His shade is a single tree. His shelter? Likely over 130° inside. He’s missing a leg, yet left outside in extreme conditions, 24/7 for years.

We even tried speaking with the owner. Small talk. Polite questions. His response: “Mind your own business.”

But when we see a 3-legged dog doing everything he can just to survive, we will not mind our own business. Not while agencies dodge accountability. Not while laws fail to protect. Not while people — often uneducated and unsupported — continue this cycle of neglect. Not while suffering is so plainly visible, and rampant in our city.


Oh, don’t be fooled by the glittering PR machine of the Arizona Humane Society (who, by the way, block our tiny grassroo...
06/27/2025

Oh, don’t be fooled by the glittering PR machine of the Arizona Humane Society (who, by the way, block our tiny grassroots org from even tagging them — real classy, huh?). For decades, AHS and the have cozied up at the legislative table, waving the flag for pro-tethering policies. Yep — they’ve worked hand-in-paw to advocate for what any sane person would call animal cruelty.

The Arizona Humane Society’s cruelty division is essentially a satellite office of the Phoenix Police Department. And the whole arrangement? Fully endorsed by the City of Phoenix Councilmembers, and the Mayor, all nodding along. Bravo, folks: institutionalized animal cruelty, wrapped in official approval. Understand that AHS has a gigantic legislative voice and they advocate for tethering. Their PR department keeps the majority of you duped while lining their pockets on the backs of the animals.

We have been busy delivering pools. Our Pools for Pups program has us out and about! When we deliver pools to the o...
06/25/2025

We have been busy delivering pools. Our Pools for Pups program has us out and about! When we deliver pools to the owners of dogs who live outside 24/7 in this brutal heat, the door opens for us to educate! Education is prevention! The owner of these dogs mentioned that the white dog is his "breeder dog" ..."Albino dogs are rare, and you can get more money for them"..... as you can imagine, we take such opportunities to EDUCATE!

We are always in need of pools during the summer. Please consider donating pools! Please DM for an address to send pools, or if you make a monetary donation, we will load up on more pools!


Blue attended a pool party this evening. She was surrounded by rescue dogs 🩵💙💚💛🧡❤️.
06/25/2025

Blue attended a pool party this evening. She was surrounded by rescue dogs 🩵💙💚💛🧡❤️.


Phoenix Has a Pet Overpopulation Crisis — And We're Looking the Wrong WayAll the focus is on saving dogs already in shel...
06/24/2025

Phoenix Has a Pet Overpopulation Crisis — And We're Looking the Wrong Way

All the focus is on saving dogs already in shelters — sleepless nights, desperate pleas for those sweet souls on the euthanasia list… dogs who were born only to suffer. But the real problem starts long before they end up behind bars.

Dogs are being born non-stop — in backyards, alleys, and by people breeding for profit. In many underserved communities, families simply don’t have access to affordable spay and neuter services. Backyard breeders, accidental litters, and roaming dogs keep adding fuel to the fire.

We’re stuck reacting to the crisis instead of preventing it. It is as though there is a gigantic leak in the roof and we continue to move buckets and mop the floor, refusing to FIX THE ROOF.

The solution isn’t rocket science. Nothing needs to be invented — just enacted:

- Make spay and neuter services widely available and affordable

- Crackdown on backyard breeding and illegal pet sales

- Educate the public on responsible pet ownership

>>We must shift the focus: PREVENTION, not just rescue!

Until we go to the source, nothing will change. The dogs will keep coming — and the shelters will keep overflowing.

And let’s be honest: pet overpopulation is big business. Many organizations profit from the never-ending flow of unwanted dogs and cats. This might be the biggest hurdle of all...

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PO Box 40112
Phoenix, AZ
85067

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