06/04/2025
Downtown Dog Rescue is the hardest working rescue group in North America.
Their program to keep dogs in the homes they already have, called “shelter intervention,” is revolutionizing rescue.
We don’t have shelters full of puppies. We have shelters full of adult dogs, most of whom are already spayed or neutered.
Preventing unwanted litters is key to rehabbing our failing “animal control” paradigm.
Now we need to put equal effort into helping dogs keep the homes they have, whenever possible.
Very few dogs’ lives improve once they’re surrendered. Spay & neuter cannot help those dogs.
This is Capone. He was nearly surrendered at the South LA Shelter. His person sat in the car for over ten minutes, overcome with emotion, unable to imagine letting him go, but feeling they had no other choice.
They told our on-site social worker, Jackie, they had four dogs and simply couldn’t afford to feed them anymore. Jackie didn’t judge. She asked how she could help, and then she listened.
When the moment was right, she offered support: enrollment in our Pet Food Pantry Program, a bag of food for all four dogs, and a voucher to get Capone neutered at no cost. Grateful and relieved, Capone’s person shared that they were headed to a food bank for themselves.
Capone is now back home, fed, safe, and still with the person who loves him.
Food insecurity is a real concern for both people and pets. No one should have to give up their animal because they can’t afford a bag of kibble. And more than just handing out food, having a trained social worker on site—someone who knows how to listen, connect, and guide—isn’t a luxury. It’s a necessity.
Thank you to the for making our grant that makes this work possible.
