TOGETHER BUT ALONE....This is the story of the homeless and their pets.

Pets of the Homeless--Photos that express the importance of pets to the homeless.  Please click and view these photos, they speak more than our words ever could!

Pets of the Homeless Press Release

Deer Run Animal Hospital has recently joined with the non-profit Pets of the Homeless organization to offer hope to struggling homeless pet owners.   With our parntership with Pets of the Homeless, our goal is to offer food and veterinary care to these needy people and pets. Our hope is that we can help preserve the human-animal bond that is so precious to both man and animal.

As more jobs are lost and the recession enters our area more heavily, an increasing number of our neighbors are losing their livelihoods and homes. This bleak economic climate is forcing us to realize that homelessness could just be a few steps away for any one of us.  A lay-off or job loss, an unexpected illness or accident, a business failure, the loss of a breadwinner or other family member; could send any one of us into this situation.  It doesn't matter if you are well educated, or hard working.  This economy may force many of us into homelessness or poverty, just as the Great Depression did to our grandparents and great-grandparents.

We are seeking pet food donations from our entire community; from our clients, our friends, our neighbors, and local businesses and stores.  We can accept even dented cans and open bags of pet food.  We also need quart size ziplock bags to pack meal size portions.  We also need basic pet supplies like collars and leashes.  Monetary donations can be left with us, or sent directly to Pets of the Homeless.  Please view their website to understand how monetary donations will be used.  

We are also looking for needy and deserving pet food distribution sites in our community. Pet food and veterinary care will not be distributed, or done directly at Deer Run Animal Hospital.  We need to work with local food pantries, soup kitchens, churches, and homeless shelters that are in direct contact with those in greatest need.  Many agencies we contact are not comfortable with this concept, and believe that the homeless are struggling too much with their own care to have a pet.

But we realize that there are homeless out there that will not come to the shelters if their pets are not welcome, and homeless who will share their own sparse meals with their hungry pets before feeding themselves.  We know there are homeless out there that truly rely on the love and affection, as well as warmth and protection, of their beloved pets.  Some well meaning people try to remove the pets from the homeless believing they are being "humane" to the pet, not realizing what this does to the human. For many homeless, their pets are their lifelines, their reasons for living.

As pet lovers ourselves, we treasure the human-animal bond as one of our most precious possessions.   We want to preserve this human-animal bond for the homeless and less fortunate, not break it.  We believe that much of our wealth is measured in the love we feel for, and from, our pets.

We are currently partnering with Home Sweet Home Forever Pet Food Bank to distribute our dontations to residents of Lake County in need of food for their pets.  Contact them at 219-256-2699 or email at info@hshfpetasst.org for more information on food distribution, or if you are in need of food for your pets.

If you know of a distrubution site  that could aid us in the distribution of pet food please contact us at infoweb@deerrunanimalhospital.com, or by phone at 219-864-7180. 

If you are have pet food to donate, please drop it off at Deer Run Animal Hospital. 

Click here for Contact Information and Location of Deer Run Animal Hospital.

As always, Deer Run Animal Hospital also remains committed to abandoned and unowned homeless pets who do not yet share the loving bond with a human.  We continue to participate spay/neuter programs with several local animal shelters. Please consider rescue or adoption from a shelter or rescue when looking for your next pet. Please go to our Choosing a New Pet web page for more information on rescue and shelter adoption.