At Pets4Life Louisville, we believe in starting with compassion, curiosity, and connection. As we began our work in the 40210 zip code—an area that has long been underserved and overlooked—we knew we needed to take our time and listen first.
This past year, with support from PetSmart Charities and the Institute for Human-Animal Connection (IHAC), we spent several months holding focus groups, conducting surveys, and simply showing up. We spoke with over 200 community members and asked them about their pets, their challenges, and their hopes. What we heard was honest, emotional, and deeply motivating.
What We Heard
🐾 Pets are family.
More than 80% of the people we surveyed are pet owners, and most described their pets as sources of comfort, love, and joy. But many also shared the pain and stress of not being able to provide the care their pets need.
🚧 Barriers are real and complex.
High costs, lack of transportation, limited internet access, and few nearby vet clinics all make basic pet care feel out of reach. Many families said they simply don’t know where to go for help—or they know, but they can’t get there.
📚 People want to learn.
The top three pet topics community members want more information about? Behavioral training, pet nutrition, and pet insurance. Folks want to care for their pets—they just need tools, support, and a chance.
🏘️ Safety is a shared concern.
Aggressive or stray animals in the neighborhood were mentioned often. Pet families expressed a desire for help managing pet behavior and improving safety for everyone in the community.
No Quick Fixes—But Real Hope
If we’ve learned anything, it’s this: there are no shortcuts to real, sustainable change. It takes time. It takes trust. It takes being present—not just once, but again and again.
We aren’t here to “fix” communities. We’re here to walk alongside them. We’re here to listen, to learn, and to co-create solutions that actually work for the people who live there. That means showing up with free pet food, pop-up clinics, friendly faces—and a lot of patience.
We Need People Like You
As we move into the next phase of our work in 40210, we need help—not just from animal lovers, but from people who are ready to get out of their comfort zones and stand beside pet families in real, tangible ways.
Here’s how you can help:
- Join our team of changemakers. We need volunteers and partners who want to make a difference one-on-one, family by family, pet by pet.
- Spread the word. We’re doing powerful work behind the scenes, but we need more eyes on it. Follow us on Facebook, invite your friends, and help us grow our community so we can reach more people and pets in need.
💙 We believe in a future where every pet is cared for and every family feels supported—but we can’t get there alone.
If you’re ready to be part of something real, something rooted in love and community, we’d love to hear from you.
