We’re over the moon here at Pets4Life Louisville! Thanks to someone in our community who believed in what we do, we received an amazing $5,000 donation from Meijer on Preston Highway! Through the Meijer Team Gives program, the team members at Store 166 came together to vote, and they chose Pets4Life Louisville to receive this gift. We are so grateful and inspired by this kind of support—it shows how each of us can truly make a huge difference!
At Pets4Life, we’re all about keeping pets where they belong: at home, safe and loved with their families. This donation from Meijer will help us provide even more of the essential resources—like food, medical care, and supplies—that many families need to keep their pets healthy and happy. Every dollar will go back into the community, helping families who might be facing tough times and keeping pets out of overcrowded shelters.
Our heartfelt thanks go out to everyone at Meijer Store 166 who voted for us, and to the community member who nominated us! You’ve shown that every single person can help make our community a kinder place, and we’re beyond honored to have your support. Thank you for believing in us and helping us to help people keep their Pets4Life!
Pets4Life Louisville is honored to be selected as one of only eleven organizations (out of nearly 200 considered) across the USA to be a Petsmart Charities Incubator grantee! This transformative grant brings together a cohort of nonprofit animal welfare organizations, all focused on improving access to veterinary care in predominantly Black communities that have historically been underserved. Our work will concentrate on the 40210 zip code, including the Park Hill, California, and Algonquin neighborhoods.
In collaboration with PetSmart Charities, the Institute for Human-Animal Connection (IHAC) at the University of Denver is providing research and evaluation support. This partnership is vital as we conduct focus groups, interviews, and surveys to directly learn from the community how we can enhance our programs.
Research Update
In mid-April, we successfully conducted our first focus group with 16 participants from the 40210 zip code at The Lord’s Kitchen. The insights gathered have been instrumental in developing a survey designed by IHAC to delve deeper into the community’s experiences with pet and veterinary care. Our goal over the next two months is to complete 200 surveys. These surveys will help us understand the true needs and wants of pet families in our area, enabling us to tailor our services effectively.
Partnership Updates
At Pets4Life Louisville, we believe in the power of collaboration. Our impact is magnified through our partnerships with various organizations, businesses, government groups, and nonprofits. This summer, we’ve been working closely with Louisville Parks & Recreation, Louisville Metro Animal Services, Louisville Metro Housing Authority, Olmsted Parks Conservancy, The Lord’s Kitchen, Dare to Care, Snip-N-Save, and Pet Wants – J-Town. Together, we are creating a robust support network for pet families in the 40210 zip code.
Community Building and Outreach Update
Our efforts are centered around establishing three distinct Pets4Life Petcare Hubs throughout the 40210 area:
Park Hill Pets4Life Petcare Hub: Focused on the Parkway Place Housing complex and surrounding areas, this hub will provide a small pet resource center.
The Lord’s Kitchen Petcare Hub: Leveraging the nonprofit’s six-days-a-week events, this hub will be a focal point for pop-up pet resource and care events.
California Community Center Hub: In the northern part of our target zip code, this hub will offer a dedicated pet resource center with ample space for workshops and educational events.
To date, our outreach efforts have connected us with 118 new pet families, providing support for 208 pets through pet food, treats, leashes, collars, and other supplies. We’ve also partnered with Snip-N-Save to ensure all pets have ID tags, helping them reunite with their families if lost. Additionally, our mobile outreach has assisted 17 pets with urgent needs like vaccinations, deworming, and nail trims.
Looking Ahead
In the next 2-3 months, we will continue to focus on building relationships and conducting research. As we move into the fourth quarter, we hope to pilot new programs based on the results of the research surveys. While we don’t yet know what the solutions will be, our aim is to develop innovative and sustainable ways to provide veterinary care. These pilot programs may include various models for delivering vet care, vaccines, spay/neuter services, and other pet services, potentially utilizing mobile services, televet consultations, and creative transportation solutions to improve access. Additionally, we will seek more volunteers and partnerships to further expand our reach and impact.
If you’re interested in volunteering or partnering with us, please visit our ‘Ways to Help” website page to learn more. Together, we can make a significant difference in the lives of pets and their families in our community.
We are thrilled to share that Pets4Life Louisville has been chosen as one of only 11 recipients of the impactful Petsmart Incubator Grant, recognizing our vital work in the Louisville community to help pets. This grant aims to improve access to veterinary care in underserved communities, and we are excited about the positive impact it will bring to our local area.
Pets4Life Louisville attends Petsmart Charities Session in Phoenix
As part of the grant process, our team members, Karen and Kristin, recently traveled to Phoenix for an intensive training session with Petsmart Charities and The Institute for Human-Animal Connection. This experience was invaluable, equipping us with the knowledge and resources needed to make a real difference in our community.
With the support of this grant, Pets4Life Louisville will focus its efforts on the 40210 zip code, which includes the Park Hill, California, and Algonquin neighborhoods. Our primary goals for 2024 are to build strong relationships within the community and conduct thorough research to better understand and support local pet owners.
We are in the process of establishing a ‘Petcare Hub’ to provide comprehensive support for all pet families, along with a ‘Petcare Hub Resource Center’ where residents can access pet supplies, food, and attend workshops and events. These initiatives will not only enhance pet retention but also ensure fewer pets end up homeless which will benefit the entire community.
Our regular program of vaccine and wellness clinics will continue as we expand our services to better serve the 40210 community. We are committed to making sustainable veterinary care accessible to all pet families and are grateful for the ongoing support from our community.
This grant will allow us to make a significant impact on the entire community’s pet population. By focusing on pet retention in one area of the city, we ultimately contribute to the well-being of all pets in the community. Our efforts reduce strays and owner surrenders, leading to fewer pets entering the local shelter and ultimately fewer homeless pets. Stay tuned for more updates on our progress and how you can get involved in this exciting journey!
As we wrap up the joy-filled chapter of our Angel Tree Drive, we’re thrilled to share the incredible results and extend our deepest gratitude to everyone who made it a resounding success! 🌟🐾
Generosity Overflowing: $2365 and Counting!
Thanks to your overwhelming generosity, both online and in person, we raised an astounding $2365 in cash donations, gift cards, and online contributions! These funds are a lifeline for our Special Needs Fund, supporting crucial medicines, dental care, and spay/neuter surgeries for pet families in need. Your kindness is truly the gift that keeps on giving! ❤️
Gifts Galore: A Bounty of Love for Furry Friends!
The outpouring of love didn’t stop at financial support—our Angel Tree Drive received an abundance of heartwarming donations. From pet food, treats, and dental sticks to an array of toys, clothing, harnesses, collars, leads, muzzles, blankets, towels, dog beds, crates, flea medicines, and more, your contributions filled our hearts with gratitude. 🎁🐾
Pets4Life Angel Tree
Distributing Joy: Making a Real Impact!
Our mission is to get these donations into the paws of those who need it most. We’re thrilled to share that much of the donated food has already found its way to homeless pet owners, ensuring both pets and their companions receive the nourishment and care they deserve. Your gifts are a beacon of hope for many families this holiday season! 🏡🐶
A Heartfelt Thank You to You—Our Incredible Supporters!
To each and every one of you who donated, shared, or supported our Angel Tree Drive in any way, you are the true heroes of this story. Your generosity has created a ripple effect of joy and warmth, reaching homes and hearts throughout our community. 🌟❤️
🎄🐾 And a Symphony of Thanks to Our Host Vet Clinics! 🎁✨
Our sincerest thanks to the vet clinics who opened their hearts and doors to host our Angel Trees. Your support will make a profound impact on the lives of pets and their families. 🌈❤️
As we bid farewell to 2023, let’s carry the spirit of giving into the new year, knowing that together, we’ve made a real difference in helping people keep thier Pets4life! 🐾🌈
In 2023, Pets4Life experienced an astounding surge in growth, serving a significantly larger number of pets compared to the prior year. The number of animals assisted more than doubled, skyrocketing by an impressive 113%! This exceptional expansion was made possible through innovative community initiatives like Community Pet Days and our Mission Partner Program, forging impactful new partnerships and extending our reach within the community.
We want to thank the following organizations for partnering with Pets4Life Louisville and supporting our mission: The Table, Olmsted Parks Conservancy, Louisville Metro Animal Shelter (LMAS), Louisville Parks & Recreation, My Dog Eats First (MDEF), Central High School’s Vet Science Program, Pet Wants – J-Town, 3rd Turn Brewing- J-town, Louisville Bats, Club K9 – J-Town, Feeder Supply, No Kill Louisville, KHS/SNIP Clinic, Alley Cats, PBSF (Pitbulls of St. Francis), Merck Animal Health, EM Dash Photography.
Also thank you to all of these 2023 vet clinic partners through our Angel Tree Program and our Mission Partner Program:
In addition, we are very grateful to the following groups for contributing to our mission through grants and financial support:VV Cooke Foundation, Heather Falmen & Keith Zirbel Fund, and Swope Family Foundation, Best Friends, plus many incredible individual donors which we will not name for privacy reasons.
2023 Highlights:
PET WELLNESS CLINICS: Once more, we collaborated with ‘The Table’ in the Portland area to host our comprehensive pet wellness clinics, surpassing mere basic vaccinations. These clinics extend a helping hand to the community by offering highly affordable veterinary examinations and services. Alongside essential preventative care like vaccines, dewormers, and flea medicines, we administered microchips and addressed prevalent health issues such as ear, skin, and eye infections. Moreover, each pet received several months’ worth of flea prevention, ensuring their continued well-being.
COMMUNITY VACCINE CLINICS: Teaming up with the Olmsted Parks Conservancy, we continuted our expansion into Chickasaw Park, aiming to connect with a broader spectrum of pet owners residing within our specified zip codes. These new clinics are not just about convenience—they’re a lifeline for our community. Offering vital services such as vaccines, dewormers, and microchipping, we’re ensuring accessibility to essential pet care at an incredibly low entrance fee, prioritizing the well-being of beloved pets in our target audience.
NEW! COMMUNITY PET DAYS: In 2023, we collaborated with Louisville Parks & Recreation to offer Community Pet Days across three vibrant centers in Louisville: Sun Valley, Beechmont, and Southwick. These Community Pet days served as hubs for essential pet care, delivering vaccines, dewormers, and microchipping at an incredibly accessible entrance fee. But it doesn’t stop there. These events were holistic gatherings where diverse pet organizations converged to offer a wealth of information and invaluable resources to enrich the lives of pet families in attendance.
LMAS SPAY/NEUTER VOUCHER PROGRAM: We sustained our collaboration with LMAS (Louisville Metro Animal Services) to support individuals seeking Spay/Neuter services. This essential program, fueled by a generous grant from Best Friends, plays a pivotal role in aiding pet owners within our designated zip codes. Through our Spay/Neuter Voucher program, we aim to curb unwanted births and significantly reduce the number of homeless pets within our community, contributing to a more compassionate and responsible pet ownership landscape.
Pet Treatment Services 2023 Summary:
Number of Pets Treated: 704 (592 dogs & 112 cats). Note: 113% increase over 2022
Rabies Vaccines: 573
Other Vaccines: 632 (106 FVRCP and 526 DAPP)
Microchips: 408
Dewormer: 613
Flea Treatments (multi-month): 237
Nail Trims: 198
Spay/Neuter Vouchers Distributed: 111
In 2023, Pets4Life achieved significant milestones through strategic partnerships and community-focused programs, providing vital pet services across Louisville. From comprehensive wellness clinics to Spay/Neuter initiatives, we prioritized accessible care, thanks to collaborations with local entities and support from grants. Our commitment remains unwavering as we look forward to an exciting 2024, where we plan to unveil new initiatives aimed at further assisting pet families. We’re dedicated to expanding our impact and continuing to enhance the lives of pets and their owners within our community!
On Saturday, December 16th, Pet Wants – J-town transformed into a hub of holiday cheer during our delightful ‘Photos with Ms. Claus’ event. This heartwarming occasion not only brought together furry friends and their humans for memorable snapshots but also served as a beacon of generosity and support for our community’s pets in need.
At the heart of this event was Rich, the compassionate owner of Pet Wants, whose unwavering commitment to animal welfare has been nothing short of inspiring. Through pet food drives, donating raffle items and hosting events, Rich has been a great supporter to Pets4Life Louisville and other animal welfare groups in our community.
Partnering with Rich, our Pets4Life Committee Member, Karen G., brought the magic of Ms. Claus to life, spreading joy and warmth throughout the event. Her dedication and embodiment of the festive spirit added an extra layer of enchantment to ‘Photos with Ms. Claus,’ making the day even more special for attendees.
Throughout the day, the store buzzed with joy, laughter, and wagging tails as pets posed for pictures with the ever-charming Ms. Claus, portrayed by our wonderful Karen G. Families and their furry companions reveled in the festive atmosphere, creating cherished memories that will be treasured for years to come.
Here are some photos from the event:
Thank you to everyone who participated, supported, and helped make ‘Photos with Ms. Claus’ at Pet Wants – J-town an unforgettable celebration of joy, compassion, and community spirit. Your support means the world to us and to the animals we aim to help.
Stay tuned for more heartwarming initiatives and events, and let’s continue spreading love and support for our furry companions! If you’re an organization or business who would like to partner with us to help the most needy pets in our community, please see our ‘Pets4Life Mission Partner’ page.
As we embrace the spirit of giving this holiday season, Pets4Life Louisville is excited to announce the kickoff of our Angel Drive on this year’s Giving Tuesday! Our Angel Tree gift drive is set to make a heartwarming impact toward helping the most needy pets in our community. Through this program, we aim to provide essential gifts to support the pets of families in need, thanks to the generous contributions from our vibrant community of donor/supporters.
Your donations play a crucial role in caring for pets through our Pets4Life clinics, assisting those facing the most significant challenges by providing items like flea medicines, gift cards for clinic supplies, dog slip leads, sweaters, dog beds, harnesses, cat & dog treats and other essentials.
This season, we invite you to be a part of this heartwarming initiative, supporting the most vulnerable pets in our community. The Angel Trees are adorned with tags that highlight urgent needs to aid these beloved animals. Here are some of the critical items on our Angel Tree wishlist for this year:
Walmart Gift Cards
Amazon Gift Cards
Flea & Tick Preventatives for dogs – need all sizes between 11-88 lbs
Flea & Tick Prevention for cats – need all sizes between 2-13 lbs
Dog & Cat Treats
Dog & Cat Toys
Dog Sweaters
Dog Slip Leads & Muzzles
Pets4Life Angel Tree
If you’re eager to participate and make a difference, kindly bring your unwrapped donation to one of our Angel Tree host locations (listed below). Additionally, monetary donations are welcomed and will be used effectively towards our cause. Notably, Pets4Life Louisville operates solely with volunteers, ensuring that 100% of your contributions directly benefit pets in need.
🎄🐾 How to contribute through the Angel Tree Drive: 🎁✨
Angel Drive Duration: The Angel Tree Gift Drive will run throughout December, with the trees collected in early January.
Select Your Donation Tag: Choose an item tag from the Angel Tree that resonates with your giving spirit.
Place Your Unwrapped Gift: Drop off your donation under the Angel Tree. For gift cards or cash donations, use the designated cut-out in the large box.
Online Donations: Conveniently contribute online via our website pets4lifelou.org or scan the provided QR code.
Recycling Tags: Help us sustain our efforts by returning used tags to the large box for reuse next year.
🎄🐾 Monetary Donations: Making a Difference Beyond Basic Wellness! 🎁✨
Any cash or online donations collected on Giving Tuesday and throughout December for the Angel Tree drive will be directed toward our Special Needs Fund. This fund goes beyond basic wellness and is utilized for various pet health-related purposes, including:
Medications for pet illnesses
Difficult grooming cases for severe matting
Small surgeries such as dental cleanings and extractions
Your contribution will play a vital role in assisting pets requiring extra care and support.
🎄🐾 A Heartfelt thank you to our Angel Tree Hosts! 🎁✨
We’re honored to partner with 9 vet clinics, each serving as an Angel Tree host for Pets4Life this year. We extend our sincere appreciation to these veterinary clinics for wholeheartedly supporting Pets4Life Louisville’s mission:
Your generosity will bring joy and comfort to countless pets and their families in our community. Together, let’s make this holiday season brighter for our furry friends! 🐾🌟
New for 2023 we are introducing our new Mission Partner Program. Pets4Life has a great track record of working closely with other organizations and now we have a plan to develop more win/win partnerships!
A Mission Partner is any business or group that we are partnering with to fulfill our mission of bringing pet wellness services to the underserved pet owners of the Louisville community. Here are just some of the ways we can partner with other organizations to help the most needy pets (and their owners) in our community!
Vet Clinics/Hospitals: Select a clinic date and provide volunteer vets & techs to work at one of our vaccine or wellness clinics. The whole team can work together to help pets who do not have access to vet care. What an amazing way to give back!
Animal or other nonprofits: Partner with Pets4Life by participating in our clinics/events. Opportunities include providing pet food & supplies, offering your pet/people services to the underserved pet owners, and providing education on a variety of pet and other topics.
Corporate Sponsors: Larger businesses can support underserved pet owners by sponsoring a clinic and providing volunteers. Employees love supporting animal organizations and because we are a small, all-volunteer organization, 100% of all donations go directly to helping animals.
Pet Services/Businesses: Small pet retailers, dog park bars, or dog service businesses can host microchip clinics or hold fundraising events to raise awareness and help people keep their Pets4Life!
Small Local Businesses: We would love to partner with local businesses such as restaurants, bars & retailers. These businesses can host fundraising nights/events with proceeds to Pets4Life Louisville. Other ideas include hosting a pet food drive, hosting an Angel Tree or holding a Holiday Photo Event (ex. Pictures with Santa)
Schools/Scouts: Young people working on service hours or scout projects (such as Gold Awards or Eagle Scouts) can volunteer at a Pets4Life clinic, or conduct a food drive or pet supplies drive.
If interested in being one of our ‘Mission Partners of the Month’, please complete this form:
The Angel Tree gift drive resulted in wonderful gifts and donations that will help us to help the most needy pets in our community. Items donated will be used to provide care in Pets4life clinics and some items (such as sweaters, dog beds & harnesses) will be given to pet owners with the greatest needs.
‘Crush’ (One of the pets we’ve helped) says THANK YOU!
The holiday season is a great time to remember the most vulnerable pets in our community. And the people of Louisville was generous with their support: Here is a summary of gifts collected through the Angel Tree program:
$2543.00 in donations (for cat & dog well check-ups)
$100 in Gift Cards
Large quantities of Flea & Tick Preventative (dogs and cats)
Dog & Cat Treats
Dog & Cat Toys
Dog Beds
Our Amazing Angel Tree Hosts
We are sincerely grateful to the following vet clinics for their support of Pets4lIfe Louisville’s mission by hosting a Pets4Life Angel Tree:
In 2022, as the COVID pandemic slowed and the community gradually returned to normal, Pets4Life Louisville was able to increase the number of events and community services back to pre-pandemic levels! While many small nonprofits didn’t survive the pandemic, Pets4life persevered during hard times through the dedicated work of the board members, vets, vet techs and volunteers. In 2022, we were able to grow the number of pets helped by 20% over the numbers from 2021.
We want to thank the following organizations for partnering with Pets4Life Louisville and supporting our mission: The Table, Olmsted Parks Conservancy, Louisville Metro Animal Shelter (LMAS), My Dog Eats First (MDEF)and Central High School’s Vet Science Program.
We are very grateful to the following groups for contributing to our mission through grants and financial support:Banfield Foundation, Frazier Joy Family Foundation, Crutcher Family Foundation, Jarboe’s Heating, Cooling & Plumbing, Best Friends, The Kron family, and the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA).
2022 Highlights:
PET WELLNESS CLINICS: Partnering with ‘The Table’ in the Portland area, we held six pet wellness clinics to offer very low cost vet exams and services to the community. In addition to providing preventative care such as vaccines, dewormer and flea medicines, we provided microchips and treated common ailments such as ear, skin and eye infections. In addition, we provided each pet with several months of flea preventative.
COMMUNITY VACCINE CLINICS: In partnership with the Olmsted Parks Conservancy, we expanded to a new location in Chickasaw Park to reach more pet owners in our target zip codes. Due to generous grants, we were able to host two community vaccine clinics offering vaccines, dewormer, microchips and flea medicine to our targeted audience for free or very low cost.
MICROCHIP CLINICS: In partnership with Central High School, Pets4Life worked with students from the school’s Magnet Vet Sciences Program to hold a ‘Home for the Holidays’ Microchip event in December. This was the 1st of many events that we hope to do in partnership with Central High School. This event was funded with a memorial gift from the Kron Family.
LMAS SPAY/NEUTER VOUCHER PROGRAM: We continued our partnership with LMAS (Louisville Metro Animal Services) which was made possible by a Best Friends grant. This program helps pet owners in our target zip codes with Spay/Neuter services to help prevent unwanted births and decrease homeless pets in our community.
DENTAL/SURGERY PROGRAM: Pets4Life Louisville continued providing dental surgeries and other minor surgeries to pets from our clinics with the most pressing needs. This work was initially funded by a grant from the AVMA (The American Veterinary Medical Association). After the AVMA grant funds were depleted, we continued this program using funds raised during last year’s Giving Tuesday campaign for special needs pets.
Pet Treatment Services Summary:
Number of Pets Treated: 330 (269 dogs & 61 cats). Note: this is a 20% increase over 2021
Rabies Vaccines: 229
Other Vaccines: 242 (FVRCP and DAPP)
Microchips: 130
Dewormer: 245
Flea Treatments (multi-month): 310
Nail Trims: 133
Spay/Neuter Vouchers Distributed: 126
Surgeries (ex. Dentals, Hernias, Mass Removal): 22
Demographic Analysis:
Pets4Life has identified certain target zip codes for services: 40201, 40202, 40203, 40208, 40209, 40210, 40211, 40212, 40213, 40214, 40215, 40216, 40217, 40218, 40219 40258 and 40272. These zip codes are those within the ‘resource desert’ with little to no vet resources available in the community or they are in areas with high shelter intakes. Our analysis shows the break-down of pets treated in 2022 based on zip codes:
Within Target Zip Codes
Other Jefferson Co Zip Codes
Outside Jefferson Co
87%
9%
4%
In addition, our goal is to help people living in underserved communities who cannot afford veterinary care for their pets. A large percentage of our vet services were provide to households living below Federal poverty guidelines:
89% of services went to households with incomes less than $25,000 per year
9% of services went to households with incomes between $25,000 – $50,000 per year
Just 1% of services went to households with incomes over $50,000 per year
