Journal - February 2025
Today was not a productive day for me or those we serve, so I want to start by sharing something positive. Even with the 'no shows' we were able to provide 20 pets with 'the works' in March. We had 14 dogs and 6 cats. We did not have any male cats but we did have 6 male dogs and 8 female dogs. Riverside County Department of Animal Services Healthy Pet Zone Fund covered the cost for five of these pets. A grant from Mary S. Robert's covered the spay/neuter portion of the services for four pets weighing over 30 pounds each, which helped lower our costs. Actors and Others for Animals gave us pledges for some of these pets, which also helped lower our cost. We may have spent a large amount of money on providing 'the works' and covering the motel stays, but the previously mentioned organizations were a big help financially! As far as this morning goes….It was raining when I first got up and then that turned to drizzle. By 8:30am, the sun was out and I texted someone on the Eastside to find out if she would be at the Path of Life Community Shelter kennels. She said she would, so I drove to that location. I arrived at 9am but did not see anyone outside of the kennels. I texted the person I had contacted earlier but did not get a response. I waited fifteen minutes and then I left. I drove around for a bit and then went to Fairmount Park. I did not find who I was looking for but did see someone with two dogs. She is the woman living in her vehicle who alerted me, last week, about the dumped dog. I spent some time with her and her dogs and then drove around the park. Nobody with pets was anywhere to be seen. That was the case when I drove around Rubidoux and other parts of Jurupa Valley so I decided to go home early. At one point, I did pass someone I recognized. He was flying a sign with his dog by the ARCO and Jack In The Box. Often times, I pull into one of the parking lots and visit but I did not do so today. I was not in a great mood today, being that the post office screwed up and sent a local package to another state and my son and daughter-in-law may or may not ever receive it. I spent over 50 minutes on hold with USPS trying to find out what went wrong but they did not know and suggested I get back in touch if the package does not make it back to California. Thankfully, my childhood friend and I were getting together and my sister gave me a call too so the day took a turn for the better. It might not have been the work day but I still appreciated it... Bottled waters, chicken jerky treats, wet dog food, buffalo tendons and doggie waste bags were shared.
Before starting my daily travels, I went to the store. I had no idea we were expecting rain today but it was raining. Thankfully, it was not coming down hard. By the time I actually left to start visiting the pets and their people, it had pretty much stopped. There was drizzle, on and off, but nothing that prevented me from meeting with those I intended to see today. My first stop was in Rubidoux. I was going to go there yesterday but was unable to make it so we rescheduled for today. I visited with and provided supplies for three dogs. I knew two of them were going to be there but not the third. The first two received 'the works' recently but the third was one we had done a year or so ago. From there I went to an encampment that was nest to where these three and their companion stay. That dog's companion was not feeling well so he did not hang around to talk. I gave him supplies, within the past few weeks. All I did today was give the dog some treats and a chew stick. When I left that location, I drove to another area of Rubidoux. I visited and provided supplies. I spent about thirty minutes driving around different areas of Jurupa Valley. I did see a few people on the hill by In-N-Out but was not sure who was there or if anyone had dogs so I did not stop. We are expecting more rain tomorrow. Hoping it is not much and that it doesn't interfere with my ability to connect with people and their pets... Bottled waters, chicken jerky treats, duck jerky treats, 3.5 pound bag of Pedigree dog food, 16 pound bag of Pedigree for large dogs, wet dog food, Dashi meal toppers, kabob chew sticks, peanut butter knot chew and bully stick were shared.
I made arrangements to start my daily travels a little bit later this morning because I had some work to do with Tax Plus Bookkeeping. Some of it was personal and some was for Taking It To The Streets with Lori and Shira. Everything is filed electronically now but I had to download, sign, scan and then upload a few papers for 2024 Tax Returns and the DOJ State Registration. I was able to get it all handled and made it on time to meet with a gentleman and his two dogs. We met in the parking lot of the Riverside County Department of Animal Services. While I was there, I woman was driving through the lot and I realized I knew her. She was living in her truck with two dogs for quite some time. She got housing last year and both of her dogs passed away within months of her moving in. She wound up adopting a Saint Bernard puppy. She was at animal services looking for a friend for her dog. I hope she found one…..When I left that location, I was going to drive out to Rubidoux after making a stop at our PO Box but I never made it. I noticed a couple of people over by the Del Taco. I stopped to ask them if they had seen someone I have been looking for. It just so happened that the woman had a puppy with her. She wants to get him neutered so I stopped for a visit and to give them a few things. The guy that was there said he had dogs and I gave him my card incase he is willing to get them spayed/neutered. By the time we were done talking, I knew I was not going to make it out to Rubidoux so I texted the person I was going to meet and asked if we could do it tomorrow. She said yes. I will visit her and her two dogs and anyone else in the area... Bottled waters, large bag of recyclables, chicken jerky treats, duck jerky treats, 20 pound bag of dog food from the Star Milling Company, wet dog food, Dashi meal toppers, handmade pet jacket, buffalo tendons, peanut butter knot chews, collapsible pet dish, small harness and a squeaky pet toy were shared.
We have a couple of volunteers who went out of their way to set us up with a pallet of water. My plan was to go to the Path of Life Community Shelter and then meet one or both of the volunteers at our storage units. I drove to the Eastside and stopped at the kennels but only two people were out with their dogs so I was not there for very long. I was not supposed to help unload the waters until 10:30 or 11:00am and it was just 9:30 so I drove around the Eastside. I did not find anyone and did not want to waste too much more fuel so I decided to run one errand and then go to our units. When I stopped to take care of my errand, I received a text that we would not be meeting today after all. Something came up and we had to reschedule. It just so happens that I ran into my childhood friend when I had made my stop so I chatted for a minute and then got back on the road. I had not gone far when I spotted a homeless gentleman and his dog. I pulled into a nearby parking space, got out for a visit and provided a few supplies. When I left that location, I drove home. I made a quick stop at my house and then went back out looking for the companions of a dog that needs food and to check our PO Box. The PO Box was empty and I did not find the couple with the dog. I did see a woman at the end of the parking lot and she was speaking to someone with a dog so I drove over. The woman is homeless but does not want to spay/neuter her pitbull. The guy with the dog was not homeless but I still gave her a few treats. Not the most productive day but I made an effort which was all I could do... Bottled waters, pet eye wipes, chicken jerky treats, wet dog food, Dashi meal toppers, large collar, Tiller Tug leash, handmade pet jacket, buffalo tendons, peanut butter chew knots and a large squeaky toy were shared.
I spent my time, this morning, at the Jurupa Valley Motel6. I checked on the male dog that received 'the works' yesterday, gave him some treats and a chew stick and then went to a second room. That room was where two female dogs and a female cat were staying with their companions and a family member's dog. I had something else to give them in the back of my vehicle and asked one of the companion's to go with me to get it. While we were talking, someone walked by with a small dog and he kept looking like he wanted to come over to us. When the woman went back to her room, I started a conversation with the person walking the dog. I asked her if the dog was neutered and if they were homeless. She said no to the first question and yes to the second so I gave her my contact card and discussed how the spay/neuter appointments work. She had the dog on a retractable leash so I asked her if she would take a different leash from me. I gave her a collar, leash and pet jacket to start and when she said she would like me to get the dog neutered, I gave her some dog food and a toy. I usually do not give out food, unless the pet is spayed or neutered but I do make exceptions now and then if I believe someone will follow through with an appointment. Every now and then I get disappointed but most of the recipients have followed up with me. The little dog was so excited about his new toy and that made me smile. When I got home, his companion texted me right away to thank me for everything. She has no transportation and is waiting for her social security so she can get a ride with the Lift service. If anyone makes an appointment and is near where she stays, I am going to see if I can get her a ride but I can't count on that happening. When I left the motel, I went home for a short time and then went back out for my bi-weekly nail appointment. Sometimes I am uncomfortable spending money on myself when things are so 'tight' but it is something I will try to continue for as long as I can make it work. That and getting rid of my grey hairs by getting them hair colored every eight weeks. I am ok giving up other things so I can treat myself to both of those... Bottled waters, pet eye wipes, Benadryl caplets, handmade pet jacket, small collar, small leash, 3.5 pound bag of small bites dog food, wet dog food, Inaba meal toppers, Dashi meal toppers, chicken jerky treats, peanut butter know chew, kabob chew sticks, Inaba Churus, Inaba Churu Bites, laser toy ad plush squeaky dog toys were shared.
Everything was set up and good to go for our spay/neuter appointments this morning but that all changed while I was sitting in the parking lot waiting for people to arrive. One of the people texted and said they would be twenty minutes late. The other said he was stuck in traffic, coming from Perris, and would be late. I told him if he was not there way 8:15 when I had to leave that I would not be able to help him. He claims he left Perris at 6am. When I left the clinic at 8:15 to run home for my own dog, I told the staff that I would swing back by a little before 9am, if he showed up. I tried calling the companion of the dogs multiple times and I texted too but he stopped responding. I won't be helping him, if he contacts me again in the future. He has two female puppies so I was really trying to work with him but he chose to 'ghost' me so I am done now. After I left the house for a second time, I headed to the Mary S. Robert's spay/neuter clinic. I had one female dog, one male dog and one female cat scheduled there. People arrived on time with their pets but it turns out that the male dog had a seizure before so the clinic wanted medical records before proceeding. I had not idea about this or I would have alerted them prior to the appointment to see what was needed but there wasn't anything I could do at that point. Unfortunately, it caused the companion of the other two pets to have to wait for almost two hours while the male dog's situation got figured out. A little before 12pm, I was told that all three pets were finally checked in. I was really hoping to end the month with 6 pets getting done today but I am grateful for the four. "One by one we get them done, because the only way to combat pet overpopulation and euthanasia in our shelters is to spay and neuter." Bottled waters, ARCO fuel cards, small collar, 4 handmade pet jackets, xl harness, Max and Neo large dog collar, small dog collar, Wellness wet cat food, wet dog food, DASHI meal toppers, 2-17 pound bags of cat food from the Star Milling Company, 3.5 pound bag of puppy food, wet puppy food, 3.5 pound bag of small bites dog food, 16 pound bag of Pedigree dog food, cat toys and plush squeaky dogs toy were shared.
Before I even left the house, this morning, I received two upsetting text messages. The first was about a dog named 'Yohan'. When he was 8 weeks old, someone gave him to a homeless gentleman at Fairmount Park. I tried talking to the people giving away the puppies but they would not listen. Thankfully, the person who took one of them was willing to let us neuter, microchip and vaccinate his when the time was right. That dog was badly burned when his companion's tent caught on fire and he went in to wake the guy up and get him out. He was also attacked by a wild pig in the river bottom. He was also impounded multiple times. I always loved him. His original companion passed away and he has lived with other people since. He has been with someone in an apartment and on the streets but I haven't seen him in months. I was just told that he passed away from cancer. Not the kind of news I wanted to start, or end, my day with. I get attached to the pets I know for long periods of time and I miss them almost as much as if they were my own. 'Yohan' will surely be missed... As if hearing that was not disturbing enough, I received a text about a dog that was dumped by the armory at Fairmount Park. The person who notified me is homeless and lives in her vehicle with her two dogs. She saw the truck put the dog out and drive off. She did not catch the plate but she did keep an eye on the dog, until I could get there about an hour later. The dog was clearly scared. Looked young. I was afraid to scare him off, because the river bottom, busy street and freeway are right next to the park and I knew he could not stay there safely. I called animal services and texted a Sgt. at there. An ACO arrived soon after I did. He sat with the dog and pet him for awhile and then picked him up to carry him to the truck. He pet him some more and checked for a microchip. There was none. I know many people don't like having a dog impounded but I made the decision to call it in and I will do my best to network the dog out of there. It is always possible that the pet being dumped doesn't even belong to the person dumping it so it is never a good idea to just give it to someone who wants it. In any case, once the ACO and the dog left, I visited the dogs of the woman who alerted me to this abuse. When I was done, I went to another area of the park to meet with other people and their pets. I had called them on my way to the park and we planned to meet when I was left the area where the dog was dumped. I met with two dogs and their companion and two other dogs and their companion. I spent a little extra time there and decided not to go anywhere else other than our PO Box. I received notifications that some Chewy donations were there so I went to pick them up. By the time I got home, It was already 80 degrees and I was happy to get indoors before it got too much warmer. There is always more work to be done after I get home but I get to do it comfortably which I am grateful for... Bottled waters, chicken jerky treats, wet dog food, DASHI meal toppers, Inaba meal toppers, 3.5 pound bag of dog food for small dogs, 4.5 pound bag of senior dog food, 16 pound bag of Pedigree dog food, 20 pound bag of dog food from the Star Milling Company, squeaky pet toys, plush squeaky pet toys, buffalo tendons, kabob chew sticks and peanut butter knot chews were shared.
When I arrived on the Eastside at the Path of Life Community Shelter I did not find anyone outside with their pets. I did see a gentleman parked on Massachusetts, with his dog, so I drove over to where they were. An ambulance and the fire department were attending to a woman on the street, in front of the shelter but no other people were out there. I went to speak to the gentleman who runs the kennel at the shelter and he said only one person had come and gotten their pet. It was the companion of a puppy we spayed last week. Not sure where they went but they were not around. I called, and texted, a couple of the people who I normally see when I am there. One of them just woke up and said she would be right out. The other sent me a text later saying she had not been feeling well and slept in. After my visit with the dog that was brought out, I was heading down Massachusetts towards Kansas when I saw a dog we spayed a few weeks ago. She was running in the street so I pulled over and called her to me. I saw one of her companion's go to the Access Center so I called the person who takes care of the kennels and asked him to tell her to come and get the dog. I guess her other companion was in there too, because he is the one that came for her. I have told them multiple times that the dog cannot be left alone but I can't force anyone to do what they are supposed to. She is a good dog but doesn't like to be left alone and has gotten loose multiple times when they leave her. I witnessed her barely miss being hit by a bus. I worry about her and hope her companion(s) start being more responsible. After she went with her companion, I drove around the Eastside but did not find anyone with pets so I went across town to our storage units. I picked up pet food and waters and went home. It was only 11am when I got everything unloaded so I went back out a second time looking for someone who had requested dog food and to check our PO Box. Nothing was in the PO Box and I was unable to find the person needing dog food so I picked up more produce for my tortoise and went home... Bottled waters, chicken jerky treats, wet dog food, DASHI meal toppers, Inaba meal toppers and peanut butter know chews were shared.
This morning, I was able to meet with the people I was originally supposed to meet with yesterday. Two of the companions have rooms at the motel I stopped at and one of them stays at the motel right next door. I visited with a total of four dogs and provided supplies. When I left the motel, I drove around the area for a bit. I always see homeless with dogs over there but have not gotten any of them to contact me for spaying/neutering. I still continue to try. However, I only saw one person with a dog and he was walking in an area where there was nowhere for me to pull over. I am almost sure I asked him a few months back but I was hoping to try again. Maybe next time. On my way home, I also drove through a few areas of Jurupa Valley. I only spotted on person with a dog. Both he and the dog were sleeping so I left them alone. I was home a little after 11am which is early for me but I did what I could so there was no point in wasting anymore time or fuel... Bottled waters, chicken jerky treats, wet dog food, DASHI meal toppers, Inaba meal toppers, 20-pound bag of dog food from the Star Milling Company, 8-pound bag of senior dog food, 16-pound bag of Pedigree for big dogs, peanut butter knot chews, buffalo tendons and plush squeaky dog toys were shared.
Today was one of those days when I was grateful when my time on the streets was up….It began with me texting someone when I was about to drive out to the Westside to meet with him and some others with pets. He texted back that something came up and he had to get to an appointment and would not be back until 11am. He was my 'go to' person for the group I was meeting. I told him that would not work and we would have to reschedule for tomorrow. I asked him to let everyone know. That left me sitting in my vehicle without a plan so I called one of the people I was planning to meet tomorrow and asked if we could meet this morning. He said yes but I did not know how to get in touch with others that normally meet me at that location. One couple happened to pull up on their way back to the river bottom and I spoke to them about their dog. I was also able to reach the companion of two other dogs. She said she would walk up to meet me too. She did make it but only had one dog with her. When I left that location, I had planned to go to another and see if I could find anyone with pets but I didn't make it because of two reasons. The first was that there was a small stray running around Hall Avenue in Jurupa Valley I was trying to catch him and check for a chip. I spent quite a bit of time trying but when that did not happen so I texted someone from Animal Control to see if they might be able to. As I was driving back toward another area of Jurupa Valley, I was sitting at a red light on Mission and Riverview Drive when I saw a car hit a gentleman on a bicycle. The man went down and the car drove around the corner and parked. It happened so fast that I am not even sure whose fault it was but when the guy went down it definitely freaked me out. I saw two pedestrians get hit in a crosswalk, years ago, and watched them fly high in the air before hitting the pavement. This was nothing as serious as that but it looked bad at first. The gentleman did get off the ground and got his bike. Traffic just sat still in all directions, until he reached the car that hit him. At that point, the light turned green and I had to go. However, I was done. Between the stray and that accident, I decided to call it a day! When I got home, I found that my desert tortoise had come out of hibernation and that put a smile on my face... Bottled waters, chicken jerky treats, wet dog food, Wellness wet cat food, DASHI meal toppers, Inaba meal toppers, 17-pound bag of cat food from the Star Milling Company, 2-20 pound bags of dog food from the Star Milling Company, Inaba chicken fillet, Inaba Churu Bites, peanut butter knot chews, buffalo tendons, kabob chew sticks and a squeaky dog toy were shared.
My plans this morning were to go to the Eastside and visit pets and their companions at the Path of Life Community Shelter. Afterwards, I was supposed to meet a couple at Hunter Park to scan a dog they found and to bring supplies for their dog. I was also going there to meet someone living in a van with her dog. I did stop at the Path of Life first but I only visited with a couple of dogs there. Nobody else was outside with their pets so I did not stay long but while I was there, I received a text regarding two dogs that had bitten some people and a couple of dogs at Hunter Park. The woman texting said she called the emergency number at Animal Control around 3am but nobody had come out yet so I made some calls. While I was on my way to the park, I texted the person I thought I was meeting to being supplies and check for a microchip but he said he got a job and went to work. I still drove to the park to meet the woman in the van. While I was with her and her dog, Animal Control arrived. The two dogs were friendly as long as there were not any dogs around so the AC Officer did not have a problem with them. When my visit was over, I drove around the Eastside for a bit as well as Fairmount Park and Rubidoux but I did not see anyone with pets. Because I needed to speak to someone at Animal Services, I decided to go there and then call it a day. However, I stopped at our PO Box first and when I did, I saw someone I knew walking with his dog. I drove over to where they were and stopped for a visit. I gave them a few supplies and then made a call to the companion of two other dogs, while I was on my way to Animal Services. I wanted to check on them due to the companion having concerns about the male we recently neutered. I made a quick stop at Animal Services, got the information I needed and then went to visit the two dogs and their companion. That became my final stop of the day. Tomorrow, I am supposed to bring supplies to a few dogs staying at one of the motels on the Westside so I shouldn't be doing quite as much 'running around'... Bottled waters, chicken jerky treats, wet dog food, DASHI meal toppers, Inaba meal toppers, peanut butter knot chews, buffalo tendons, bully stick, bully slices, large Kong ball and plush squeaky toys were shared.
When I left the house, this morning, I went straight to the Jurupa Valley Motel6 to check on the four pets that had their spay days yesterday and to visit other dogs that were staying there too. My first stop was to the room where the two cats were. I had borrowed a carrier for them from the Mary S. Robert's Adoption Center and I needed to return it. Next stop was the room I reserved for the companion of the dog who drove a couple to the spay/neuter clinic, at the last minute, yesterday. The dog was very happily napping on the bed while his companion was getting their belongings packed up to check out. As soon as I entered the room with treats, the dog woke up. LOL. Next stop was the puppy that had her spay day at the Riverside County Department of Animal Services and was driven by the gentleman in the room I just visited. The puppy was resting when I entered their room but she was happy to get up for treats too. From there, I went to check on the other dog that was spayed yesterday. Her companion was sharing a room with her mom. I actually spayed two dogs for her mom, some time ago. One of them passed away but the other was in the room so I was able to visit with her and the dog that was spayed. The last room I went to was not a room we paid for but I do know the couple that stays in the room and provided services for both of their dogs when they lived in the river bottom. They are always excited to see me so it was nice to end the morning with there with them. I went to two places, after leaving the motel. The first was the pet adoption center so I could return the carrier and the second was our (empty) PO Box. I have been receiving many calls for spaying/neutering this week so we may even use all of our appointments. It will depend on whether or not people follow through. I thought about visiting my granddaughter and just spaying/neutering at one clinic but that depends on how these phone calls pan out and whether or not my son is busy that day... Bottled waters, chicken jerky treats, wet dog food, 8 pound bag of senior dog food, DASHI meal toppers, Inaba meal toppers, kabob chew sticks, peanut butter knot chews, buffalo tendons and plush squeaky toys were shared.
When I did my photo album post last night, I mentioned that we were only going to be doing spaying and neutering at one clinic today. I never heard back from the companion of a puppy staying at the Path of Life Community Shelter so I did not make an appointment to have the puppy spayed. At 7:40am, I received a call asking me where I was. It was from the companion of the puppy. He was at Riverside County Department of Animal Services spay/neuter clinic waiting for me. I was not sure if the clinic would let me add the puppy but I told him to wait there and I got in my vehicle and headed that way. When I got there, I spoke to one of the staff and they were willing to add the puppy to the schedule so we were able to get her in. The companion could not get any of the staff at Path of Life to give him a ride but the companion of a dog named 'Zeus' drove them. I gave him an ARCO fuel card and will put him and his dog in a motel room for the night... When I left that location, I made a quick trip home for my own dog and then went back out to the second clinic. We had two female cats a female dog scheduled there. The dog was late to arrive but all three showed up so we had a total of four females receiving 'the works' today. I was about to leave there and go to our storage units when I received an email from the motel. It was about two of the rooms that housekeeping said were left a horrible mess with dog urine and feces on the floor and the bed. They said one of the room's had five dogs in it. When I went to visit the one dog we spayed, the companion told me their other dog was in the room too but never said there were four other dogs in there! That room belonged to the dog with complications that cost us much more than usual. I don't care so much about how much we spent as I do that the companion knew all the issues we had and still disrespected me and my organization. Thankfully, the motel did not kick us out but I thought we were past having these problems. I give everyone a long 'speech' ahead of time and make sure I remind them of what needs done when I visit the day after surgery. It's been a few months since anyone screwed that up and last week we had it in two rooms. Their phones are off but I left voicemails and texts and told each of them that I would never put them in a room in the future for either cold weather or hot weather and I will not spay/neuter any pets for them in the future. I always try to be patient with people but this was totally preventable and uncalled for... I will be sure to remind everyone staying there tonight what the rules are, when I visit tomorrow morning. Hoping all goes well. "One by one we get them done, because the only way to combat pet overpopulation and euthanasia in our shelters is to spay and neuter." Bottled waters, ARCO fuel cards, puppy training pads, collapsible pet dish with leash clip, small leash, small martingale collar, 3.5 pound bag of puppy food, wet puppy food, 3.5 pound bag of small dog food, 17 pound bag of cat food from the Star Milling Company, wet cat food, DASHI meal toppers, kabob chew sticks, squeaky toy and plush squeaky toys were shared.
My first stop of the day was in downtown Riverside at the Salvation Army. I visited with two dogs and their companion, while she waited for her turn to take a shower. I also provided them with a few supplies. From there, I drove to a location in Rubidoux. One of the people I was hoping to see with her dogs, was not there, but another gentleman was with his. We visited and I provided them a few supplies. My final stop was out in Jurupa Valley by the Rick Thompson Arena. I visited a family with four dogs and two cats. I provided them with supplies, before I left. This family is trying to find housing and was told they can only have two of their four dogs with them. They asked if I could help find homes for the other two but I explained that I don't network dogs on our page and I don't know any rescues that would be able to take them right now. I feel bad that I cannot be more helpful but it is so difficult rehoming dogs these days. Tomorrow is spay/neuter day. I received so many calls for help but few called back when I asked them to in order to actually set up the appointments. I have three scheduled for one of the clinic's and I had one scheduled for the other. However, the other individual did not get back with me to confirm so it looks like we will just be doing the three. I never like wasting available appointments but there was nothing I could do about it. I thought I was going to fill all of the appointments this week but without people following up to make the appointments, nothing gets done. The other issue is that some of the people who want their pets spayed/neutered have been removed from where they were staying so their focus is on where to sleep and not whether or not their pet(s) get spayed/neutered... Bottled waters, chicken jerky treats, bully slices, buffalo tendons, kabob chew sticks, water dish, wet dog food, Dashi meal toppers, 8 pound bag of senior dog food, 17 pound bag of cat food from the Star Milling Company, 20 pound bag of dog food from the Star Milling Company, Inaba Meal Toppers, Inaba Churus, Inaba Churu Bites, Wellness wet cat food and plush squeaky toys were shared.
Before driving to the Path of Life Community Shelter on the Eastside, I stopped to drop off a small 'goodie bag' at the work place of Rebecca Torres. She is the wife of Ralph Torres and he is the person who has been donating his time to keep our website up and running for many years. I went directly to the shelter, from there, and visited with four dogs. All males that stay in the kennels there while their companions stay in the shelter. I had planned on going to a couple of different locations in Rubidoux but I received a message from Mercury Insurance that they needed information right away. I did not have it on me so I had to go home. It wasn't a full morning but I did see all of the pets that came out with their companions. I spent the rest of the morning, on the phone. In addition to working on spay/neuter appointments for this week, I was dealing with insurance, setting up auto pay for the new lease, trying to contact a company regarding a chipped faucet and searching for information about the impounded dogs I discussed yesterday. Not the day I planned but the way it was spent just the same... Bottled waters, chicken jerky treats, bully slices, peanut butter knot chews, Dashi meal toppers, 2 handmade pet jackets, 20 pound bag of dog food from the Star Milling Company and plush squeaky toys were shared.
Last night, I received a couple of messages about two dogs, sisters, that are red listed at Riverside County Department of Animal Services. They are part of a family of six that we eventually provided 'the works' for. In addition, they are part of a family that the Mary S. Robert's Pet Adoption Center helped with when one of them was pregnant. Their foster took care of the mama and babies and when they were weaned, we spayed the mama. She was then returned to her companion. I had been trying to get the companion to downsize to the legal limit of four but she just couldn't decide which dogs to part with. She loved them so much. Imagine my surprise when I find out that two of her dogs have been impounded for more than 70 days and can be euthanized any time now. I have no idea where the companion is, where the other dogs are or how these two wound up in the shelter so my mission this morning was to try to find out. I drove to a few areas and spoke to people who knew of the 'family' but did not really know what happened to any of them. I also called and texted a few people looking for information... While I was doing all of that, I visited with three dogs that were at one of the RV's I stopped at looking for answers. When I left there, I drove out to a family in Jurupa Valley but nobody was outside of their RV and they did not respond to my text so I drove to another location in Jurupa Valley. I went to visit a dog I just made recently. He was so friendly and his companion did not mind the company. Turns out, they have been in the spot where they are for nearly 8 months and they were officially 'evicted' from the property. The camper is being towed to another location and it won't be anywhere near here. It sounds like things will be better for them when this happens but I was a little sorry to see a new furry friend leaving. They were my last stop of the day. I went home from there and continued reaching out to people for information on the companion of the impounded dogs. As of 5:30pm, I haven't had any luck finding her... Bottled waters, ear cleaner, stainless steel pet dish, Inaba Churu Bites, Inaba chicken fillet, chicken jerky treats, bully slices, bully sticks, buffalo tendons, Dashi meal toppers, kabob chew sticks, kitty laser toy and plush squeaky toys were shared.
It was drizzling, when I left home for the Eastside. I wasn't sure if anyone would be outside the Path of Life Community Shelter kennels with their dogs but I drove over there anyway. Only one person had his dog out. After our visit, the drizzle became rain and I headed to Rubidoux. Thankfully the rain and drizzle were on and off so I was able to make a stop. I visited the dog and provided supplies. I placed a call to someone who needed pet jackets and found out she was at the Jurupa Valley Motel6 with family. I told her I would meet them there. When I got out of my vehicle, the companion of a dog I know had him out for a little walk. We found a dry place to stand so we could visit and then I provided a few supplies, before going to the motel room. I had jackets that fit both the dogs and I provided supplies for the senior dog that we neutered many years ago. By the time I left the motel, the rain was continuing to come down. I drove to the store, checked our empty PO Box and called it a day. I should say called it a day as far as being outside goes but I still had work to do at my desk... Bottled waters, 2 handmade pet jackets, fleece blanket, emergency blankets, hand warmers, bully slices, bully sticks, chicken jerky treats, wet dog food, Dashi meal toppers, 4.5 pound bag of senior dog food, NUBZ chews and plush squeaky toys were shared.
The rain was coming down all night and was on and off all day. I was thankful that the pets we just had spayed/neutered were keeping warm and dry in motel rooms for a couple of nights. The motel was the only place I went this morning. I was able to check on all six of the dogs that received 'the works' yesterday. One of the female's seemed to be having a tough time. She had an upset stomach and wasn't eating or drinking. I was concerned when I saw her at first so I asked her companion to get her up and have her walk around for me. She seemed to come right back 'to life'. She began wagging her tail and licking him. He said she had gone outside to go potty and seemed ok there. I told him my only concern was that she had thrown up a couple of times and wasn't drinking water. I was not concerned about her refusal to eat but was about the water. I don't want her to get dehydrated. I suggested that if she continues wanted to sleep but doesn't drink water that he take her back in for a re-check, just to be safe. The other five dogs were eating, drinking and going potty with no issues so that was good. When I left the motel, I went home for a bit and then went back out for my bi-weekly nail appointment. I returned home immediately after that, because I did not feel like going anywhere else in the rain. We might be getting more tomorrow morning which will cause problems for my seeing people with pets but I will figure that out when the time comes... Bottled waters, Premier protein shakes, string cheese, tangerines, bully slices, bully sticks, buffalo tendons, chicken jerky treats, 20 pound bag of dog food from the Star Milling Company and plush squeaky toys were shared.
We had six appointments scheduled for spaying/neutering today. The first three were at the Riverside County Department of Animal Services spay/neuter clinic. The rain let up as I was driving to the clinic so I was thankful we did not have to stand out in the rain. Two people were bringing those pets and both arrived on time. One of the companion's had his mama and son Akitas and the other companion had her female Pitbull. The male's services were being paid for by the Riverside County Department of Animal Services Healthy Pet Zone Fund. When I left there, I drove home to feed my dog and then went back out to the Mary S. Robert's spay/neuter clinic. We had one companion with a brother and sister Cane Corso/Belgian Malinois mixes and the other with a female Pitbull mix. The companions of the two dogs showed up thirty minutes late, but we got them in, The female pit mix was on time but there was a problem. Even though her companion said she had not eaten, she had a belly full of kibble and that presented unexpected complications. They still did the surgery but there was an extra cost of two hundred dollars just because of her having eaten and nobody knowing ahead of time. The three dogs at the Mary S. Robert's spay/neuter clinic were having the spay and neuter part of their services covered by a grant but we have to pay all the other costs including those from complications. That being said, I am just glad the dog was ok. When I left that clinic, I drove to our storage units to drop off a large bag containing a donation of toys and to pick up more pet food. The 20-20 pound bags of dog food are running out before the month ends and we may need to start supplementing that. I can't fit larger bags in shed or my back seat and I don't normally see 20 pound bags anywhere. I do see fourteen so Ipmay have to start buying some of them. I already purchase 3.5 to 8 pound bags of puppy food, senior dog food and dog food for small dogs but I may need to do this too. It is not a bad thing but it is not something I have had to do over the past thirteen years. The best part of my day came after I got home and was putting a cargo liner in the back of the new lease. While cleaning things out, I found a ring that I had lost many months ago. It is not worth much monetarily but the sentimental value is priceless. "One by one we get them done, because the only way to combat pet overpopulation and euthanasia in our shelters is to spay and neuter." Bottled waters, ARCO fuel cards, 3 handmade pet jackets, large dog collar, Max and Neo large dog collar, 2-Tiller Tug leashes, 20 pound bag of dog food from the Star Milling Company were shared.
I was not sure if I was going to be doing my daily travels, because rain was predicted on and off all day. It was raining when I woke up but it stopped or became a slight drizzle around 9am so I decided to take my chances. Things were not looking too good when I drove through Rubidoux and Fairmount Park but I was able to make contact with someone who was waiting to shower at the Salvation Army. I spent some time with her two dogs, provided a few supplies and then drove out to a river bottom outlet in an industrial area of Jurupa Valley. I was looking for a particular RV that a gentleman lives in with his dog and cat. They had to move where they had been parked but I thought I spotted the RV the last time I drove up Fleetwood. There were a few of them parked there but I was sure of the right one when I saw the cat hanging out, I parked up the street and as I was approaching the RV two dogs came running. One of them doesn't live there but she likes to spend time with them. I had not seen her in awhile so I was happy she was there. She looked a bit on the thin side but other than that was happily wagging her tail. She used to be very timid, after her initial companion passed but she has become much more 'social' and had no problem hanging out with me. During the visit, I provided supplies and gave someone a buffalo tendon to bring to a dog that is kept on a property up there as a 'watch do'. He is a pitbull and always barks if I get close but he has no problem accepting something good to chew on. It makes me so sad to see dogs left out like that with no companionship but there is nothing I can do about that. When I left Fleetwood, I drove to a few areas of Rubidoux but everyone was still zipped inside their tents at each of the locations. I will get back that way, as soon as my schedule (and the weather) makes it possible... Bottled waters, large bag of recyclables, chicken jerky treats, 17 pound bag of cat food from the Star Milling Company, 20 pound bag of dog food from the Star Milling Company, Wellness wet cat food, Inaba Churus, wet dog food, Inaba meal toppers, Dashi meal toppers, doggie waste bags, buffalo tendons, bully slices and kabob chew sticks were shared.
I spent part of the morning on the Eastside on Massachusetts Avenue, the Path of Life Community Shelter kennels and then University and Victoria. I visited six dogs and provided supplies. When I left the Eastside, I drove to Jurupa Valley to check our (empty) PO Box and look for a woman who I spoke to last Wednesday outside the Riverside County Department of Animal Services. She was looking for dog food but her dog was not spayed/neutered. I gave her my card and said I could get her dog in this week and I would bring food at that time. She said she was parked in a camper by the In-N-Out Burger off of Clay Street. I never heard from her so I decided to look for her today. There was two campers there. I wasn't sure which she was in but she came out of one of them and told me she did not want to do it this week but maybe the following week or the week after that. When I asked her why she wanted to wait, she admitted that she planned to breed the dog. I told her that was very irresponsible and if she was going to do that then I would not be offering anymore assistance. As I was leaving, I noticed another gentleman in the field and he was walking a dog. I wasn't sure if it was the dog I was inquiring about but it turned out not to be. This dog was adopted from the shelter and had been given 'the works' there before he left the premises. The companion was in need of dog food so I gave him a bag along with a few other things. He told me the woman I had spoken to earlier has a male dog. For some reason I thought it was a female when I was told she wanted the dog to have a litter. I guess she meant father a litter. Either way, I was frustrated that people still don't get, or don't care, how bad the pet overpopulation problem is and continue to be so irresponsible. As I went to leave the second time, a gentleman approached me on his bike. I spoke to him a few months back. He has a female akita and one of her male pups that is now more than a year and a half old. He wants to get them spayed/neutered. I took down his information. I also mentioned I have one more opening at the Riverside County Department of Animal Services spay/neuter clinic on Wednesday, incase anyone else in the river bottom wants to make an appointment for their pet. I received a call within the next half an hour but was on another call and missed it. I tried calling back and texting but did not have any luck. The person did return my call later in the day but I had given the appointment to someone else. Luckily, we still had openings at the other clinic so I was able to schedule her pet there... Bottled waters, handmade pet jacket, chicken jerky treats, 8 pound bag of senior dog food, 3.5 pound bag of small dog food, 20 pound bag of dog food from the Star Milling Company, wet dog food, Inaba meal toppers, Dashi meal toppers, Nubz chews, Inaba chicken fillet. Plush squeaky toys and kabob chew sticks were shared.
Sometimes the best plans and/or intentions do not make for a very productive day and today was one of those. I have been communicating with someone needing cat food and I was supposed to bring him some. I told him to call me this morning so we could arrange a time and place. He texted me at 7am which is before I start answering texts or calls. At 8am, I texted him back. I made multiple attempts but did not hear from him. I decided to drive over to one of the river bottom outlets in an industrial area of Jurupa Valley. It is fairly close to where he stays so I thought I might get to him after visiting others. However, the people and pets I hoped to meet were not where I saw them last. Code enforcement must have moved them and since they do not have phones I could not try to make contact so I kept driving to Fairmount Park. I drove around the entire park but did not find anyone with pets. One of the things I had to do today was meet someone out in Moreno Valley around 11am to pick up a vegan pie my daughter wanted for her upcoming birthday. I needed to pass the Eastside to get there so I drove around a few areas there first. I did not have any luck there either. There was one place left for me to go where I knew I would find two pets and their companion, because he had texted me for food. That is where I went next and I finally had an opportunity to visit with a couple of my furry friends and provide a few supplies. When we were done, I drove to a couple other locations and when I did not find anyone with pets, I decided to just head out to where I was to meet the woman bringing the pie I had ordered. I was almost an hour early so I played a word game on my phone and scrolled through social media until she arrived. There were accidents on the freeway so I took a longer route home and still managed to make it back to Jurupa Valley in about thirty minutes. I went to out PO Box to pick up a pet supply donation that arrived yesterday and then home. My daughter was at the house for a few hours so my dog got to see his favorite person. I will be taking the day off tomorrow to spend time with family and do an early celebration of my daughter's birthday but, weather permitting, I will be back out on Monday... Bottled waters, chicken jerky treats, 8-pound bag of senior dog food, 3.5-pound bag of small dog food, Inaba meal toppers, Dashi meal toppers, Nubz chews and kabob chew sticks were shared.
I was grateful for a break in the rain, when I left for the Eastside. I drove directly to the Path of Life Community Shelter to visit with whatever pets might be out this morning and to meet Tecla Samtoi (who makes our pet jackets). I visited with three pets and Was given a variety of sizes of pet jackets. The fabric store is going out of business so we may need to collect fleece donations for her next year but I think we are good for the rest of the cooler weather ahead. From there, I drove out to our storage units. Our wonderful volunteers, Cindy and Seth Cox, normally pick up our monthly donation from Star Milling on the 11th of each month. That was not possible this month. Star Milling was kind enough to let us pick up early and that is what we did. Cindy and Seth picked up the pet food, delivered it to us and helped unload everything. Once that was done, I loaded my vehicle with a few things and went to meet someone who contacted me about dog food. I had not seen this person and pet for a long time and it just so happened that I had to pass by where they stay on my drive home. I stopped for a visit and to provide supplies, checked our (empty) PO Box and went home... Bottled waters, handmade pet jacket, chicken jerky treats, 20 pound bags of dog food from the Star Milling Company, Inaba meal toppers, Dashi meal toppers, wet dog food, Inaba Churu Bites, bully stick, buffalo tendons and a large Kong squeaky ball were shared.
I spent a good chunk of my morning at the Jurupa Valley Motel6. I visited a total of nine pets. We reserved five rooms there last night and I went to visit the pets that were staying in them. First stop was to check on the brothers that got 'the works'. They were recuperating nicely and had company too. There was a woman visiting with her two dogs. One of those we provided 'the works' for back in 2014. I am hoping the companion let's us do the same for the other. The next room I visited was for to check on one of the cat's that received 'the works'. In her room was her canine sister, that we provided 'the works' for awhile back and that dog's mama. I was told the mama was just returned. Someone had taken her and her last litter. We have no ideas what happened to the puppies wound up but thankful the mama seems in good health. I am hoping to get her spayed in the near future. Next up was a dog named 'Sunshine'. We had never met but got 'acquainted' through the Riverside County Department of Animal Services. The dog had been impounded and the shelter covered all of her costs. Even though we did not bring the dog in to be spayed, we still offered to cover the cost for a two night stay at the motel so she could begin to recuperate. I stopped in for a visit and to provide a few supplies and then headed over to the fourth room. That was where I was checking on the other male dog that got neutered. He is the one that was no too thrilled with my company. He did not want to be my best friend today but he was willing to let me feed him treats. When I walked over to the fifth room, nobody answered the door and the dog did not bark so I knew they were not there. This room was for 'EZ' and his companion. Even though I saw him recently, I still planned on doing so again. When nobody answered the door, I called the companion and she verified they were out. She said I could visit tomorrow but I already have the morning planned so that won't be possible. Before leaving the motel, I paid for a second night for the rooms that I originally reserved for one. We are expecting more rain and I wanted them to have another dry night. After leaving the motel. I checked our PO Box and then went home.... Bottled waters, ARCO fuel card, emergency blankets, chicken jerky treats, 20-pound bags of dog food from the Star Milling Company, Inaba Meal Toppers, wet dog food, Inaba tuna fillet, Inaba Churu Bites, bully stick, buffalo tendons and kabob chew sticks were shared.
We had six pets scheduled for 'the works' today. Three male dogs at the Riverside County Department of Animal Services spay/neuter clinic and three female cats at the Mary S. Robert's spay/neuter clinic. I am happy to share that everyone showed up! We would like to thank the Riverside County Department of Animal Services Healthy Pet Zone fund for covering the cost of two of the male dogs. We had one grant left over from last week and then used today's as well. We would also like to thank Actor's and Others for Animals for the pledge that helped lower the cost for the cats spay surgeries. We have five motel rooms reserved. Some are just for one night but if it is raining on Thursday we will take care of a second night as well. "One by one we get them done because the only way to combat pet overpopulation and euthanasia in our shelters is to spay and neuter." Bottled waters, ARCO fuel cards, 3 handmade pet jackets, collapsible pet dish with leash clip, Dashi meal toppers, Wellness wet cat food, small dog leash, 5-17 pound bags of cat food from the Star Milling Company, Inaba Meal Toppers, wet dog food, 4.5 pound bag of senior dog food, plush squeaky dog toys and kabob chew sticks were shared.
Last night, someone sent a late night text regarding a need for dog food. I checked in with her at 8am. She stays on the Eastside not too far from where I was going so I told her I would bring the food after I was done with the people and pets at the Path of Life Community Shelter. However, when I arrived on the Eastside, nobody was outside the kennels with their pets so I went to meet the person I had contacted earlier. Her dog is usually not very friendly but he was happy to see me today and I was thankful for that. We visited and I provided supplies, before heading back over to the Path of Life Community Shelter. There still wasn't anyone outside with their pets so I decided to drive around and see if I could find anyone. I did see a couple walking their dog on Massachusetts and I noticed she did not have her collar or leash on. I was told code enforcement took it. Not sure how that happened since they are normally on the dog but I offered to give them new ones. One of the companion's doesn't care for me, after we had a verbal altercation but I did not think he would refuse something for the dog. Well, he did so I got back in my vehicle and drove further down the street. One of the women who stays at the shelter was sitting there with her dog so I stopped for them. My next stop was by University and Victoria. While I was visiting 'Solo', a gentleman came up with two dogs in a stroller. Taking It To The Streets with Lori and Shira provided the works for one of them some time ago and then another over the summer. We visited and I provided them with a few supplies. While all of this was going on, two dogs ran across University towards Victoria. One big dog that looked like she might be nursing puppies, or has been bred a few times, and then a small male dog. There are always so many dogs running loose on the Eastside. I am not sure. When I left the Eastside, I drove back to Jurupa Valley and checked the PO Box. Just a notice saying our storage unit rent is going up on both units. I would love to get rid of one of the units but I can't seem to make everything fit in just one. I will keep working on that... Bottled waters, chicken jerky chews, Dashi meal toppers, 20 pound bag of dog food from the Star Milling Company, Inaba Meal Toppers, wet dog food, 3.5 pound bag od dog food for small dogs, plush squeaky dog toys, NUBZ chews, buffalo tendons, kabob chew sticks, bully sticks and bully slices were shared.
I left the house a little later than I usually do, in order to clean my kitchen after doing some early morning baking. Someone I had not seen for awhile, and who I thought had left town with her dog, was at the Jurupa ValleyMotel6. She said they were checking out today and needed dog food so I told her I would meet them there. I have known the dog since he was a baby. No matter how long it has been since our last visit, he is always happy to see me. I had them walk me to my vehicle to get needed supplies when someone else came up to me for dog food. I also had plans to meet with a companion of two other dogs that were in a room there. While in the parking lot, I was also approached by someone who was looking for information on how to update the info on her dog's microchip. I had neutered him many years ago so I wasn't sure which chip he had but I told her a couple she should look in to. Someone had taken the dog and she wanted to be sure her contact information was current. When I was done with the four dogs and finished speaking to the woman with the missing dog, I was getting ready to leave and head out to another location. Just as I was about to do that, someone I knew pulled into the parking lot. She helped do TNR and rescue for many kittens and cats that wound up at and behind the motel. We spoke for awhile and then I realized I did not really have time to make anymore stops today because I had some things I needed to get done at home. On Tuesday, I will try to catch up on with the stop I missed today... Bottled waters, handmade pet jacket, fleece blanket, chicken jerky chews, Dashi meal toppers, 20 pound bag of dog food from the Star Milling Company, Inaba Meal Toppers, wet dog food, 8 pound bag of senior dog food, plush squeaky dog toys, large squeaky Kong ball, NUBZ chews, buffalo tendons, bully sticks and bully slices were shared.
Today is the beginning of a new month and the 13th Anniversary of Taking It To The Streets with Lori and Shira. We had quite a few pets scheduled for spaying/neutering February but we also had issues with people not showing up. Even so, we were still able to provide 'thee works' for 16 pets. There were 14 dogs and 2 cats. We had six male dogs, eight female dogs one female cat and one male cat. This morning, my first stop was at the Jurupa Valley Motel6 to check on the two dogs that were initially scheduled to get neutered on Wednesday but had to go back on Friday due to an equipment issue. Both dogs seemed to be recuperating nicely. While I was at the motel, I also visited with another dog that happened to be there with his companion. I usually visit them at the Path of Life Community Shelter but they rented a room so I was able to see them at the motel. When I left the motel, I headed over to Fairmount Park. I was supposed to meet a couple of people there. One of them has a puppy she wants to get neutered. While driving through the park, I saw other people I knew with pets so I stopped for them first. When we were done, I drove to another parking lot where I was supposed to meet the other companions and their pets but they were not there. I tried to call and text but got no response. I was not happy that I drove all the way over there and the people failed to show. However, it still gave me an opportunity to visit three other dogs, and meet a gentleman with three eight week old puppies, so my time and fuel did not go to waste. When I left the park, I drove across town to our storage units to pick up pet food and waters. I went home from there... Bottled waters, ARCO fuel card, 2 large stainless steel pet bowls, collapsible water bowl with leash clip, chicken jerky chews, Wellness wet cat food, Dashi meal toppers, 17pound bag of cat food from the Star Milling Company, Inaba Juicy Bites, cat collar, plush squeaky dog toys, buffalo tendons, peanut butter knot chews and bully slices were shared.
