Welcome to Taking it to the Streets with Lori and Shira where our mission and passion is to Spread a Little Kindness each day! Please join us in our efforts in Riverside, California to bring donated food and pet supplies to the dogs and cats living on the streets and snacks, water and toiletries for their homeless companions. Our supporters help us to provide spay & neuter surgery, vaccinations, microchips and county licenses for these street pets.
Taking It To The Streets with Lori and Shira was a concept that began by Shira's concerns about stray animals on the streets and grew into a larger concern in March 2012 for the homeless pets we call 'street dogs' and the people who care for them. For many these animals are the only unconditional love and loyalty they receive...read more
I made one stop to visit with pets today and that was at Fairmount Park. I made arrangements to bring someone a new tent and sleeping bag. I was also going to meet up with the companion of another dog as well as a dog she has been caring for. While I was there, a gentleman came up from the river bottom with a puppy that appeared to be approximately six months old. We discussed her getting 'the works' and I gave him my contact card to make the appointment. When I left that location, I got on the freeway and drove out to Costco. Not my favorite place but it wasn't too busy and I was in and out fairly quickly. During the drive, I received three calls from people wanting to spay/neuter their pets and asked them to call back between 1pm and 4pm so I could check the calendar for availability and take down their information. My final stop was at our PO Box. I received a text from a donor who purchased collars and leashes for us. She said they had been delivered. I went to pick them up and there was another package from someone else as well. I am always grateful to find gifts waiting for those we serve... Bottled waters, 4 person tent, sleeping bag, 14 pound bag of Pedigree dog food, wet puppy food, buffalo tendons, bully sticks and chicken jerky treats were shared.
I had two appointments at Kaiser this morning so I was not sure if I was going to have time for my daily travels. I definitely did not have time before but decided to go out afterwards if it worked out. When I left Kaiser, I drove around the area for a bit hoping I might find some of the people I spotted with dogs, over the week end, but I did not have any luck. On my way to the post office to mail some paperwork for our Non-Profit, I saw 'Chevy' and his companion. I drove over to where they were for a visit and then went to the post office. When I left there, I drove around a few areas of Jurupa Valley but could not find any of the people with pets that I was looking for. My dog had been in the house for quite some time so I chose not to go looking anywhere else and just take care of him. I will go back out tomorrow... Bottled waters, buffalo tendons and chicken jerky treats were shared.
At 7:30am I headed out to the Rescue Food Bank in Loma Linda, I had reserved a pallet of 14 pound bags of dog food and needed to pick up as much as I could fit in my vehicle. I was able to load 30 bags. I am sure I could have used more but I had no way to get it to my storage and knew that a friend could put it to great use too, I asked that the other ½ pallet+ be given to my friend Brandy with Your Love Unleashed Dog Rescue and Boarding. She is always ready and willing to help others so it is nice to do a little something for her for a change. While at that location, Daisy's Hope had donated boxes of cat dishes. Each small box had four of them inside and I took ten of them. I am sure I could have used more but I think the TNR people and cat rescues need them much more than we do. Thank You Daisy's Hope and thank you Greater Good Charities, Mars Pet Care and TNR Riverside for making these items available to us! When I left the rescue bank, I drove out to our storage units to unload most of the bags and then I went home. I was there long enough to re-stock my vehicle and then I went out for a second time with my destinations being on the westside of Riverside. I went to visit two different motels there and bring supplies for six dogs and three cats. I saw multiple homeless walking around with pets but was unable to stop anywhere safely to give them a contact card. I was able to give a card to a woman in the parking lot of one of the motels. She had a cat wearing a harness and leash and was thankful for the offer. I hope she calls. When I left the second motel, I called it a day after I drove to the store to pick up some produce for my tortoise. Often times, I see homeless people with pets near the stores I shop at but did not see anyone today. Tomorrow, I have two appointments at Kaiser so I will not be going to the Eastside. Whether or not I make any stops will depend on how long the appointments run... Bottled waters, large kitty pet bowls from Daisy's Hope, small bag of puppy food, wet puppy food, 14 pound bag of Pedigree dog food, wet cat food, 17 pound bag of cat food from the Star Milling Company, Wellness wet cat food, wet dog food, 2-20 pound bags of dog food from the Star Milling Company, individual bags of dog treats including a large bag of chicken jerky, Inaba Churus, xs squeaky Kong balls, XL squeaky Kong ball, kabob chew stick, bully sticks, buffalo tendons and chicken jerky treats were shared.
I wasn't sure what I was going to be doing today. I had not made specific plans with anyone for their pets, I only got about three hours of sleep last night and I had friends coming over for dinner. I decided to 'go with the flow' (so to speak) and I went to a location in Rubidoux to try and speak to someone with dogs that needed 'the works'. When I arrived, the gentleman was not there, one dog was tethered to an RV, one dog (I had not seen before) was tethered to a fence and another was in the fenced in field right next to the lot. I called out but nobody answered so I left. I called someone who stays in the river bottom near Fairmount and told him I could meet with supplies. On my way to see them, I stopped in another area of the park to visit with a dog that was with his companion. When I was done with all three pets, I drove back through Rubidoux but there still wasn't anyone there with the dogs. I almost called Animal Control and then realized it was Saturday. They usually just take emergency calls then. I can't go back until Tuesday but if the dogs are there alone again, I will report it... I was just going to go home but I went to our PO Box. Nothing was there but I did notice a gentleman walking his dog on the other side of the parking lot. I had seen them before but never stopped. That changed today. They were in need of supplies so I am thankful I pulled over and asked if it was ok to visit. I found out where they stay and asked the companion to let a couple of other people know that I was looking for them….When I left them, I was on my way home and was thinking about a guy I met a couple of months ago near the 99 cent store on Limonite. At the time, he had a very pregnant, not very nice, dog in a shopping cart. He explained that she had been hit by a car weeks before and he nursed her back to health. At that time, I had to stay a couple of feet away from the cart to keep her from growling. I had not seen them again until this morning. I couldn't believe that I was just thinking about them and there they were. The first words out of the gentleman's mouth were "I need to get the mama dog spayed", before she goes into heat again. I told him the babies should nurse for another two or three weeks and we could do it then but that I don't have an opening until October 23rd anyway, unless someone cancels. He has no phone so I am not sure how easy this will be to get done but I will do my best. The mama dog had three babies. He said he had to help her deliver one of them and that she had smothered the runt. The other two were active and appear healthy for now. He said there have been many people wanting to buy the puppies but since he is spaying her he may want to keep them. That is a discussion I will have another day. Right now my focus will be on getting her done as soon the time is right. What Seemed like it might be an uneventful morning turned out to be just the opposite and I am always ok with a full schedule. I much prefer that to the days when I drive around for hours and only visit one or two pet. The best part is ending the day with friends. I don't have people over very often but I love cooking and I love the company so I am feeling pretty grateful right now... Bottled waters, large collar and leash set, harness, plush squeaky toy, Tiller Tugs squeaky tug toy, collapsible pet dish, wet dog food, 2-20 pound bags of dog food from the Star Milling Company, pig's ears, bully sticks, bully slices, buffalo tendons and chicken jerky treats were shared.
Before I get into my daily travels, I want to share that the dog 'Loba' (that belonged to the homeless gentleman who wound up in the hospital) has been adopted. I was given the news by Riverside County Department of Animal Services today. I wish we could have found family members to possibly get her or that he would have had a full recovery but neither was the case. After one month of being impounded, the dog is now out of the shelter and in a home. I know she will miss her companion but wish her a happy future... I spent most of the morning on the Eastside, I parked in the parking lot of the Path of Life Community Shelter where I visited with, and provided supplies, for pets staying in the kennels there and others staying on the street. When I was leaving, I received a text from Shirley at VanBuren Animal Hospital regarding a cat named 'MeMeow'. I visited him the other day, after verifying his family's homelessness for Feeding Pets Of The Homeless. He had a large mass on the side of his face which was going to get checked out. I told Pets Of The Homeless that if the cat needed to be put under we would cover the cost for him to get neutered. He did need to be so the cat will get medical attention thanks to them and neutered thanks to our supporters. When I left the Eastside, I drove across town to our storage units where I picked up pet food, waters and a few Inaba supplies. From there I headed home, making one quick stop at our (empty) PO Box... Bottled waters, small bag of puppy food, wet puppy food, wet dog food, Churu Bites, Churu Fun Bites, kabob chew sticks, buffalo tendons and chicken jerky treats were shared.