Taking It To The Streets With Lori And Shira  

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, a nonprofit organization in Riverside that funds veterinary services for pets of the homeless, recently reached another milestone, providing services for Gracie, its 2,000th pet.

The organization funds veterinary services for pets of the homeless to get spayed or neutered, vaccinated and microchipped. It also provides licenses for dogs.

The nonprofit began in 2012 as a mother-and-daughter team, Lori and Shira Rich. They began by offering pet food and pet supplies to the dogs and cats living on the streets with the homeless population in Riverside.

They soon realized those animals should have veterinary services so they would be healthier and not contribute to pet overpopulation.

Daughter Shira left after the first year to attend college, but Lori Rich continues as president of the organization, a 501(c)(3) that pays for pets to have surgeries at a low-cost spay/neuter clinic.

'It is hard to express my gratitude for all that has been accomplished since 2012,' Lori Rich said in a news release. 'I am looking forward to doing so much more in the future.'

For information, go to streetkindness.org or to the organization’s Facebook page.

Our Story

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


Saturday's Smiles 5-10-2025

My phone had a major update and I have just about figured out how to make the photo collages fit properly. Hoping to have that all set the next time I post.~ Yesterday, I bought a new outdoor trash pail and a couple boxes of trash bags. The pail is to replace one I keep outdoors and use for my recyclables. When I gather enough, I share them with a companion of a pet, or pets, I visit. After I got home from ACE Hardware, I put on my reading glasses and looked at the receipt. Not sure how but the cashier did not charge me for the pail. It was on the counter and she put the boxes of bags inside but somehow missed it. It was a $45.00 trash pail but regardless of the cost, I knew I needed to go back and pay for it. So, before starting my daily travels, I went and took care of that. When I left that location, I drove out to a river bottom outlet in an industrial area of Jurupa Valley and that is where I spent my time this morning. I stopped at three different areas on the same street, I visited with five pets and provided supplies for a few others. By the time I was done, it was already 90 degrees and I decided to call it a day. I know Summer will be here soon enough and everyday will be like today but I'm not quite ready for it yet! Sunday is Mother's Day. I am not getting together with my children and granddaughter until the afternoon so I'm still not sure if I will be going out in the morning. I will figure that out tomorrow... Bottled waters, 13 gallon trash can, box of trash bags, 2 large dog collars, chicken jerky treats, duck jerky treats, DASHI meal toppers, wet dog food, 2-20-pound bags of dog food from the Star Milling Company, buffalo tendons, bully slices and Inaba Churus were shared.

Saturday's Smiles 5-10-2025
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Friday's Furry Friends 5-09-2025

I started my Friday morning like I do most Fridays by going to the Path of Life Community Shelter on the Eastside. The dogs were still in their kennels and nobody was outside with any of them. There was one person on the street with her dog so we visited and I provided them with a few supplies. From there I went to Hunter Park. My reason for going was to meet a gentleman who had left a voicemail, at 7:30am, regarding getting his dog spayed. I called him before heading out today and told him I would come and meet them after I was done by the Path of Life Community Shelter so that is what I did. I gave his dog some treats and a chew stick while we discussed her getting spayed on Wednesday. As I was leaving the park, I called the companion of a dog that had two tumors removed last week. I wanted to see how they were doing. They happened to be visiting an apartment not far from where I was headed next so they met me at a nearby park. We visited and I provided a few supplies before driving to the Budget Inn. The person and dog I went to see was not in their room so I drove through Fairmount Park. Nobody was there with pets so I decided to go to Rubidoux and check on another dog that was supposed to be going to the vet for a growth on her paw. I found out later that Feeding Pets Of The Homeless had already maxed out their spending on this dog and would give a few referrals of other places that might be able to help. My final stop was our PO Box. It was empty but on my way through the parking lot I noticed a woman in a large white SUV with a long piece of cardboard across the windshield. I could not read it at first and then realized someone wrote the word PUPPIES. When I left the post office I drove over to where she was and saw pitbull puppies that looked to be no more than five or six weeks old. I immediately texted an ACO I had been speaking to earlier and then called a Sgt. at Riverside County Department of Animal Services. I was told someone went out there. I wanted to go speak to the woman myself but I could tell I was going to just lose my temper so I decided against it. Just hope the puppies are safe and healthy... Bottled waters, chicken jerky treats, 3.5 pound bag of Pedigree small bites for small dogs, 8 pound bag of senior dog food, DASHI meal toppers, wet dog food, 20-pound bag of dog food from the Star Milling Company, buffalo tendons, bully slices and kabob chew sticks were shared.

Friday's Furry Friends 5-09-2025
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Thursday's Treasures 5-08-2025

Let me start out by saying that my Samsung Android did a huge update today and as far as I am concerned it ruined the collage options for photos. That being said, I tried to make the best of it….When pets we have spayed/neutered spend one or two nights in the motel to begin recovery, I go to check on them the day after surgery. Even though we provided 'the works' for five pets, only two of them needed a room. The others had somewhere indoors to go. After getting fuel this morning, I drove over to the motel. I was hoping to visit a few other pets staying in the motel too but I was unable to reach any of their companions. Even though I know their room numbers, I don't disturb them if they don't reply to a text. I was able to check on the two dogs we put in a room. Both seemed to be recuperating nicely. Each of them received 'the works'. The female also had dew claws removed and was given pain meds. The male had a hernia repair and received pain meds too. When I left the motel, I drove around Jurupa Valley for awhile but did not see anyone with pets. I had an 11am nail appointment so I ran home to put my dog out first. He went to the vet this week for some skin issues he seemed to get after his last grooming. While we were there, I also had blood work done. His kidney issues have become full blown kidney disease and his heart murmur went from a four to a five. He is sixteen or seventeen years old. Other than when he was partially paralyzed a couple of times, many years ago, he has been pretty healthy. He has had some teeth pulled too but no emergency vet visits or anything like that. He is drinking larger amounts of water, which alerted me to having his kidneys checked again, but nothing major has been happening. He sleeps a lot but when my daughter comes to visit, he is always excited for the company. I am sure many of you reading this will have advice and I am sure most of it would be well taken but I think all of the decisions will be made by me, and sometimes with ideas from my daughter, being that we are the ones around him and are monitoring his behavior and any signs of things getting worse. Not sure if our time with him will be weeks, months or years but whatever it is, we will figure it out. We won't let him suffer. Right now, he seems pretty content and I am grateful... Bottled waters, chicken jerky and kabob chew sticks were shared.

Thursday's Treasures 5-08-2025
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#2,288, 89, 90, 91 and #2,292 Get 'The Works' 5-07-2025

We had seven pets scheduled for 'the works' today. Two dogs and one cat had appointments confirmed at the Riverside County Department of Animal Services spay/neuter clinic. Two dogs and two cats had appointments confirmed at the Mary S. Robert's spay/neuter clinic. The female cat scheduled for the first clinic was a no show. This is the second time the people have not made it to their appointment, even though they confirmed. An hour after the appointment time, I received a text telling me their ride did not make it. I had to inform them that they will now have to get the cat done somewhere else. I am not wasting anymore appointments. The two dogs did make it. They were referred by Feeding Perris Strays and driven by a couple volunteers for them. The dogs are unsocialized and were not easy to get in but we made it work. Unfortunately, I received a call that the female had a respiratory infection and would not be receiving surgery. They were sending her back with antibiotics and said we could reschedule in a month. It was so difficult getting them there this time so I hope someone can make it work in a few weeks. When I left Riverside County Department of Animal Services, I made a brief trip home and then went back out to the second clinic. The gentleman with two cats showed up and was on time as was the couple with two dogs. I really hoped to start out this month with seven spay/neuter appointments having been done but I am just going to be grateful for the five. Not sure if I shared last month's totals but we did manage to get 18, even with all of the now shows. There were 13 dogs and 5 cats. There were 5 female cats and no male cats. There were 7 female dogs and 6 male dogs. "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, 20-pound bag of dog food from the Star Milling Company were shared.

#2,288, 89, 90, 91 and #2,292 Get 'The Works' 5-07-2025
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Tuesday's Treasures 5-06-2025

Yesterday, I took the day off in order to take my senior dog to the vet. He doesn't do well in the car so I asked my daughter if she would come over and go with us. She said yes and we were able to get him examined and treated. Just waiting for blood work to come back to see if there is more to do. I was going to pick up food and bring it to the house for lunch but she suggested going out. I said I wanted to check our PO Box first so we did. The donation I was hoping for was there. As we were ready to exit the parking lot, we saw a beautiful husky running loose. My daughter insisted we stop and try to catch him. He actually came right to her. The Riverside Department of Animal Services was closed but thanks to Sgt. Jason Sander, we had an ACO there to pick the dog up within thirty minutes. I guess today was my turn! I made a stop at the Salvation Army where I visited with a couple of dogs while their companion was waiting to shower. When I left that location, I drove through Fairmount Park for a second time on my way to Rubidoux and then Agate Park in Jurupa Valley. While driving through the park I saw a very small dog running around. I saw a woman pushing a stroller while walking her chihuahua. The dog kept running from me so I shouted out to her asking if this little dog was hers. She said no. However, the dog seemed very interested in her and her dog so she stuck around for a bit. After a good twenty minutes or so, I was able to touch the dog. He was nervous but I got a few pets in. Soon after, we got a slip lead around his neck. He was fighting it and would not walk but he was no longer running loose. The woman could not stay and the dog would not walk for me. I called Sgt. Sanders to find out if there was an ACO nearby. There was but she was on a call for about an hour. I did not want to stay there that long so I finally just swooped him up off the ground. He was wiggling all over and did not like it but I have a dog car seat in my vehicle and I hooked him in there and off we went, I messaged a rescue on my way to show her the dog and let her know what was going on. I knew she would take him if he needed rescued. It took me about twenty minutes or so to get over to Riverside County Animal Services and no too long before they did his intake. (I will be following the website to check on him and the dog we had picked up yesterday.) When I left the shelter, I did not have time to go back to Rubidoux but I did go see the family that stays by Agate Park. By the time I was done there, it was lunchtime and I called it a day... Bottled waters, chicken jerky treats, Inaba Churus, wet dog food, DASHI meal toppers and buffalo tendons were shared.

Tuesday's Treasures 5-06-2025
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Lori Rich receives the Animal Welfare Hero Award from the American Red Cross Southern California Region

Lori Rich receives the Animal Welfare Hero Award from the American Red Cross Southern California Region
Lori Rich receives the Animal Welfare Hero Award from the American Red Cross Southern California Region
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