When all was said and done, two female dogs, one female dog and one female cat got 'the works' today……..We had six pets scheduled, and confirmed, for 'the works'. There were three female dogs, two male dogs and a female cat. Things did not go as planned... At 6am I received a text that we needed to change a couple of the pets coming in for 'the works' from Perris. I had already sent all the information in so I knew we would just have to notify them of the changes when we arrived. It was inconvenient but not a big deal. At 6:30am, I received a call from a woman in San Bernardino. She said she did not have enough gas to make the trip and wondered if I could help. I give people an ARCO fuel card to help, a little, but it wasn't like I could drive one out to her and even if I could, she would not make her appointments on time and neither would I. I already did two dogs for her, a couple of weeks ago and saved her two appointments for today as she requested. She even had more dogs that needed done. I told her I would no longer be able to help her being that she waited until the last minute to tell me she had a problem with gas. If she had told me yesterday, I would have substituted other pets in her appointment slots but it was too late. Unfortunately, I will no longer be offering her our services. I really prefer to provide services to Riverside County pets but it is hard to say no when people are struggling so I have been doing pets from other counties too. At 7:15am, I began texting one of the confirmed appointment numbers. The texts were read but I got no response. That meant we would only be using three appointments today which was upsetting. However, the companion of one of the female dog's was with a gentleman who has an appointment for next week. She offered to go and pick up that dog today so one less appointment was wasted. She got pulled over and was a little late getting back but she still made it…..Lots of changes going on and two appointments were not filled but four were and that is something to be grateful for. I was worried about running late and not making it out to Kaiser for my Ophthalmology appointment but it all worked out. "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, 3.5lb. bag of Pedigree for puppies, wet puppy food, 17lb. bag of cat food from the Star Milling Company, 20lb. bag of dog food from the Star Milling Company, Inaba Twins, Inaba Churus and wet cat food were shared.

I went to Rubidoux, this morning, to speak to some people about their dogs being spayed and neutered. When I arrived, ACO Omar was already there. She was returning an injured dog that had been treated by the Department of Animal Services. With permission, she will be assisting me, in the near future, by driving one or two dogs to their spay neuter appointments. We had never met but I had spoken to her on the phone and heard great things about her. She is one of many caring AC Officers that we are fortunate to have here. I visited with the dogs, provided a few supplies and then drove to meet people, and their pets, at Fairmount Park. I was able to visit with the three dogs and provide supplies for all of them. When I left that location, I spent some time driving around Jurupa Valley looking for a woman I had passed on the street yesterday. Both ACO Omar, and I, have helped this woman and her dog many times but neither of us has been able to find her since her van was impounded and she wound up on the streets. We both put out the word that we are looking for her. I was not successful today but will continue trying to find her, unless ACO Omar finds her first. We are both concerned about the woman and her dog in this heat and just want to help where we can. After my 'search', I returned home and stocked my vehicle for tomorrow's spay/neuter appointments. We have five dogs and one cat confirmed and I am hoping, as always, that they each make it... Bottled waters, petroleum jelly, paw rub, doggie waste bags, chicken jerky treats, individual bags of salmon treats, Inaba meal toppers, wet dog food, simply cesar chicken, 6lb. bag of Bil Jac for seniors, 20lb. bag of dog food from the Star Milling Company, Savory Prime bones, bully sticks, hooves, bully slices, Treatly chews, buffalo tendons and chicken chew stick were shared.

Today was a busy day that began with emails to the Riverside County Department of Animal Services with this week's spay/neuter appointments as well as an email to a Sgt. requesting permission for one of his AC Officers to help with transporting dogs the following week. When I left the house, I drove to the Eastside so I could visit dogs in the kennels at the Path of Life Community Shelter. On my way, I received a call from a couple whose dogs were spayed last week. They were concerned about one of the incisions. I said I would check it out. I did that and assured them everything looked the way it should. When we were done, a couple not staying in the shelter, showed up with their puppy. Another gentleman was there with a dog I had not met. He is a recent check in to the shelter. His dog is not neutered so I explained the services we provide. I visited with a total of six dogs. Each of them received treats and a chew stick. Some of them received other supplies as well. My next stop was to the Budget Inn which is also on the Eastside. I received a text from a couple staying there with their two dogs. They needed food. I visited with the dogs and provided needed supplies. I also met a woman who has two dogs that need neutered. She is deaf and going into the hospital for a few days. I wrote her a note and explained that I could provide neuter+ services for her dogs. She is unable to speak on the phone herself so I suggested she have her social worker call me to make arrangements. When I left the Eastside, I drove through Rubidoux and saw a woman with her dog that I have been looking for. There is an AC Officer looking for her too. She has helped the woman many times and was concerned about her. I did not have time to stop, because I needed to get home for a zoom meeting but I did text the AC Officer. I planned to go to Rubidoux tomorrow so I am hoping she is still there or that someone knows where she stays now. The zoom meeting was to discuss an upcoming comedy fundraiser we are having on October 18th at Back To The Grind. There is much planning to do and it is time to get started. We will be looking for people to do gift baskets again, since that went so well last time. I will post updates as we have them. After the zoom meeting, I rushed out of the house to meet a very dear friend for lunch. I have mentioned before that she is someone I grew up in New York State with and reconnected with in Riverside many years later. Our friendship spans over 60 years so she is family to me. We try to meet up every month for lunch and get together now and then for special occasions. I value the friendship and our get togethers. After lunch, I returned home and got busy doing work at my desk... Bottled waters, FURminator dog brush, chicken jerky treats, Inaba meal toppers, wet dog food, simply cesar chicken, Inaba Twins, wet puppy food, 3.5lb. bag of Pedigree puppy food, bully sticks, bully slices, Treatly chews and glow in the dark rubber dog ball were shared.

I was supposed to meet another group of people, and pets, at a location in Colton this morning. When I arrived, there were people waiting with pets but none that I had planned to meet. I visited with those pets and provided a few supplies. I wasn't there long when one of the people I was there to meet showed up. She had two dogs with her. We visited and I provided them with needed supplies. I waited to see if the others were going to show but they didn't. I tried reaching out to one that has a phone but it went straight to voicemail so I left. From there I drove across town, to our storage units, to get more water and pet food and then I returned home. I unloaded what I did not need for tomorrow's travels, had lunch and then got to work at my desk... Bottled waters, large bag of recyclables, Benadryl caplets, small dog collar, small dog leash, medium dog collar, large dog leash, collapsible pet dish with leash clip, tubes of petroleum jelly, doggie waste bags, chicken jerky treats, individual bag of chicken jerky treats, individual bag of beef liver dog treats, Inaba meal toppers, 20lb. bag of dog food from the Star Milling Company, bully sticks, hooves, Savory Prime bones, bully slices, buffalo tendons, Treatly chews, Kong squeaky balls and plush squeaky dog toys were shared.

I made arrangements to drive out to Colton today and tomorrow to meet with a few people and their pets. It is sometimes easier not to meet with all of them at once so as long as there are three or more pets in need, each visit, I am willing to make the drive two days in a row. This morning I met with a couple of women and three dogs. We visited and I provided them with supplies. While I was there, I received a call from someone who was at a friend's downtown. They timed him out of the motel he had been staying in so he has been going back and forth between friends while waiting for his housing to go through. When I left Colton, I drove to an area behind White Park to meet with the gentleman and his dog. When I was done there, I made a stop at the store to get more produce for me and my tortoise, checked our (empty) PO Box and returned home. I filled my vehicle with supplies for tomorrow, ate lunch and then got busy (as usual) at my desk... Bottled waters, tubes of petroleum jelly, chicken jerky treats, individual bag of chicken jerky treats, Inaba meal toppers, 3-20lb. bags of dog food from the Star Milling Company, bully sticks, hooves, Savory Prime bone, Kong squeaky balls and plush squeaky dog toys were shared.