If we support animals in the homes they already have, there will be enough homes for us all.
Across the country, cats and dogs act as honorary politicians and appointees. They’re cute, but we’re not just fluff. We’re Gemma and Blueberry, California Community Ambassadors. Like you, we’re using our official positions to make a difference, and we have real plans for making our communities safer and stronger. Let’s work together!
People deserve to stay safe with their pets, no matter where they come from, their background, race, or what’s in their wallets. And all the pets that visit a shelter should have an opportunity to find their way home. We’re stronger side by side, but when our practices and policies don’t recognize this, pets and people are left behind. In the future we choose, our towns and cities are resilient communities where everyone—human and animal—can thrive.
Lead the Way: Take the Pledge
Calling all community leaders and problem-solvers: Watch our video (animal-directed, human-produced, and bird-approved) to hear our stories and learn why we must act now.
Take the pledge to reach out to your animal shelter director and ask what it will take to start and sustain these critical efforts in your community. We’ll send you a conversation starter kit and help connect you!
Four Building Blocks of Communities for All
The places where we live shape our lives, health, and opportunities. Just like our homes, schools, and hospitals are built with strong foundations to withstand storms and earthquakes, our communities need strong foundations that support people and pets. These four initiatives act as building blocks that create safer, more resilient communities for us all.
After you take the pledge, we’ll share information on the strengths and opportunities that exist where you live and connect you with your animal shelter director; they’re tapped in to the interconnected needs of people and animals in your community and can work with you to identify where action is most urgently needed.
1. Fund community cat programs and other initiatives that support the health–and caretakers–of community cats
Community cats, sometimes called feral, stray, or outdoor cats, can be friendly or unsocial, but they aren’t lost: they are free-roaming cats who live—at least part of the time—outside. They often have one or more compassionate caregivers who help provide food and shelter. A recent study confirmed that cat caregivers are diverse and reflective of their communities. Bringing healthy, free-roaming cats to the shelter separates them from the people who already care for them and increases risk of euthanasia. In the typical shelter, fewer than 1 in 20 cats make it back home.
When we support community cat programs, which involve spay/neuter, vaccination, and returning healthy cats to their outdoor homes, we support caretakers, cats, and the overall neighborhood ecosystem. These programs end the breeding cycle and stabilize free-roaming cat populations, reduce nuisance behaviors, and honor the bond between caretakers and cats. And by prioritizing admitting only sick or injured cats who are not thriving in their outdoor homes, shelters are able to provide these animals the extra care they need.
2. Reassess punitive policies and fees so everyone has a fair chance at being reunited with their pet
Nationally, 56% of dogs enter as “strays” and fewer than half will be reunited with their families; if we could get just 20% more back home, we could end unnecessary shelter euthanasia. Historically, municipalities and animal shelters have leaned on steep reclaim fees to keep dogs in their yards, but fines and fees don’t change an animal’s behavior or fix a broken fence, and they can mean the difference between a pet going home and a pet staying in the shelter.
A punitive-first system doesn’t benefit anyone: For each extra day a pet spends in the shelter, the cost of care increases, and crowded kennels put every animal in the shelter at higher risk of disease and euthanasia. Fines and fees also significantly harm the well-being of families and communities and are often disproportionately levied against Black and Latine individuals. California has led the country in putting families over fees in the past; we can do it again. Remove punitive fees, or start by conducting a fee analysis to determine what your community members can realistically afford to pay. If your county or municipal code doesn’t allow shelters to lower or waive fees when necessary to get pets home, work with your local shelters and community to change it.
3. Allocate low-cost spay/neuter and veterinary care funding
Pets have been shown to boost human mental and physical health, but when financial and other barriers prevent people from accessing the essential veterinary care their pets need, everyone suffers. The negative effects ripple through communities, impacting public health and safety and driving shelter crowding and euthanasia risk. Recently, 43% of pet guardians have said they were very (21%) or fairly (22%) concerned about their ability to financially support their pet, and 25% of Gen Z pet guardians said they had surrendered a pet because they could no longer afford to care for them.
A state- and nationwide shortage of veterinarians and veterinary nurses is making it even harder for shelters to provide spay/neuter and veterinary care to animals in the shelter or community. Prioritizing sustained funding can go a long way in making sure more animals get the care they need to stay in their homes or, when needed, be adopted into to new homes. When people have opportunities to access spay/neuter and other essential veterinary care their pets need, it’s good for animal and human well-being. Visit The Veterinary Care Accessibility Project to see your county’s score, then ask your shelter director how your community really measures up when it comes to making care accessible.
4. Advance affordable, pet-inclusive housing and co-sheltering efforts
Too often Californians experiencing homelessness or domestic violence can’t access temporary or emergency housing because doing so would mean leaving their beloved animal companions behind. 34.9% of California women and 31.1% of men have experienced intimate partner physical violence, sexual violence and/or stalking in their lifetimes. And Californians have the highest likelihood of being unhoused, with over 181,000 individuals experiencing homelessness in the state. We can make sure accessing shelter doesn’t mean leaving a family member behind by supporting co-sheltering—defined by My Dog Is My Home as the sheltering of people and animals together at the same emergency or temporary housing facility. Learn more about co-sheltering and join the Co-Sheltering Collaborative at https://www.mydogismyhome.org/.
In California, 35 million pets reside in over half of households, and housing or landlord issues are among the top reasons people bring their pet to a shelter for rehoming. If landlords accept pets at all, renters often face breed or weight restrictions, non-refundable pet deposits, or monthly pet rent. We can do more to ensure safe, affordable housing is accessible and inclusive, like removing restrictions and making sure that tenants with mental, emotional, or physical disabilities know their rights when it comes to state and federal protections for Emotional Support Animals (ESAs). Visit HEART LA to access shareable resources for renters in your community. For more data and market-based solutions that could ensure access to safe, affordable housing for people and pets in your community, visit the Pet Inclusive Housing Initiative.
A Better Future for People, Animals, and Communities
In a time when communities can feel divided, support for pets is something everyone agrees on, and for good reason! Pets drive local economies, improve mental and physical health, and grow community safety and connection.
Fewer People and Pets Separated
When people have access to essential supports and face fewer barriers to reclaim their pet from a shelter, more animals can stay in their homes.
More Homes
More shelter resources and homes for animals who truly need them.
Lower Costs, Retained Staff
Less crowding = lower disease rates and cost of care. Improved animal wellness = lower careworker burnout and greater retention.
Fewer animals euthanized
More pets safe at home.
Overall Community Benefits
