The city of Rochester's Animal Services has been selected to take part in a national pet owner support program.
Pets for Life is a social justice driven approach to providing access to veterinary care and supplies for residents of underserved communities who have limited financial resources and lack access to veterinary services.
The program, which was created by the Humane Society of the United States, will involve door-to-door outreach in Rochester's 14605 zip code on the northeast side. More than 50 percent of residents there are below the federal poverty line.
Chris Fitzgerald, director of the city's Animal Services, says his staff members do try to develop relationships with pet owners so they can learn to trust them.
"Oftentimes we're perceived initially as being there for some other purpose - because there's a problem or because we're taking an animal. I think gradually, over time, there's a recognition that we're out into neighborhoods to provide supportive services and not taking animals."
Animal Services has been doing this kind of community outreach for several years based on the Pets for Life model, and the grant will support those efforts long-term. This reflects an overall change in focus from heavy-handed enforcement and seizure of animals to an understanding of how well-meaning pet owners may not have the resources they need.
“A lot of what we see are just circumstances that lead us to come into contact with an animal,” Fitzgerald explained, “and instead of taking that animal and holding it as collateral, we want to support pet ownership where the pets are, where the people are, and keep the animal out of our system."
Fitzgerald says low income pet owners view their pets as family members just as those with more resources do, and Animal Services wants to promote that human-animal bond.
The program provides free, essential, short-term care including spaying and neutering through partnerships with Lollypop Farm and the Rochester Community Animal Clinic. It also includes microchips as well as pet supplies such as collars, leashes, bowls and flea control treatment.
The goal is to expand the program to other Rochester neighborhoods depending on the availability of funding, staff, and the capacity of local veterinary clinics.