Pets for Life: Keeping Families Together, One Door at a Time

By Becca, Pets for Life Coordinator

I’ve been sitting with this all day, trying to find the right words.
And honestly, I keep coming back to the same feeling—

I am so proud of what we’ve built.

Eight months ago, I was sent to Humane World for Animals training in Philadelphia for a national program called Pets for Life. At the time, I had no idea what I was stepping into. I came back with a toolkit, a lot of ideas, and one goal:

Help as many people—and their pets—as possible.

After two months of planning, building, and listening to what our community truly needed, I launched Pets for Life in South City St. Louis on October 1, 2025.

In just six months, this program has become something real.
Something alive.

Today, I work with over 150 families and more than 300 pets—and that number continues to grow every single week.

But the numbers only tell part of the story.

Most of my days are spent out in the community—on the streets, in neighborhoods, and in the zip codes where access to pet care is hardest to find. I meet people exactly where they are—not just physically, but emotionally, financially, and mentally.

I’ve been welcomed into homes.
Trusted with stories.
Invited into people’s lives in ways I never expected.

And what I’ve learned is this:

People love their pets.

They just don’t always have the resources to keep them safe, healthy, and at home.

Since launching this program, we have:

Provided support to 157 families and 321 pets
Distributed over 132,000 pounds of pet food and supplies
Delivered 9,500 pounds of pet food directly to families’ homes
Facilitated 80+ veterinary appointments, including 40 spay/neuter surgeries
Personally delivered over 1,000 supplies and 150+ medical services

But beyond all of that—

We’ve prevented pets from entering the shelter system. We’ve kept families together.

Because sometimes the difference between surrender and staying together is something small—
a bag of food, a ride to the vet, a conversation, or simply someone showing up and saying, “I’m here to help.”

This work isn’t always easy. It’s emotional. It’s messy. It can be exhausting.

There are still barriers. There are still families making impossible decisions every day.

But every day that I can help keep a pet with the family that loves them—that’s a day won.

Why We Need You Now

The truth is, this program exists because of community support—and right now, that support is at risk.

The grant that helped launch Pets for Life is coming to an end.

And without sustainable funding, this work—this lifeline for families—cannot continue at the scale our community needs.

We are committed to keeping this program alive.
But we can’t do it alone.

What Your Support Makes Possible

Your donation to the Pets for Life Fund helps us:

Provide food, medical care, and essential supplies directly to families
Keep pets out of shelters and in the homes where they are loved
Expand outreach into the neighborhoods that need us most

And right now, one of our most urgent needs is simple—but critical:

A reliable vehicle.

Becca is on the road every single day—delivering pet food, transporting animals to and from veterinary appointments at CARE STL, and showing up for families who have nowhere else to turn.

We are seeking a second-hand SUV that can safely carry crates, food, and animals—so this work can continue without interruption.

Because without transportation, we can’t reach the people who need us most.

This Work Matters

Pets for Life is more than a program. It’s a promise.

A promise to meet people where they are.
A promise that we will lead with compassion, not judgment.
A promise that families won’t have to choose between survival and the pets they love.

Every time you give, you are part of that promise.

You are helping keep pets where they belong— at home. 💛

Pet's For Life