Downtown Dog Rescue

i was involved with DDR for several years UNTIL 2024..my canine had been very ill and was going to L.A. VET for a long time..NOT once did they cure her illness..ignored the symptoms she was very clearly exhibiting..i recently began taking her to a BRILIANT VET whom tried VERY hard to help w these dire medical issues kidney disease ect tho to no avail..she's passed away..so had DDR/LA VET taken wat i had said SERIOUSLY my canine would still be alive now..I'm ENTIRELY/UTTERLY HEARTBROKEN..was my child n now I'm alone/shattered..DDR is ONLY about themselves! L.W is a fraud!

I love Downtown Dog Rescue. I have chosen to dedicate my time to DDR for almost 15 years because the mission continues to expand and provide services to those that need it most. Our president is continually thinking of how we can be of service to the community and work with other organizations to help more pets and people. When you donate to Downtown Dog Rescue, you can be assured that your donations are being maximized to keep the programs running.

I cannot say enough about Downtown Dog Rescue. For more than 25 years they have been helping animals, and people in Los Angeles. They offer a multitude of services and out reach programs including pet clinics, animal shelter adoption assistance, street outreach, where they help pets of the unhoused get medical care and treatment, and most recently opened a discount pet supply store where they employee the unhoused, & students who need community service hours, and best off all, it offers pet supplies under a "take what you need, donate what you can" mission statement. The good that DDR does benefits not just animals, but humanity.

Downtown Dog Rescue has been helping dogs and cats for almost 30 years. They focus on the care and well being of the animals thru adoption services and by offering low/no cost care and resources to the animals who need it most -those living with low income or homeless people. Downtown Dog Rescue understands the importance and need to help the animals whose people may not be able to afford care but love their animals as much as we all do.
I have volunteered at Downtown Dog Rescue’s vaccine and spay/neuter clinics and have seen first hand how they are helping not only pets, but the community. I am grateful to know my donations and volunteer time is going directly to helping the mission of this worthwhile organization and glad to be a small part of it.

I love the kindness that is shown to the animals. Animals and their humans take priority. There are opportunities for people of all kinds to get out and be with animals, have a sense of community, and share our love for pets together. I'm thankful for the people of DDR.

They are a wonderful non profit that helps so many pets. Their programs are so unique and truly cater to the community. I am grateful to be a volunteer of DDR and to have their support personally and professionally.

I love DDR and their work. I have volunteered with them for a few months and I am so impressed with their programs. Their shelter intervention program keeps so many pets out of the shelter and their clinics are accessible for so many. DDR is a home for everyone. I'm very thankful for DDR's programs and commitment to their work.

Downtown Dog Rescue is an amazing organization! Their commitment and dedication to consistent care in their community is unmatched. I have worked with DDR for 6+ months and it has been a joy in my life and it has taught me so much about community care. They truly care about their community and they do everything to cater to in need families with pets. I am grateful for DDR's work, sense of family/community, and commitment.

I'm a donor and have adopted two dogs from Downtown Dog Rescue. My wife volunteers for them and she often brings home dogs for weekend fostering. I appreciate seeing the animals they rescue as most of them are pitbull type dogs from crowded city and county shelters. They do great community outreach work and I am happy to be able to support them and will continue to do so!

I fell in love with this organization years ago and spend time volunteering when I can. Its Shelter Intervention Program (SIP) has been featured in Harvard Business Review for asking a different question of an age-old problem, and then getting amazing results. This organization asks the simple question to people arriving at the city pet shelter "How can we help you and your pet today?" Some people living paycheck to paycheck can't afford the fee to retrieve their animal if it escaped their home and was picked up by Animal Services. Some are choosing between rent and pet food. Some live in apartments that were abruptly changed to a no-pets policy, and cannot afford to move. In all of these cases, DDR works with the pet owners under the assumption that no one wants to surrender their pet. Keeping the pet out of the shelter system is a different method than most rescue organizations - which pull pets and try to re-home them. This approach staunches the flow of pets coming in.

From 2013-2018, they kept 10,420 pets from entering the shelter!
Their work prevented 9,513 dogs, 887 cats and 20 rabbits out of cages and with their families.

They also have a Pet Support Space, which provides pet food, medical vouchers and counseling for pet owners in crisis, as well as providing essential services to those pet owners experiencing homelessness with their Pet Resource Center on Skid Row and Community Pet Clinics to offer low/no cost spay & neuters, along with vaccines and microchipping.

By treating everyone they come into contact with as equals: pet owners who care for their pets and need assistance, they do immense good in the communities they serve.

DDR is an organization filled with kind and loving individuals who not only help the dogs of LA but also help the families who love those dogs. I can't speak more highly of this organization and the work they do in Los Angeles.

This rescue not only saves the lives of those older and breed specific dogs that would normally be euthanized in city shelters but it also saves the lives of those like me that they allow to volunteer with these animals. Additionally they have shelter intervention programs where they help pay for medical care for low income families who would otherwise have no choice but to relinquish their beloved furry family member to the city shelter. Last but not least, they provide food, toys, medication and care for the best friends of those forgotten members of our society that reside on the streets of skid row in downtown Los Angeles. I have yet to be a part of a better organization and I can't imagine a world without DDR.

There are so many incredible organizations out there doing great work. Many focus on finding forever homes for animals that are brought into shelters and rescues, but few focus on keeping those same animals with their current families so they don't get introduced into the system in the first place. Their Shelter Intervention program is something that should be introduced everywhere as a valuable part of the solution to shelter and rescue overpopulation. Their network of volunteers is amazing, and everyone I've ever interacted with from this organization has been wonderful.

Such an incredible organization, they have my utmost respect. DDR does outreach providing education and assistance in underserved communities. Making a difference where it counts.
DDR are the real MVP’s, thank you, thank you for the invaluable services you provide.

DDR is one of many great rescues. I love the programs they hold throughout South LA & the Skid Row community with pet and human assistance. I've learned a lot from DDR.

I've been involved with animal welfare for over 20 years, and Downtown Dog Rescue's dedication to the animals in their care is unequivocal! Each adoptable dog comes from a Los Angeles shelter and is given individual training and attention at DDR's beautiful, private kennel. Not only does this organization make sure they find the the right home for each of their rescues, they are influencers and leaders in the community. By developing lifesaving services like the Shelter Intervention Program and Pet Resource Center on Skid Row, DDR has made life better for countless people and animals who reside in Los Angeles' most vulnerable areas. These community programs provide innovative spay/neuter efforts, veterinary care, basic necessities and even help with referrals social services for people with companion animals. As a result, shelter intake numbers are down, fewer unwanted litters are born, and the people and pets of Los Angeles are happier and healthier. I am in awe of DDR and the incredible work they do. Thank you, Downtown Dog Rescue, for making the world a better place!

We love Downtown Dog Rescues in that they are unique that they not only assist dogs in bettering their lives but humans as well. Lori and her volunteers do incredible work for the community. We applaud their efforts for the programs and assistance they provide to Skid Row. Veterinary care, spay and neuter, daily supplies, food, referrals are what is needed and they are making it happen. The human and canine companions out there need eachother and DDR enables them to stay together and gives them the opportunity to make better decisions and get the help they need they may not have asked for if it wasn't for DDR.

I've worked with a couple of different dog rescues over the years and based on my experience, DDR stands out as an organization that is really making a difference. Finding homes for rescued dogs is important but even more important is keeping dogs out of the city shelters and spaying and neutering the dogs that are out there. DDR is the ONLY rescue I know of that helps people keep the pets they already have and love. I volunteer at their monthly spay/neuter/vaccination clinic and South LA and have met so many families that love their dogs but can't always afford to give them the care they need. Helping these families out is one of the most worthwhile things I feel I can do with my time.

What a great group! The team are so knowledgable, compassionate & experience. The work they do is so important, welcoming dogs and humans from all walks of life with no judgment.

I first heard about Downtown Dog Rescue in a LA Times newspaper article about the amazing work of their Shelter Intervention Program. I fell in love with the heart and soul of this charity! Then they opened up the Pet Resource Center at the Inner City Law office in the middle of Skid Row!! Once again, (& still!) reaching out to help people and their pets. Downtown Dog Rescue is in the business of serving and making a difference in the neediest communities.

Incredible rescue, with wonderful, hardworking and passionate staff and volunteers, that help so many unwanted dogs find loving new homes.

their compassion for animals is amazing, but it’s their compassion for humans, that make this rescue special ... thank you for all the hard work you do for people and their furry companions.

They are one of the most kindhearted and driven rescues in California! I will always support their mission!

I am a volunteer with a coalition that involves Downtown Dogs, and I am so impressed with the amazing work they do. They are only a small organization, but their impact is large. They have created a shelter intervention program that helps prevent dogs going into shelters in the first place, by helping people with the problems that lead them to surrender their animals. This program by itself has saved many thousands of dogs, and kept families and their pets together. They also do incredible work with homeless people and their animals, and underserved communities. They provide spay and neutering, low cost vet care, provide assistance with training, all in addition to rescuing and rehoming dogs, including older and harder-to-place animals. I cannot say enough good about them. If you're looking for a non-profit to help reduce the killing of adoptable animals, Downtown Dogs is a great choice.

Downtown Dog Rescue goes right to the root, helping animals and the people who care for them. They walk the walk, and make a huge impact across communities that need support. This is an organization that does things differently, unafraid to be unique and bold in their approach. They don't care about fame or prestige - they care about making a difference.

I've been volunteering with Downtown Dog Rescue since 2011. This is an amazing organization with a lot of volunteer opportunities such as fostering, transporting, volunteering at clinics and much more. DDR believes in second chances for both dogs and people and really gets down to the root of the problem. DDR mainly serves low income pet owners in under served communities in Los Angeles County.

Downtown Dog Rescue gets it right. I've been working in dog rescue for several years now but have never felt as happy and fulfilled as I do with this organization. Everything I give is appreciated, whether it be my time or my money, but I have never, EVER felt pressured or manipulated into giving more. All the volunteers at DDR are there because they truly believe they are making a difference, bringing change and helping families. There is no judgment, just compassion and a desire to help.

We have an overwhelming pet overpopulation problem here in Los Angeles and I started to feel that simply rehoming animals wasn't going to solve it. I connected with DDR just as the Shelter Intervention Program was getting off the ground and I saw a cause I could really get behind. Spay and neuter, keeping existing pets with their families..I truly feel that is what will bring change to our city. I am honored to volunteer with this amazing organization.

We met Lori, Sandy and crew 11 years ago when we were looking to adopt a sibling for our amazing street rescue mutt, Cooper. We called several rescues and really connected to DDR and went to see a puppy they thought would make a great sister for Cooper. We did adopt their pup, Violet. Over the years, we got to know DDR and all the amazing programs they run and we've volunteered at events, fostering dogs for them, etc. We had two kids a few years after Violet and they've grown up being DDR volunteers... the DDR group has been amazing about including the little ones and teaching them about animals, rescue and more. Last November, Cooper passed away. We were devastated as was Violet. Our daughter (7 years old) and her Girl Scout troop collected blankets for the shelter and DDR. When we went to drop them off, we met a new DDR rescue - Teddy - that Lori thought we should meet. Knowing Violet, Lori knew what kind of brother she needed now that Cooper was gone and Violet was older. Lori was right. We welcomed Teddy into our home that same day and it's almost a year later and ten years apart that we have adopted two DDR rescues - Teddy and Violet. Thank you DDR for all you do!

Lori Is an angel. I've volunteered for this rescue for a couple of years and not only do they help pets, but they intervene when pet owners are about to give their pets into shelters by offErin an array of help. This is truly a 5 star place and I love what they do with all their hearts day after day.

I highly recommend this organization for anyone looking to adopt a dog. When DDR found my dog, she was in bad condition and they nursed her back health. Not only did Lori prepare my dog Eva to be a great companion, the organization is always available for advice and to watch Eva when I go out of town. I can not imagine a better place to leave my pup when I am away. Since money is tight, I can't imagine raising my dog without the help of Downtown Dog Rescue and its volunteers. They make my life better and gave my dog an opportunity to live. thank you, DDR!!

What I love most about this organization is that it changes the dynamic of traditional animal rescues. Most animal rescues (in my experience) focus on getting pets out of the shelters and rehoming them. This brilliant organization realized that most animals headed *into* the shelter already come from a safe, loving home, a home that wants them. Sadly, often a fine to retrieve your dog from the shelter, a pet deposit on a new apartment or unexpected vet bills can mean the family no longer has the funds to keep the animal in that safe, loving home. By working at the source - the local shelters - this organization becomes the bridge for families and pets in need. Providing assistance to cover the difference in funds to get the pet out of the shelter (say, if it escaped under a neighbor's watch); offering to negotiate with the landlord or find alternative foster care while a new apartment is found; negotiating with a vet to receive reduced bills for medical treatment - all of these things STOP THE FLOW of dogs entering the shelters to begin with. Many behavioral issues arise when dogs are surrendered and rehomed. This organization cuts off that possibility by keeping the pets with the families that want them. It's a simple yet brilliant concept and I'm thrilled to be a part of it. My hope is that other organizations will take note and emulate this philosophy.

DDR shows empathy and compassion and unites people. I first learned of DDR through Dogman's class. Dogman was being featured on The Dog Whisperer. I went to the class to try to network 6 pitbulls that had been abandoned in a foreclosure house in Compton. Lori Weise, DDR founder- has a gift to unite people toward a common goal. I had witnessed rescue groups being nasty- publicly criticizing, and here was someone who got rescue groups to work TOGETHER, and WITH the shelter system. I live in SouthLA where there have been tons of strays, some of them pitbulls. After Lori helped me place several of them, I wanted to help her so I became a DDR volunteer. She is a wonderful role model and has taught me not to judge. She is changing the world and I am happy to play a very small part helping her.

Lori and her team at Downtown Dog Rescue not only save dogs from shelters, they prevent animas from entering the shelters and keep families together. The shelter intervention program help keep pets where they belong, with their first families who want to keep them but need a helping hand. DDR also provides education and spay/neuter to prevent unwanted pets from being sent to the shelters. On top of that, Lori and her team save pull senior dogs and other "overlooked" dogs who wouldn't have a chance in a county shelter. Had Lori not saved our beloved dog Ava from an LA shelter, she probably would not have survived. She was shy and afraid and nervous but Lori knew she just needed a family. She changed our lives and so did DDR's spirit and mission.

Downtown Dog Rescue is not only a rescue that helps animals but helps people too! DDR believes in assisting humans so they in turn can help their own pets. DDR goes straight to the root of why so many animals are surrendered to the shelter every year. The work they do is groundbreaking and is a model for all rescues to follow. I am truly proud to be a part of this organization and would urge anyone interested in volunteer work to check out Downtown Dog Rescue!

I'm very proud to be the president of this progress organization. We have a great team of compassionate people who volunteer for years, working towards not only bettering the lives of dogs and cats but more importantly, their families. One day at a time, one pet at a time, one family at a time, the community becomes more caring and compassionate. With programs based in the most under served communities, some that do not have one animal hospital, offering free spay/neuter and more, we see that families do want these services. People need help, Downtown Dog Rescue is here to provide that help.

Many years ago, I read a tiny article about this amazing dog rescue organization...Downtown Dog Rescue. After doing some research about the group, my husband and I became financial supporters of this inspiring organization. Several years later, in 2009 (we had lost our beloved "Georgie" in 2006), I was in a very sad place after losing my dear mom. One morning, my husband looked at me and said "You need a dog, don't you?" I said "yes", and since we had decided that we would only rescue, our search began. Thanks to my niece, we learned about a giant rescue event at the La Brea Tar Pits in Los Angeles...tons of rescues, hundreds of dogs. Long story short, the first booth we went into was, coincidentally, DDR's. We were blessed to find our wonderful "Sam" there, and he has been our love ever since. Honestly, Sam rescued me. I am so grateful to DDR for the amazing things they do for doggies, and for people. Their programs have expanded, their reach has broadened, but their giving, accepting and loving hearts have remained the same. It is an honor to support them.