I don’t want pets with loving pet parents being turned into shelters because the owner has fallen on unexpected financial hardship. betterTogether Forever provides a far better solution. I donate every pay period through payroll deduction at my job to help keep these families together through the hard times. And to work towards a day when no pet will be without a family.
The mission of betterTogether Forever is dear to my heart. That is why I donate, fundraise and joined their board of directors. Pets want to keep their people. betterTogether Forever understands and supports that. When pet parents fall on hard times and begin to believe that their pets would be "better off with someone else," it is a gut-wrenching situation for them to face. bTF takes away that dilemma with simple solutions like a bag of pet food, a vet visit, vaccinations and referrals to one of their many partner organizations specializing in everything from training to legal support. This organization is a win for pets, a win for those who want to keep and care for their pets, a win for shelters and a win for the community. Every dollar donated makes a huge difference.
One of the most connected, most compassionate and knowledgeable nonprofit rescue organizations in Southern California, perhaps the nation. Serving the underserved, and more and seamlessly interfacting with constituents and government.
Please be sure to visit the comprehensive website to explore all the facets and outreach of betterTogether Forever.
And your donation is always welcome here, and you are assured it is well spent.
I am so honored to be part of this amazing and dedicated team! Keeping people and their 4-legged family members together can seem difficult to impossible at times, but betterTogetherForever makes it happen.
Where do I begin? The profound impact that Better Together Forever has on the lives of society's most vulnerable—ranging from low-income individuals to marginalized communities and displaced persons—is unparalleled. It is both a privilege and a deeply moving experience to witness the relief and gratitude expressed by those we are able to support. I am honored to demonstrate to our clients that their beloved companions are cherished and cared for by others as much as they are by their owners, and to extend a helping hand in their times of greatest need. I am committed to fostering relationships of trust and compassion with each of our clients and their pets, ensuring that these bonds are cultivated with the utmost dedication and care by both myself and our entire team. At Better Together Forever, I am fortunate to be part of a team that listens, understands, and continually strives to provide meaningful assistance to those we serve.
betterTogether Forever is such a wonderful organization. Every person I interacted with was so kind and helpful. They were recommended to me when I needed help and they've provided truly invaluable services that have helped me and my pets stay together. I'm sincerely grateful for everything they've done and I'm so thankful to have them in my community.
I’m continually in awe of the dedication and impact of BetterTogether Forever. Shelter intervention and direct outreach are emotional, stressful, difficult work (and there’s so much more they do). The staff seems to have an infinite supply of energy, generosity, and problem-solving resolve, though. Thank goodness! They do so much to help precious animal lives in Los Angeles (and pet people, too). We’re really lucky to have them.
I have nothing but gratitude for the non-profit. If it was not for them, i do not know what i would do. They are always nice, and never say no.. It has been very humbling. I truly appreciate them so much.
Yolanda Barber
I visit the N. Central shelter often, and have witnessed bTF interacting with the community and having a significant impact reducing the number of pets being surrendered to the shelter. They give people hope. It's amazing to witness.
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bTF is such an incredible organization. They work around the clock to help financially struggling pet parents care for their pets. Each year they keep hundreds of pets from being surrendered to shelters. Such a dedicated, hardworking, tireless, big hearted team. And such a blessing to the community, and the world as a whole. We are so fortunate to have them in Los Angeles.
If you're seeking to support a dynamic grassroots organization dedicated to helping local pet owners and addressing issues to reduce unnecessary shelter intake—and the preventable euthanasia that often follows—you've found them! betterTogether Forever (bTF) focuses on the human issues impacting countless LA city residents who have pets. These issues (economic, housing insecurities, medical, etc) are often at the root of what can prevent people from adequately caring for their beloved pets, leading to situations where animals are surrendered or abandoned for human issues.
While addressing the internal challenges of Los Angeles Animal Services requires significant time and resources, bTF takes proactive steps to intervene before animals reach the shelter. By closely monitoring data, they provide support to those who simply need assistance with their pets. This approach helps address some underlying human issues by connecting people to available human support services and fills critical gaps in services for pets, effectively reducing unnecessary shelter intake and preserving the vital human-animal bond that means so much, especially during tough times.
bTF dedicates itself to connecting people with the resources they need—whether financial assistance for essential services like spay and neuter, minor medical care, and humane end-of-life options, to providing basic supplies, pet food or help finding affordable pet care. And when surrender may be the best option, they work their network of rescue connections to obtain placement outside of the overcrowded shelter whenever possible. Their goal is to help pet owners find alternatives to surrendering their cherished companions by connecting them to appropriate available options. By asking the question, "How can we help you and your pet(s)?" bTF collaborates with individuals to navigate their unique situation and partners with many community organizations and LAAS to find the optimal outcome for people and pets.
This organization relies of donations to fund their efforts and every touchpoint they have with the pet owning public makes a difference in improving both a human's life and their pet(s).
Great organization and wonderful people! Truly care about animals' welfare and supporting pet parents. I am grateful for their support.
Christy Schilling is amazing -- she was very responsive, thorough in addressing my questions, and went out of her way to arrange help for my kitten.
People and Pets Better Together Forever has been an invaluable partner to us for the past two years. They consistently go above and beyond to help our community of people and pets, offering their services 7 days a week with unwavering dedication. The care and compassion they show for each individual and their pets is truly making a difference, providing crucial support for pet parents who are struggling financially. By helping families keep their pets rather than surrendering them to overcrowded shelters, they are not only saving lives but also preserving the deep emotional bonds between people and their animals.
Their work is absolutely essential in our community, and we have seen firsthand the positive impact they are making. Their commitment to keeping pets with their families, regardless of financial hardship, speaks volumes about their mission. They are a true beacon of hope for pet owners who need assistance, and their compassion and professionalism continue to inspire us. We are grateful for the meaningful difference they are making, and I highly recommend their services. Thank you for your tireless work, BetterTogether Forever!
This organization is a stand out - they are unlike the rest. They support animals but also the pet parents, and acknowledge human struggling as well as animal suffering. Because of this more generous, compassionate, wider lens, their impact is amplified and ripples out. I love how betterTogether Forever takes everybody into account, making people feel heard and seen, which in turn allows for those people to then see and hear their pets more! This is an organization that works tirelessly to help people not have to give up their furry family members to overcrowded shelters by offering them tools, financial support, a nonjudgmental space, a sense of community, and cohesive care, whatever it might look like. I think big change will come from their work - from embodying how an animal's wellbeing is interconnected with the humans taking care of that animal. Everybody needs a hand sometimes, and better Together Forever keeps reaching it out, keeps extending it, keeps lifting animals and their people up, daring to take another approach to making a difference. They protect the powerful love in between beings, and their allegiance to the invisible force that matters most is an honor to back.
We absolutely LOVE bTF! They are an incredible organization that helps our nonprofit (HEART LA) bridge the gap between human services and pet wellness. Everyone at bTF is responsive, reliable, compassionate. They are all in to support people in need of accessing services, resources, and supplies so that they may stay together with their pets. We’ve referred several clients of ours to bTF and vice versa! We are forever grateful to bTF for all of the incredible work they do on the daily and for helping us connect to clients that are experiencing housing insecurity due to their pets. The level of commitment to the people and the pets that they serve is unmatched. Here we are at one of many pet wellness events organized by bTF, the Latino Alliance for Animal Care Coalition, and the veterinarians of the North Figueroa Animal Hospital. 5 stars and beyond!
"BTF (Better Together Foundation) is a truly invaluable asset to the community. Their tireless dedication to helping people and pets in need is both inspiring and commendable. With their unwavering commitment to making a positive impact, BTF has proven to be an organization that not only provides assistance but also brings hope and support to those facing challenging circumstances. Their work is a shining example of the positive change that can be achieved through compassion and action. BTF is a remarkable organization that deserves the utmost praise for their selfless and indispensable contributions to our community."
-Dr. Vasquez of N. Figueroa Animal Hospital
I highly recommend making a donation to this organization!! I've had the privilege of getting to know Executive Director Christy Schilling, and I have so much respect for her care and diligence when problem solving exceptionally complicated and urgent circumstances in order to support people and their pets in the greater LA community. You won’t find a harder-working leadership team and staff—their pet pantry program, their multifaceted assistance with veterinary care, and their nonstop efforts to facilitate the required appointments while navigating phone calls around the clock is astonishing. People on the cusp of losing their beloved pet companions are spared this heartache because of them! They are an absolute gift to the community. THANK YOU for everything that you do!
I am honored and proud to be a part of this amazing organization. bTF truly goes above and beyond helping the community by providing medical care, wellness clinics, vaccinations, spay/neuter, flea treatments, etc. With these services bTF is able to keep hundreds of pets out of shelters and at home with their families. A dedicated powerhouse of a team works together to help pet parents in challenging circumstances access the resources and assistance they need.
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Bark Avenue is a wonderful organization that truly goes above and beyond helping the community with it's free and low cost spay/neuter program, vaccinations, providing free pet food and even microchips. Additionally the Humane Education program teaches children the importance of pets being a life-time commitment. Their focus on prevention helps keep animals out of the shelter and in loving forever homes.
I have had the pleasure of working with this non-profit for many years. They are extraordinarily committed to saving lives whether by assisting with medical care, spay/ neuter, providing food assistance to prevent owners surrender or finding homes for pets. We need more organizations like them.
The time, dedication, and effort betterTogether Forever puts in everyday to help support those in need is truly incredible! Through their pet pantry program, assistance with vet care, vaccines, spay/neuter, and providing support with emotional support animal letters; they help keep people and their pets stay together. Even when they are limited, they always find a way to help, whether it be providing additional resources and education on pet care or following up during weekends, they always go an extra mile to help every single person who reaches out to them. I've had the opportunity to work with the executive directors and they are as kind to their employees as they are to the community they help and support. This organization truly makes an impact and a difference in the lives of people and their pets in our community.
Better Together Forever is an incredible, hardworking, boots on the ground, animal nonprofit organization. The work they do in the community to help pet owners keep their pets instead of turning them into the city shelter, is absolutely AMAZING! I have been with Christy many times picking up hundreds of pounds of pet food and supplies to make sure that pet owners in need are able to feed their pets and not worry about them going hungry. People that ask for assistance, truly love their pets and consider it a family member, many times their pet is all they have.
Better Together Forever is truly one of the most caring organizations in Los Angeles and is passionate about people and their pets.
As both a volunteer as well as Board member for BetterTogether Forever, I see how we affect the lives of those in the community needing assistance. So many people think that they have no option but to surrender their pets when suffering a financial hardship or other type of crisis. It is hard for people to know there are options and that there is help. We step in to offer them support, and solutions. We offer pet food, spay/neuter, veterinary vouchers and assistance with landlord issues, just to name a few things. I always say it is like peeling a piece of string cheese to see what someone needs to best assist them. The feeling of relief that pet owners have knowing they can keep their beloved pet with our help is wonderful.
Thanks to betterTogether Forever, people and pets in the Los Angeles area are able to get and remain in housing together. This in turn reduces the number of pets entering our overcrowded animal shelters thus saving lives. BTF is a organization that provides items like pet food, pet wellness and spay and neuter to those facing hard times which keeps pets and their people together. Thank you BTF for all you do. Keep up the fantastic work.
I had the opportunity to volunteer at a community event for betterTogether Forever. They do a wonderful job keeping pets with their family. They will go to great lengths to provide medical vouchers, food and supplies, and grooming to families in need. The team is kind, non-judgmental and helpful. betterTogether Forever is a great asset to the communities they serve.
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Bark Avenue's humane education program is stellar. We teach the children about overpopulation in the shelters and we talk about the solutions. We provide children with free spay and neuter certificates. We also problem solve about common pet issues, such as chewing, potty training, and lost dogs, so they can learn to keep their own pet forever. We have positive feedback from the children and the staff. Children have told me that their parents have agreed to get their own pets fixed. Humane education works!
This is an incredible organization that is dedicated to helping animals and people. We live in a time where many are in difficult living situations. Noone should ever be forced to give up their family pet due to where they live. Thank you for all that you do!!
Better Together Forever is a wonderful and caring organization. their name says it all. Christy is so very caring about people and their pets. this organization far exceeds what a non profit should be. they are kind, caring and stay up to date on issues in the community.
I have worked personally with both Christy and Kerry for almost 10 years.
As a former shelter volunteer, I saw firsthand the miracles they brought to many families who thought their only option was to surrender their beloved pet to the shelter for a lack of funds for medical care.
They are an absolute blessing to my village, and I have included BTF in my Will with complete continued confidence in their mission.
If you are considering donating to their efforts, you can do so knowing that your dollars will help many people and their pets.
Better Together Forever is an absolute Godsend! It’s like something out of a movie; an unexpected vet-emergency, and the whole world comes crashing down around you, but then this compassionate nurse Jessica swoops in with this paper letting you know there are kind souls out there who are ready to save the day! I filled out the application and heard back from Robert and Kerry immediately and they were amazingly kind, empathetic, and genuinely concerned. I adopted Truman as a kitten for my three-year old after my husband passed, and for 17 years our sweet Mr. Capote Cat has been the man of the house. He is family and BTF truly understood that. Kerry even followed up to see how he was doing after the procedure. What a miracle just when I needed one, and I am in tears of gratitude over the generosity of the food pantry- they even have litter! The weight of worry that has been lifted off my shoulders is beyond words. BetterTogetherForever is a beautiful, exemplary program that is truly making the world a better place, and completely renewed my faith in humanity. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
I have volunteered with betterTogether Forever for over 5 years now. The dedication that this organization has is simply unmatched! They pour their hearts into assisting animals and educating so many people on the importance of spaying and neutering their pets. I always leave a volunteer session or fundraising event feeling incredibly fulfilled for having made a small difference alongside their wonderful staff.
Have been a fan of Bark Avenue Foundation, but with its merger with Home Dog LA, a great pairing is now betterTogether Forever. With their similar missions, they now have a broader and stronger impact. Several years ago, Bark Avenue helped guide me with a dog who belonged to unhoused people and who was severely injured. I recently reached out to betterTogether Forever for guidance with a stray kitty who was in trouble. I am confident there will be another happy ending. I appreciate their strong focus on spay and neuter, and their non-judgmental way of helping people and their animals stay together forever. Thank you for always being there, betterTogether Forever!
I’ve see first hand how this organization helps people and their pets every day, and it’s never ending, the amount of thanks that come in for the work they do. Serving their area and beyond, they tirelessly provide resources, and pet care to those in need. From Wellness Clinics, Spay and Neuter education and resources, as well as vet visits, the help they provide really fills the gaps in care that are essential to keeping people with their pets and out of overwhelmed shelters. Pets do best with the people who love them and this organization does everything they can to make sure no pets are left to suffer or be surrendered.
These lovely folks are dedicated and work tirelessly to help the less fortunate keep and take care of their beloved animals. I can't think of a better way to spend your life than to bring joy to the needy and the pets that love them! I collect any pet-related items to donate to them and am so proud when they are passed along to a loving pet-parent! If you are looking for a place to donate money or your time to, look no further!
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I am new betterTogether Forever (bTF) Board member (2021) and I am honored and so proud to be a part of this amazing organization. Christy Schilling, Kerry Armstrong, and their dedicated staff members work miracles keeping fur babies together with their loving families. The dedication this organization has helping fur babies stay healthy and stay with their love ones is astonishing! bTF is a TRUE example of an organization that works tirelessly to ensure their mission statement of helping under-served, under-resourced, at-risk people and the pets they love stay together is met on a daily basis through the work they do and the services they provide throughout the Los Angeles pet community.
I am grateful that this organization exists. The services they provide to help keep animals out of shelters by providing financial relief to the people who love & consider them family, makes perfect sense. I fully recommend supporting betterTogether Forever to those who care about animal welfare and responsible pet ownership.
I wanted to work with an organization that helped vulnerable people as well as their pets, and I was not disappointed!
Transparent, accountable - willing to help without being judgmental. The folks who work at Better Together Forever care about people and their pets:)!
Man, do I love betterTogether Forever! I was the founder and Director of Home Dog LA before we merged with the Bark Avenue Foundation to form betterTogether. Both organizations did similar work of helping pet owners in underserved communities with resources for their pets. Since merging we have expanded our services and do Shelter Intervention at North Central Shelter, a pet food pantry, wellness clinics once a month at the Weingart YMCA and provide pet food and services to participants of PATH and LAFH. We believe most pet owners love and want to do what is best for their pets and sometimes just need a little bit of help.
I volunteered with bettertogether forever because they sounded interesting and got to learn about all the ways they help out pets and their owners!
We had a Pet Wellness Clinic in partnership with this organization at the Weingart East Los Angeles YMCA recently, and it was amazing. We love working with this group, because we are truly better together when we help underserved communities with resources to improve the lives of their pets.
I really can’t say enough about Bark Ave Foundation. I work for PATH (People Assisting the Homeless) and Bark has been providing our guests with high quality food for years. Every time I have reached out to Christy, she has been more than generous with food and treats and toys. I had a guest that was unable to go into a drug treatment program bc he had a dog. Bark Ave Foundation did not hesitate to help me find a foster home for his beloved pet until he was out of treatment. The people at Bark Ave Foundation are a true blessing. I know I can reach out to them if I need them, and I am so lucky to know about this organization.
Bark Ave Foundation has been critical for LA Family Housing to meet the needs of our participants with pets. Every month we receive food, treats, and toys to distribute to people experiencing homelessness for their pets, but even more important is the monthly pet clinic we are able to hold (pre-covid) to meet the veterinary needs of the animals are participants love and depend on for emotional support. Not only that, but they are always quick to respond when we have an emergency need, like for a stroller for a dog that recently underwent surgery. We are so grateful for the partnership of Bark Ave!
My name is Margaret,
And I was W/o permanent roof for quite some time.
Ah hem. Imagine my surprise when a shelter's regional manager said, in response to my asking if I could feed the stray cats, told me I could keep a cat.
I chose Baby Kitty. She was the one who would follow me around, everywhere I went in the Shelter's parking lot. Curl up in my lap all day into the night.
I named her "Baby Kitty" because the registration desk at the vet's asked me what her name was.
Again, gobsmacked. I just blurted out "Baby Kitty". Why?
No clue. I am normally much more cynical than that.
Point being. NONE of that would've been possible W/o
bark Avenue found\tion.
Spellcheck is driving me to the point of severely exasperated, so I'm out.
Christy Schilling in an Angel of Mercy.
Bark Avenue Foundation is an amazing organization with top notch leadership! They are on the front line assisting communities who need help in keeping their furry friends safe and healthy! They are the best at educating the public about how important it is to spay/neuter their pets and treat them as a family member. Bark Avenue Foundation is definitely a top-rated nonprofit!
Bark Avenue provides education and spay/neuter services for those is need. They do a wonderful job of teaching why these services are so critical for not just the community and stopping the over-breeding of animals but also in helping people understand why this simple surgery is good for their pet's well being, both mentally and physically. Bark Avenue has recently moved into working closely with helping those who need support taking care of (and sometimes being able to keep) their animal while in vulnerable situations, which is often a key to the owner's mental health. Animals are so much more than pets and Bark Avenue truly supports that mission.
Can you imagine how it feels to find yourself "homeless? How resourceful are you? Who can you call on to help you, and shelter and care for your beloved pets? With the help of Bark Avenue Foundation, my cancer ridden pup lived longer with her BFF while I was able to concentrate on getting back to my "new normal". Through no fault of my own I found myself without a home and when you have no place to call home your animals are homeless too. Bark Avenue Foundation owed me nothing. Yet, they saw something in me and continued without question to help me get back to self sufficiency and a life with my pets. Bark Avenue Foundation could not save my beloved Mrs. P from cancer but without Bark Avenue Foundation she would have died sooner, and my other pup would have surely met an uncertain fate. Call it luck/fate or chance the truth is that Melanie Pozez and Christy Schilling believed I would one day have the chutzpah to overcome homelessness and get back on my feet. I'm living proof that one can do it. No one is an island, everyone is equal only under the law. They know that and understand we are a community which supports each other. Are you one paycheck from homelessness? I hope after you seriously take a look at the folks at Bark Avenue Foundation you support them with whatever resources you have to offer. I'm not an actor, have never committed a crime, am not on public assistance nor do I have an addiction, my story is real. I survived 10 months homeless in LA in 2018 my only connection with my animals was to visit them when I could. Los Angeles county needs Bark Avenue Foundation, you can help BAF. Stop procrastinating, please - support people who will help you. Not everyone is born with boot straps with which to pull themselves up Bark knows this, Yes I was determined to "make a comeback" I am - without that one. phone call from Christy offering to help me when I was 4 weeks homeless, who knows what would have happened:). Love it? Then BARK!! (show your support) for Bark Avenue Foundation (they will do it for you thank you:)! Pictured is the late great Mrs. P ( R) and her BFF L.J. Fricke (L) 2018 shortly before she died of cancer in Los Angeles.
Bark Avenue is a fantastic group that does so much to promote spay/neuter. BA organizes and runs spay/neuter clinics where people can take their pets for low-cost services. BA also promotes adoption and responsible pet ownership. They are very involved in community outreach and provide many resources for people regarding companion animals.
What a great organization this is! They not just care about animals, but people as well. They help in the under-served communities in LA by providing pet care, food, education free spay and neuter, and other resources, LA needs organizations like Bark Avenue.
Bark Avenue continues to be at the top of its field, helping our canine and feline friends, the homeless and their pets to be cared for and supported. Their fearless and tireless leader,Christy Schilling, is second to none!
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Bark Avenue Foundation is awesome! They care about the pets they serve. Its a great organization that help many families in need.
I have been a volunteer and donor for 3 years. This organization is well run, fun and extremely organized. It’s programs really are all about keeping pets from ever entering shelters. I strongly recommend it to anyone who wants to give back.
Bark Avenue Foundation and LA'sBEST have collaborated in over 95 presentations for over 30 elementary school sites in the LAUSD afterschool program. We will be continuing to collaborate, developing more curriculum and more ways to reach more of LAsBEST 200 sites in the coming school year. In addition for LAsBEST understanding the shelter support and spay and neuter aspect of Bark Avenue, our collaboration is helping our students and their families practice kindness, compassion and understanding of the shelter animals especially if students and families are considering adoption. The students hear stories and see pictures of real animals and they make toys for the shelter animals. They have an opportunity to visit the shelters in their community to distribute the toys and consider adoption. The values of LAsBEST and the values of Bark Ave are directly alighnned. We believe in the importance of social / emotional learning and working with shelter animals brings this learning into focus. The volunteer presenters make great connections with our students and their presentations are clear and impactful. We will continue to collaborate and grow our relationship in the future.
Bark Avenue Foundation does important work in the community in many ways. Their education program is making sure future generations will have understanding and compassion for animals. Their free spay/neuter clinics lower the number of unwanted/homeless cats and dogs thus saving lives. All Bark Avenue does is efficiently done.
Bark Avenue is an amazing organization helping animals (and their people) make connections for homes and education to reduce the number of stray and abandoned animals.
My family has helped at volunteer and community events sponsored by Bark Avenue and their partners.
Dynamite organization!! Two years ago, I didn't even know about this organization and now it as amazing! They have taught "humane education" to some 10,000 children. (Kids who abuse animals often grow up abusing humans). They are working with other organizations to help the homeless to be able to keep their "best friends" by offering resources, food, supplies and spay and neuter clinics for free or very discounted prices. Love this organization!!
Bark Avenue Foundation gave our residents experiencing homelessness the opportunity to give their pets the care that they needed. They made it very simple by bringing the services directly to the people, which helps immensely.
Bark Avenue Foundation has brought necessary services to LA Family Housing in the form of Vet care, assessments, vaccinations, deworming, flea treatment, and additional services. Participants can also pick up pet food, treats, toys, beds, blankets, collars, leashes, crates/carriers, and additional supplies from BAF when they visit our site monthly! Bark Avenue Foundation ALSO provides referrals to spay/neuter surgeries, emotional support documentation, and urgent life saving and/or preserving procedures. BAF has provided a rich set of support services at our LA Family Housing Campus, for our participants in need! Thank you for all you do!
Bark Avenue Foundation is a marvelous, hands on group that works tirelessly with local residents. With food, flea/tick medicine, or spat and neuter programs, Bark Avenue Foundation provides low cost care for animals in need who might, otherwise, not receive it.
Bark Avenue Foundation is so exceptionally dedicated to saving dogs and cats in Southern California. They work tirelessly to provide services for those who need help in caring for their animals and in providing free and low-cost spay/neuter clinics to ensure that every pet is spayed or neutered, which prevents future animals from winding up in the already overcrowded shelters. BAF also provides an excellent Humane Education program, reaching out to the young people in the community and helping to create responsible and caring pet-owners of the future!
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I have had the great pleasure of having Bark Avenue Foundation present their Humane Education program to my college students to offer them an opportunity to become humane educators themselves and change the future for both domestic animals and people by demonstrating the power and importance of kindness, respect and responsibility. BAF also offers my students opportunities to help out in spay/neuter clinics and the reviews I get from my students are always raves. Giving students the experience of knowing they've made a difference as well as the difference they've made is the best of every world--and gives me the confidence to believe we will have a much more compassionate world in the future. The care and dedication of those who work with and volunteer for Bark Avenue Foundation is absolutely inspiring!
I first was introduced to Bark Avenue Foundation in 2008 when I moved to LA. Having worked in veterinary medicine and with animal welfare organizations back east, I began to volunteer with them right away, and subsequently ended up adopting our two precious pups whom they had saved. I love the compassion and kindness with which Christy, the executive director, serves all of the communities the organization touches - regardless of circumstances, she goes above and beyond to help both pets AND their people, whether it’s providing spay/neuter, vaccines, or other, more complex (and expensive!) veterinary services, providing humane education in schools and communities around LA, distributing food and supplies, or finding a temporary or permanent home for a pet. Whenever and wherever there’s a need, Bark Avenue Foundation will step up and help. The volunteers take their lead from the top and serve with kindness and compassion as well. BAF is a fabulous group of caring, respectful, dedicated folks who are passionate about their mission and whose work is truly helping to alter the future!
Bark Avenue Foundation does amazing work to decrease the abandoned, neglected and abused pet population and keep pets with their families. Seeing the humane education program firsthand was incredible - the way kids respond to the lessons and the multiple areas of their lives that are impacted, beyond just how to interact with and keep animals, but also dealing with people and how to be great citizens. BAF advocates for a mission that will have lasting impacts for the entire pet population, not just individual animals right now today. They They work tirelessly and are professional, knowledgeable, and caring. They're really invested in the cause.
Bark Avenue is an exceptional organization. They provide free spay and neuter to pet owners in some of the poorest areas of LA. They help homeless people care for their animals and even provide free dog and cat food to people living in shelters, many times they pick up the vet bills for sick or injured animals.
They are also working with schools in LA City to teach children the importance of caring for their pets and keeping them forever. The children learn about the importance of being kind to pets and the importance of spay and neuter. Bark Ave feels strongly that teaching the next generations can help reduce the pet homelessness problem that we currently struggle with.
Every time I attend and event for this Charity I know I am helping a good cause. Since 2014 they have been giving out free spay/neutering in Los Angeles County to over 400 pets. That is an amazing thing. It helps many pets from being abandoned due to extra cost many pet owners can not afford. It makes me feel good knowing a I am helping a great cause.
Bark Avenue is a unique organization. It's doesn't just provide spay and neuter services; it reaches out to the next generation to make change directly within the community. Their after school Humane Education Program has been presented to thousands of kids, molding the minds of young people. I can still remember those assemblies when I was kid that had a huge impact on me--ones about the environment and endangered species. They helped shape me to become the eco-conscious, animal rights activist I am today. As I look around the room at these kids who grow up in homes where their cat has kittens every spring, or the kids who have lost more than one dog who has gotten out and wasn't licensed or micro-chipped, I realize how the information Bark Avenue provides is needed to not just help animals, but the people who share their lives with them. The ripples of this education go not just home to the dinner table, but forward in time, as these children grow to be kind, gentle, and educated members of society. When we help shape the minds and hearts of children, we shape the future. And Bark Avenue makes the future a whole lot brighter.
Bark Avenue is a wonderful organization that seeks to educate potential pet owners to ensure they understand the responsibilities of ownership and provide spay and neuter services at no cost to prevent pets from being abandoned and needing re-homing. Their focus on prevention and proactive teaching works to help animals before they are subject to the lifelong anxiety and pain mistreatment causes.
This charity is run by people who love and respect animals in a way that makes my heart sing. They are a hard working, considerate, sensible team who always go the extra mile to help as many animals as they possibly can. They are very appreciative of everyone who goes the extra mile to help them care for those in so much need.
Bark Ave. Foundation focuses not only on the love and care of animals in need but also the underlying issues of humane education and spay/neuter. There are many organizations that dedicate their time and resources to pulling animals from shelters and placing them in great homes (which is important) but this great organization also dedicates their energy to serving the community by assisting the homeless and their pets, educating children about the importance of treating animals well, and involving themselves in cases that others would likely ignore. The truth is, we must treat the root of the issues if we ever truly want to see change occur and Bark Ave. understands that and has made it their mission.
Bark Avenue Foundation’s core purpose and their motivation is to help alleviate the dog and cat overpopulation crisis, a crisis that results in millions of dogs and cats being euthanized every year. They provide access to high-quality, free or low-cost spay and neuter services and free, innovative educational programs to underserved communities throughout LA. Their compassion, energy, and commitment to this important issue is amazing to behold.
After a stray cat gave birth in our house while we were away on a camping trip we had not idea how to deal with this. The mother and her kittens eventually made their way out of our kitchen and into our backyard. I found the bark ave. foundation online and called them up they offered to help us spay and neuter these cats and in doing so prevent more stray cats from being born. Most of the kittens have since left. The mother grew attached to us and when she hears us feed our indoor cat she runs up to the door to be fed. we have in some sort of way adopted this black beauty. I couldn't be more thankful to the org. and its work. being an animal lover and pet owner I understand the importance in avoiding over population of animals. The staff is wonderful you can feel their love for animals and their care. They were great at answering all of my questions.
This organization is exceptional in the scope of services it offers. It is one of the few that provides assistance to homeless people as well as those who live in poorer neighborhoods for spay/neuter and vaccination clinics. In addition, it sponsors an innovative program in which animals from local high-kill shelters are transported to areas of the country where they will find adoptive homes. Although not their main focus, they will never turn away a homeless animal, and will provide safe shelter for them
until an adoptive home can be found. Bark Avenue Foundation finds new and innovative ways to raise money for their programs and is very worthy charity to support.