At VIP Pet Services, we love supporting wonderful organizations that have made it their life purpose to help people and pets in need. We proudly contribute throughout the year to pet charities by sponsoring events, donating cash and volunteering our time. A unique way our sitters participate is by tracking their dog walks with Wooftrax’s Walk for a Dog app. This company donates to the shelter of their choice for every mile walked.
During this special “giving season,” we are thrilled to be giving back with the contribution of a cash donation to each of the causes below, in hopes that it makes someone’s holiday season a little brighter.
A nonprofit organization that provides pet food and emergency veterinary care to the homeless in local communities across the United States and Canada. Over 11,500 pets of the homeless have been successfully vaccinated and/or treated for illness or injuries, many were spayed or neutered. Over 330 tons of pet food and supplies have been dispersed to the homeless and disadvantaged who own pets. There are several collection sites in Dallas and Austin for people to drop off food.
February 2014 marked three years of Austin’s no kill status. Austin Pets Alive! has played a critical role in achieving this status by developing innovative and comprehensive programs that serve key demographics of animals typically euthanized in a shelter setting. Austin Pets Alive! has saved more than 25,000 cats and dogs from euthanasia and the numbers continue to rise. They are sponsoring a “Home for the Holidays” program asking people to foster a pet during the holiday season.
The Dallas Pets Alive! no-kill/rescue organization is completely run by volunteers. All pets are housed by dedicated foster families throughout the metroplex. DPA! is currently focused on helping the healthy and treatable pets who are at risk of being killed in the Dallas Animal Services, by rescuing those that are at the greatest risk and helping owners with problems so great that they need to surrender their pet(s) to a shelter. In the DPA! rescue program, they do not duplicate work of other agencies. DPA! focus primarily on the pets who have already been passed over by other groups and the Dallas Animal Services’ adoption programs.
Williamson County Regional Animal Shelter (WCRAS) is celebrating three years of being a no-kill, open-admission shelter. Since December 2010, WCRAS has reached a save rate of 90% and above. Last year they achieved a 94% save rate! Because of the shelter’s efforts, almost 19,000 cats and dogs have found their way home. Proud sponsors of the annual Walk, Woof & Wrun 5K which raised over $9,000 to help the sick and injured animals of WCRAS. Special love for this shelter as they are located in Robin’s home town of Georgetown!
Founded by Adette Quintana and David Soliz, Austin-based IOWL is a 501c3 Animal Advocacy dedicated to helping homeless pets and advocating for proper pet nutrition and care. Adette is the former owner of the pet-sitting business Adette’s Ark, whose clients are now a part of the VIP Pets Austin family. She also started the Chuckling Hound Ranch Luxury Pet Resort, where one room is dedicated solely to rescue dogs in need of a foster home and rehabilitation.
Headquartered in Carrollton, Operation Kindness is the original and largest no-kill shelter in North Texas. They have saved more than 75,000 animals over almost 40 years. They care for approximately 300 animals on a day-to-day basis, with another 100 animals in foster homes. More than 3,000 dogs and cats are assisted by Operation Kindness each year. The host of many fundraising events throughout the year including the Holiday Pet Adoption happening now at the Galleria Dallas.
In addition to the organizations VIP champions, VIP Sitters also give back to the community in their own unique ways and we are so proud of them! Four of our rockstar sitters and the organizations they support include:
7. Equest- VIP Sitter Lynne K.
“I am a huge supporter of an organization that provides therapeutic riding, carriage riding and hippotherapy to adults and children with emotional, physical, and developmental delays. There are approximately 40 horses and 4 minis that provide therapeutic services. They also have a special veterans program for veterans returning home suffering from post traumatic stress disorder or who have suddenly become disabled after serving overseas. If anyone is interested in contributing gift cards, cash or shampoo (I am sponsoring their shampoo for the whole year of 2015) , I would be happy to meet anytime, anywhere to collect donations and get them to Equest.”
“My Marine is coming home for Christmas and New Years, but some are just getting deployed again. For the military members having to leave their pets behind, here’s an option to keep them safe and sound. Please let military members know they can contact DOD for assistance locating a foster home while they are deployed. Thousands of people across the country have already signed up and are ready to offer a hand. They don’t take their dog to a shelter without contacting Dogs On Deployment. Just a cool piece of information.”
9. Open Table – VIP Sitter Ann G.
“I serve as the Director for Open Table through our church. The purpose of Open Table is to help establish a brother or sister back into society. It can be anyone who is recovering from drugs or alcohol, or down on their luck and homeless, or struggling with divorce and abuse. It is a year long commitment and involves weekly meetings. I don’t believe that Open Table is labeled as a charity but it is a wonderful program – the return is more than rewarding. And believe it or not you learn a great deal about yourself!!”
“I volunteer with Habitat 4 Paws, a local dog rescue organization. I served as a board member for two years also, coordinating their volunteers. “ Habitat 4 Paws is an animal rescue group in the DFW area whose mission is to rescue and find permanent homes for dogs and cats while caring for them in a volunteer staffed adoption facility and foster program. H4P’s goal is to acquire and operate an adoption facility in the Frisco or nearby area and to invite community participation in ways that will benefit rescued animals.
