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Each year brings change within our community outreach program as we grow and meet new challenges.
You will often see people stating, “love the dogs, can do without the human’s” in rescue and to a degree that sarcastic statement rings true. Although we often feel that way here at K9 Enrichment Initiative, we were founded in the mission to help humans with providing for their dogs. Whether this was individuals or shelters/rescues.
In two years following our establishment as a 501c3 non-profit, we began rescuing at risk dogs. We have never abandoned our goals to help people and the outreach program has helped and lended aid in various ways.
Partnering with Petco Love enabled us to vaccinate 882 dogs and 100 cats with distemper vaccines over the past two years through the Petco Love Free Vaccine program. We added the free bordetella vaccines with funds donated for the cause, along with free microchips provided by Fi Nano. We help clients with collars, leads, bowls, treats and other items when in stock.
In August of 2022, a volunteer/adopter came to us with an ask. ”Would we be able to offer food, treats, collars, leads, bowls, to homeless families’ living in tents with their dogs in Bloomington/Normal.”
Living in Normal she seen the people in the tent cities with their animals who would ask her for help for their pets. So it began, we started to provide those pet items in dire need to help keep the pets with their family’s and out of shelter’s.
The tent cities are illegal and every couple weeks the police chase the people out of the spot and slowly they or new people return. There tents are set up around the Mission Homeless Shelter as they wait to see if they are eligible for a spot in the shelter or for aid to find a home. Some will remain living on the streets due to drug and alcohol addictions and not wanting help or being ineligible for the shelter due to their addictions.
Emily Zary and her fiance, Devontae deliver no only pet food, supplies, also hygiene products to help the people living outside. Providing comfort, aid, taking time to talk to people and in some cases agreeing to pray when a homeless person when they request it, Emily and Devontae are down there in the heat, rain, and cold doing what they can to help. Emily views her work with dogs and people as a calling and we are happy to support her efforts.
We created a Amazon wish list for donations to help our mission to offer aid to these people and their pets. Treating people with dignity takes nothing from oneself, offering socks, hats, gloves, toothpaste, combs, dog food, cat food, a coat for their dog, blankets for the family tent, granola bars, bottle water, razors to shave, ect, brings their dignity to light for them.
It’s easy to feel forgotten, worthless, and let your appearance slide when you spend your day looking for money to eat or a handout of food. The simple things such as brushing your teeth, combing your hair, washing your face makes a difference in a person’s self esteem.
Please consider purchasing an item(s) off the Amazon Wish List to help support this mission of care.
Click the link to be directed to the Amazon Wish List “Angel Blessing’s”
K9EI Rescue 