This week, I was in Los Angeles with our Pets for Life program to provide essential pet food and supplies to families in East LA. This “Unpacking Pawty”—which is part of our More Than a Pet campaign—was designed to celebrate the beautiful bond between people and their companion animals. Pets for Life takes a comprehensive, community-based approach, providing veterinary care, pet supplies and services at no cost to pet families. At this event, there was a sense of relief, joy and gratitude as so many people could now provide for their companion animal family members.
There were people lined up around the building even before the event started. I talked to community members who teared up when they told me that there was no other support for their animals available, except for what we provided. I met dogs who were eager to give kisses and smell every treat and bag of food. I met a proud dad and his corgi mix named Cooper, and he told me with a big smile that his dog was named after the Mini Cooper—small but powerful.
There is no question that such an event was a welcome boost for community members who struggle to make ends meet for their families. And they are not alone. Across the U.S., people are struggling to afford basic necessities for their families, and what affects people inextricably impacts animals. In the U.S. alone, more than 20 million companion animals experience poverty with their families; 70% of those animals have never seen a veterinarian because the people who love them cannot afford or don’t have access to veterinary services, and 43% of all pet owners have been unable to pay for their pets’ needs at some point due to financial reasons.
Lauren Justice/AP Images for Humane World for Animals
We’ve been working to increase access to pet care since our Pets for Life program began in 2011. Through this program, more than 60 communities across the country have embraced the opportunity to ensure that people have access to the resources they need for their companion animals.
In recent years, we have elevated access to care as one of our priority initiatives because there is a national crisis where far too many people are struggling to access resources for their pets and creating long-term, lasting support is vital.
Lauren Justice/AP Images for Humane World for Animals
A few years ago, we launched our More Than a Pet campaign to raise awareness about this national crisis and attract corporate sponsors to help bridge the gaps in access to pet care. It is thanks to these corporate partners that we could serve hundreds of community pets at this week’s LA event. Nulo Pet Food donated 100,000 meals through their Paws for a Caws initiative. Chewy provided pallets of pet food and supplies. Smalls donated 2,000 cat meals and a new freezer to the Pets for Life Los Angeles team and will be regularly stocked with Smalls cat food to further support the community. The Hartz Mountain Corporation donated over 1,500 cat treats. Ace Cash Express sent volunteers to support the distribution and presented a donation of over $74,000, reflecting funds raised for Humane World for Animals last year.
The More Than a Pet “Unpacking Pawty” also attracted support from local celebrities, Chad Rogers, realtor and TV personality from Bravo’s Million Dollar Listing, and Nima Nasseri, music executive, who attended the event. Chad volunteered alongside the team to help distribute pet food and supplies to the community, while Nima personally delivered a generous donation of pet food and essential supplies to support the cause.
I am so proud of our team in LA. In addition to this event, during 2025 alone, the team has provided more than 8,900 veterinary care services and pet supplies to nearly 3,000 pets in East LA. The day following the “Unpacking Pawty,” our team went door to door to deliver resources for those community members who were unable to attend in person.
The joy and love felt at this latest celebration is a testament to the community the team has built and continues to support. Animals—and the people who love them—deserve nothing less.
Kitty Block is president and CEO of Humane World for Animals. Follow Kitty Block.
