Kerry has helped thousands of struggling families keep their beloved pets by their side!
Kerry Armstrong had always loved animals. So when she discovered that too many folks were having to give up their pets because they were struggling, she came up with an extraordinary way to heal thousands of hearts, two- and four-legged!
SDogs are always there with an encouraging wag of the tail when they needed.” are DOROTHY HINSHAW PATENT
Dog’s best friend Soon
tanding in North Central Animal Shelter in Los Angeles where she volunteered, Kerry Armstrong’s eyes followed the young family walking in with their floppy-eared mixed-breed pup, their own heads hanging.
“We love him with all our hearts. We just can’t afford to care for him anymore and don’t know what else to do,” the mom confessed, her voice breaking. As tears poured down her children’s faces, Kerry could hardly hold back her own.
It wasn’t the first time Kerry had witnessed this scene. And every time, it broke her heart. She could only imagine how devastated she and her husband, Scot, and their children, Lake and Charlie, would be if they had to say goodbye to one of their four rescued furbabies.
Besides, Kerry’s purpose at the shelter was to find every pet a home. So to know that an animal had a loving family who had to give him up just because they had fallen on tough times . . .
Our pets are our family, too—and family deserves to stay together. There has to be a better way! she thought.
after, when a friend happened to show Kerry an article about a pet rescuer who had helped homeless and low-income pet owners with expenses, it struck Kerry: That’s it!
Though not quite certain where to start, Kerry turned to local veterinarians and asked if they could provide discount or even free services. She began contacting pet stores, requesting donations of collars, leashes and food. And, as Kerry set up a table in the shelter lobby, Home Dog LA (Homedogla.org), an organization to offer desperate pet owners a happy alternative to surrendering their pets, was born.
That very first morning, an elderly woman named Josephine walked in with her precious chow chow, Lucky.
“Lucky and me . . . we’ve been together for 10 years, ever since he was just a pup. But now the new landlord of my house is demanding a $200 pet deposit!
“He’s my baby. I don’t want to let him go,” Josephine wept to Kerry. But on a fixed income, she didn’t have any way of securing the money. Eyes brimming with tears, Kerry wrote out a personal check for $200. As she handed it over, Josephine’s eyes widened. “Thank you. You are my and Lucky’s guardian angel!” she marveled. Soon after, Josephine and Lucky dropped by the shelter again, this time with a thank-you gift of homemade enchiladas. And Kerry knew: She had to do more, for other owners and their pets. Because this mattered.
2,500 happy endings!
Inthe months that followed, there were many more happy endings. One mom believes that her dog, Charlie, saved her children’s lives by chasing off burglars. But in doing so, brave Charlie was shot— and his mom couldn’t afford the medical bills.
Struck with grief, she thought she would have to prepare her family to say goodbye to their four-legged hero. But when Kerry heard, she set up a crowdfunding site to raise money for Charlie’s surgery and care. And though one leg had to be amputated, Charlie recovered and is now back home with his family.
Sometimes, just a little help is needed—like with Samson, a pit bull with a terrible skin rash.
“I recently lost my job. I just don’t know how I’ll pay for his medicine,” the owner explained, overwhelmed and discouraged until Home Dog LA stepped in, covering the $75 prescription.
Some needs, however, are greater. When Juliet found herself homeless and living in a car, she couldn’t bear to lose her pup, Peter, too. She’d already lost so much.
“He’s all I have left, and I love him so much!” she cried. So Home Dog LA paid for Peter’s vaccinations, providing him with monthly chow until they were back on their feet.
Today, Home Dog LA has helped about 2,500 pets stay with their owners by paying for everything from vet bills to spaying, neutering, and license and redemption fees, as well as for dog-training classes, food, collars and leashes. They’ve even repaired a fence for one client whose dog kept escaping!
“Many think people who surrender pets to shelters are heartless. But the truth is, most are heartbroken. Every animal should be treated with love and respect, and giving up pets because of money problems should never have to be an option. So doing this . . . it’s a blessing to the owners, to the animals and to me!” Kerry says. “Pets truly are members of our family—and family is forever!”