CLEVELAND — A nonprofit program through Friends of the Cleveland Kennel is helping low-income Cleveland residents get free or low-cost services for their dogs and cats.
Neighborhood Pets, which is run out of a small storefront in Slavic Village, provides free spay and neuter services, free clinic exams and shots, flea preventative and dewormer for $5 or less per dose. The program is funded in part through grants but also relies on donated supplies that it sells in its store.
Hanging from the ceiling of the store are handwritten messages from clients, writing about how much they love their pets and what the animals mean to them. Becca Britton, the executive director of Friends of the Cleveland Kennel, said that’s the idea that drives this program.
“Regardless of who you are, where you’re from, what your income is, you love your animals just as much as the next person loves their animals,” Britton said.
Britton said Neighborhood Pets has been open for about two and a half years and that clients are often in disbelief that the services and supplies are free or low-cost.
“They are so grateful and they feel a sense of empowerment that they can actually care for their animals the way that they wanted to,” Britton said.
Kelly Yokiel and her husband Thomas have been bringing their energetic boxer mix, Thor, to Neighborhood Pets since it first opened.
“They helped us with neutering, chipping,” Yokiel said. “They help us with food, with medical. Wow, I can’t even remember. They do so much for us always.”
Yokiel said she and her husband are both on disability and couldn’t afford medical care for Thor without help from Neighborhood Pets.
“We could never give him the care that he requires,” Yokeil said. “We probably wouldn’t even be able to have him.”
Jim Meadwell, a veteran who has had his dog Karma for about three years, said he wouldn’t be able to care for her on his own.
“There’s no way I could do it. There’s no way,” Meadwell said. “It would be beg, borrow or steal for that dog.”
Meadwell described his dog as a best friend and an animal who truly understood when he felt down or upset.
“I don’t know of any dog that knows when you’re sad, knows when you’re not feeling good, but this dog does,” Meadwell said. “Put her head on my knee or just want to be hugged, and gets up on the couch with me and just wants to snuggle. And that takes everything away. That takes everything away.”
Latonda Watson described her dog, Lucky, as rambunctious but lovable.
“He’s funny, he’s very alert. I mean, protective, playful,” Watson said. “And he loves people. That’s Lucky.”
Watson said she receives dog food from Neighborhood Pets, as well as treats and toys.
“I’m a dog lover and I appreciate them. I’m glad for them. I’m glad they’re in this neighborhood,” Watson said of Neighborhood Pets. “I wish it was more places like this, but unfortunately there’s not. But it’s great for the neighborhood.”
The program now serves about 2,000 people and gets most of its clients through word of mouth, according to Britton.
“We’re all human and we all deserve to have animals and be able to afford to take care of them,” Britton said.
Britton said that anyone can buy items from Neighborhood Pets' gift shop. The proceeds go back toward the services and supplies available at the center. She also noted that some of the low-cost medications or shots are available at a slightly higher but still reduced cost to residents who are not low-income.
This summer, Neighborhood Pets is expanding. The program will soon open a satellite location in the Collinwood neighborhood.
