Christal West calls herself the “proud pet parent” of Karma, a pit bull mix, and Parbellum, a cat. But without the support of Pets for Life, a program of the Wisconsin Humane Society, she might not have either of her beloved companion animals.
Pets for Life is a nationally recognized program model that provides animal services, care and resources to underserved communities in Milwaukee by building relationships and engaging the community door-to-door. PFL focuses on the 53206 ZIP code and surrounding neighborhoods, all of which are affected deeply by poverty.
West inherited Karma from her son, who had to leave the rescue dog behind when he left town for the Job Corps. West worried that she could not afford to keep Karma, due to the rising costs of pet food, care products and veterinary expenses. Fortunately, about that time, Lisa Michel-Weis of PFL was knocking on doors in West’s neighborhood near 21st and Meinecke, telling residents about the program.
“She just wanted to make sure these pets were cared for,” West recalled.
Says Michel-Weis, senior director of community impact at WHS, “I consider myself a fairly shy person, but I got over it ‘doing doors.’ You never know who you are going to meet, and I enjoy the stories people share with me.”
Michel-Weis explained to West that PFL provides free spay/ neuter services, free or low-cost vaccines as well as support with basic pet supplies, such as food, leashes, collars and brushes. PFL also has a relationship with the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Veterinary Medicine’s Shelter Medicine Program, which provides minor medical services in people’s homes twice a month. PFL also provides transportation to WHS’ Spay/Neuter Clinic.
Pets for Life began in 2012 with one part-time staff person, Michel-Weis. Said Jill Kline, WHS vice president of culture and community impact, “Animal welfare in general has recognized that to be effective in our mission, we need to support folks in our community. We have found that the longer we are in a community, the more relationships we build, and the more the community spreads the word for us.”
West is one of PFL’s biggest boosters.
PFL’s growth — from one part-time staff to three full-time, and to an expanded service area that now includes 53205 — is due in part to support from the Foundation, which has given a total of $110,000 since 2018 to the program. This has enabled it to serve 19,400 pets and 9,803 families.
“Our approach is innovative within animal welfare,” Kline said. “We are grateful that the Foundation recognizes that this nontraditional giving area is worthwhile. They see that animal and human welfare are inextricably linked.”