Animal Samaritans

Shelter and Pet Adoptions: In 2024 our small no-kill animal shelter adopted out 351 homeless animals. Adoptions included 89 dogs (canines six-months and older), 85 puppies, 4 adult cats (one year and older), and 173 kittens. This was an increase of 4 adoptions over 2023.

Humane Education: Last year we saw more teachers welcoming our Humane Educator back to their classrooms. In 2024, our bi-lingual educator presented state-accredited humane education lesson plans to over 12,000 students in our area Coachella Valley, Desert Sands, and Palm Springs Unified School Districts. Additionally, we provided humane education services to adults at local community events. Our Humane Educator and her volunteers also hosted seven free Summer Critter Camps, primarily for financially disadvantaged students. These camps are for children ages 7 through 12 and focus on the program?s core teachings that students learn during the school year. Critter Campers also enjoy interacting with live reptiles, birds, rodents, and dogs, creating animal-themed arts and crafts, and playing animal-themed games.

Animal Companion Therapy: In 2024, our ACT volunteers and their therapy dogs continued seeing more local residents. Our pet therapy volunteers, their canine ambassadors and our other extraordinary volunteers, numbering 294 individuals in total, logged 9,287 hours of volunteer service - an increase of 8,219 hours over 2023. Some of the locations served include: Atria Senior Assisted Living, Banyan Treatment Center, Brookdale Assisted Living & Memory Care, Destiny Hospice, Neuro Rehabilitation Center, John Glenn Middle School, Palm Springs High School and The Bob Hope USO.

Animal Rescue: This charitable resource for adoptable, treatable at-risk homeless shelter animals is provided free of charge to the County of Riverside and greater Desert community. In 2024 we rescued 604 animals from Riverside County Animal Shelter in Thousand Palms, an average of 50 animals per month. This was a decrease of 89 animals over 2023 but an achievement none the less.