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street dawg crew in the news
helping the homeless to care for their pets
Nugent Good News | August 30, 2021 | by Kierstynn King
If you find yourself walking around Pioneer Park in Salt Lake City on a Sunday afternoon, you may come across a group of people handing out free supplies for pets and their owners. A nonprofit called Street Dawg Crew of Utah serves pets and pet owners in the homeless community as well as other vulnerable populations such as low-income veterans, domestic violence survivors, and seniors. Founded in 2017 by Margie Varela, Street Dawg Crew operates solely on donations and volunteered time.
SEEING A NEED
“Where I work, we have glass doors, and I would see people on the street corners with their pets,” she says. “I would watch these people give their last bite of whatever they had to eat to their pets. I started buying dog food, and I would put it in little baggies and start handing them out on my lunch break or when I got off work. When people would walk past my work, I would hand them bottles of water.”
After a while, Varela switched to doing pop-ups with some friends. It was at the pop-up that she met a man who would come out to the Prospect Park area once a month and deliver burritos. That’s when inspiration hit.
“I noticed that so many people had dogs, and that’s where I got the idea of starting a pet outreach. So, we started hustling on Facebook asking for donations, and that’s how Street Dawg Crew started,” she explains.
“PETS ARE THEIR FAMILY”
Since starting four years ago, Street Dawg Crew has grown exponentially, forming partnerships with Mark Miller Subaru, Walmart, Cargill, Schmidt, and Bjorn’s Brew. In that short amount of time, the nonprofit has been able to accomplish a lot. Just take a look at their numbers from 2020:
42,000 pounds of pet food distributed
3,600 pets received food and medical treatment
$6,000 in emergency vet services provided
320 free vaccinations and spays/neuters provided
“Animals are my passion. They don’t have a voice, and they don’t choose their circumstances, but some of these people don’t choose to be homeless either,” says Varela. “For some of these people, their pets are their family, and that’s all they have. People get rid of their pets because they can’t take care of them, and they can’t afford the food or the litter. Our goal is to teach people about being a good animal owner.”
Varela also tries to go out and drop off donations to extended hotels whenever possible.
“People also come to my house. I have bags of food ready to go, and I send off a screenshot and they’ll come and pick it up.” She says. “Or they’ll stop by my work and grab what they need.”
REACHING OUT
Every other Sunday, Street Dawg Crew will meet up at Freedom Landing, a low-income housing community for veterans. After visiting Freedom Landing, Street Dawg Crew heads to Pioneer Park in downtown Salt Lake City. At both locations, the crew hands out bags of pet food, toys, treats, leashes, collars, harnesses, pet coats, collapsible bowls, and litter.
They also offer what they call “human outreach.”
“When we first started showing up, people were coming over asking if there was something to eat, and all we had was pet food. So, we started offering bottled water and a few things to eat that people were able to carry,” board member Trachelle Hilton-King explains. “During the winter, we also try to bring socks, hats, coats, and gloves.”
Hilton-King explains that before COVID-19, they used to do pet outreach every Sunday, but they switched to every other Sunday to try and limit exposure.
“Covid has been a real doozy because we’re trying to keep all of us volunteers safe, along with our clients,” she says. “A lot of them don’t have access to protective equipment, so that’s been a real challenge.”
According to board member James Hunter, since the pandemic started, the clients Street Dawg Crew serves have gone down about 50 percent. “With the Road Home shelter closing and people spreading to other shelters around the city, people are a lot more scattered than they used to be,” Hunter explains. “We’re still helping as many pets, but not as many come to the outreach to get their food. They’ll stop by our other drop-off locations. We have two in Tooele, two in Salt Lake City, and one in Syracuse.”
Vice president Secret Perkins has been with Street Dawg Crew since the beginning. “I’ve been very fortunate in my life, and there are a lot people that aren’t as fortunate as I have been, so I’m glad I can get out and help,” she says. “A lot of these people take better care of their animals than they do themselves, and I love being able to help and support their animals.”
Perkins and the rest of the Street Dawg Crew volunteers also go out to Magna and Tooele once a month to do outreach. “We help low-income people out there. They are all housed, so we’re able to deliver and hand out bigger bags of pet food and litter. Here at the park, we give people smaller amounts so they’re able to carry it with them,” says Perkins.
NO JUDGMENT
Street Dawg Crew holds a yearly free vaccination event at Freedom Landing and Pioneer Park. This year, their free vaccination event took place on August 29. They also offer spay and neuter vouchers whenever possible.
“We have a saying: ‘Together, we can feed them all,’” says Varela. “We just want people to know that we are here to help no matter what and that there’s no judgment. We’re here for them, and they don’t need to go without.”
To donate or volunteer with Street Dawg Crew of Utah, visit streetdawgcrew.org. Or shop their Amazon Wishlist.
Organizations team up to provided pet vaccinations
Tooele Transcript Bulletin | July 13, 2021 | by Ceilly Sutton
Street Dawg Crew of Utah and the Ruff Haven Crisis Shelter teamed up to provide vaccinations, microchips, nail trims, and pet identification tags for pet owners in Tooele County on Sunday.
The groups held a free pet vaccination clinic at the Dow James Building in Tooele City, on Sunday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Street Dawg and Ruff Haven along with help from the Humane Society of Utah and Canyon’s Veterinary Clinic 166 pets were given vaccinations and other free services.
Pet and human food and clothing, along with pet toys, cat litter, poop bags, and kennels were also distributed at the event.
Over 80 bags of dog food and 40 bags of cat food were given out.
“It was a really successful event,” said Kristina Pulsipher, executive director of Ruff Haven Crisis Sheltering. “We really enjoy working with the Street Dawg Crew.”
Prior to the event, all of the spots for vaccinations were full within a week, according to Pulsipher.
“Spots filled up so fast!” she said.
Pulsipher is an original, founding member of the Street Dawg Crew, a nonprofit organization that was established in 2017 in Salt Lake City with a mission of helping serve less fortunate pets and their owners.
After working with the Street Dawg Crew, Pulsipher decided to open Ruff Haven Crisis Shelter, also a nonprofit organization that was established a few years ago.
Pulsipher said that the shelter’s mission is to provide a temporary safe haven for companion animals in order to keep pets and their people together in times of crisis, increase pet retention, and decrease the number of animals entering the shelter system.
The shelter is located in Salt Lake City but they are looking for individuals to foster animals that their owners can’t take care of right now in Tooele County.
“We could really use some foster homes for the pets of owners experiencing crisis or hardship. It really helps these pets when they have a good temporary home and care,” said Pulsipher.
If you are interesting in fostering a pet from the shelter, please contact Ruff Haven by email at foster@ruffhaven.org or visit their website at ruffhaven.org
The shelter also provides free quarterly vaccination programs.
Visit their Facebook page for more info.
show some love to your favorite utah charity when you buy a new car from mark miller subaru
Fox13 "The Place" | May 21, 2021
Now is the time to show some love to your favorite Utah charity. Mark Miller Subaru is making it simple to do with their 13th annual Do Good Feel Good Event during the month of May.
For every car sold during May, Mark Miller Subaru will donate $75 to the Love Promise charity partner of the customer choice.
This year's Love Promise charity partners are: Summit Land Conservancy, Street Dawg Crew of Utah, Fit To Recover, The Malinois Foundation, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Utah, Discovery Gateway, and Westminster College—Office of Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion.
Since 2010, Mark Miller Subaru has donated more than $2.6 million to support the local community and amazing nonprofits.
You can help your favorite Love Promise charity partner with $1,500.00 by voting for them during the Facebook voting contest. The partner with the most votes at the end of the month wins. Visit the Mark Miller Subaru Facebook Page for details.
Mark Miller Subaru is giving away a 3-year lease on a new 2021 Subaru Impreza during the Do Good Feel Good event, including a $1,500 Mark Miller Design credit to help the winner customize their new Impreza.
street dawg crew hosts first pet food clinic in tooele
Tooele Transcript Bulletin | May 20, 2021 | by Ceilly Sutton
The Street Dawg Crew of Utah will host their first free pet food and accessory event for those experiencing homelessness or financial difficulties in Tooele.
The event will take place this Sunday from 3 to 4 p.m. at the Tooele Senior Citizens Center.
The Street Dawg Crew of Utah is a nonprofit organization consisting of volunteers that collects donations to help homeless pets.
“It’s mostly dogs and cats we help,” said Secret Perkins, vice president of the crew. “We have also helped out ferrets, turtles, rabbits, and other pets.”
When the crew has excessive funds, they help individuals spay or neuter their pets.
They also provide a once or twice a year free vaccination day.
“People can come to this event and get their pets vaccinated for free,” said Perkins.
The crew, which consists of over 25 members, also helps provide clothing, backpacks, food, and other needed items to those experiencing homelessness or financial difficulties.
Originally, the crew began their operation out of Salt Lake City, but have since moved part of their operation to Tooele County.
“We are actually based out of Salt Lake City. A few of us live out here and help out around here,” said Perkins. “We have actually been together since 2017. A few of us were volunteering with another group that handed out food to humans and we began to bring dog food, because we saw they had animals and as time went on the need for pet food got larger, so we decided to branch off and make our own group focusing on pets and on the humans a little bit.”
On Sunday they will hand out pet food and accessories to pets in need.
“This will be our first outreach out here,” Perkins stated. “We have seen the need out here. So, my dad is a volunteer for us and he goes every Friday to the Tooele Senior Citizens and hands out pet supplies to the seniors that are in need. Another member, James Hunter, and I help out by setting pet food at our houses and people who need it can come pick it up. So, since we’ve been doing all this, the need has increased, so we decided that it would be good to try an outreach out here.”
The event on Sunday will be from 3 to 4 p.m. at the Tooele Senior Citizens Center located at 59 E. Vine Street in Tooele City.
The crew will have dog and cat food, litter, kennels, collars, leashes, puppy bags, treats, and more.
“Anybody that is in need can come get supplies,” Perkins stated. “This is free.”
The organization plans on doing one of these outreach events in Tooele County on the third Sunday of every month.
Monetary donations to the organization can be received through PayPal @StreetDawgCrew and Venmo @Varela1365@comcast.net- the president of the crew’s Venmo.
Other donations, like pet food and supplies can be donated by contacting the crew through their Facebook page, “Street Dawg Crew of Utah.”
Those interested in volunteering with the group or finding out when their other events are can also contact them through their Facebook page.
street dawg crew pampers pioneer park pets
Utah Stories | July 17, 2019 | by Nicole Anderson
Seems like it’s true: Every dog has its day.
A dog’s love knows no economic distinctions. It wags its tail for rich and poor alike. To keep it wagging, Margie Varela and her partner Kimo Pokini, filled an important need.
Pets and pet owners within the homeless community were struggling to get by and take care of their beloved animals. “People don’t plan on becoming homeless and when they do, they don’t want to give up their pets. They are part of their family,” said Varela.
Homeless shelters provide temporary housing and meals for humans—if a member of the homeless community has a certified service animal they can stay with their human, but not a family pet or emotional-support animal—but since there isn’t anywhere for the homeless population to go with their animals, many of these people find themselves living and sleeping in alternative locations in order to keep their pets with them.
Once Varela and Pokini stumbled onto this truth, it wasn’t long before Varela earned her nickname, “The Pet Lady of Pioneer Park.” It is a nickname she is proud to have.
Varela and Pokini began showing up every Sunday at Pioneer Park with their “Doggy Survival Bags” full of dry food, soft food, treats, and collapsible bowls. When the dogs saw them coming they barked an all dog alert, spreading the news that treats and belly rubs were on the way.
This was great news for people who had lost everything and still refused to give up their pet.
“Many people live paycheck to paycheck and are only one calamity away from becoming homeless,” Verela said. “These people shouldn’t have to lose their pets. They’ve already lost so much.”
this utah nonprofit helps homeless people by helping their pets
Salt Lake Tribune | July 8, 2019 | by Robert Gehrke
Thirteen years ago, Carter Davis picked out a pit bull puppy and named her Miko. They have been together ever since — and that includes living on the streets since January.
You’ve probably seen tandems like them, homeless men and women who rely on their pet for unconditional companionship and, in some cases, protection. By some estimates as many as 10 percent of the nearly 3,000 homeless people in Utah are caring for a pet.
They develop a special bond, Davis said.
“I wouldn't ever give her up. I love her,” he said. “We’ve been through a lot. … I could never give her up. I’d rather be out homeless than not have this dog.”
It’s not easy. Food and routine veterinary care are an added burden on people who are scraping by as it is.
A few weeks ago, Miko fell ill. Davis said she could barely stand. Today Miko is on the mend, thanks to the Street Dawg Crew of Utah, a nonprofit focused on helping Utah’s homeless take better care of their canine (and in some cases feline or miscellaneous) companions.
A volunteer with the group rushed Miko to a vet to get treated for mites and mange and got her back on her feet, at no cost to Davis.
The idea for the Street Dawg Crew came to Margie Varela back in 2017. Varela worked downtown, not far from Pioneer Park, and had been giving dog food to people with pets and started talking to a friend and fellow dog-lover, Kimo Pokini, who had just started working with the homeless.
“I realized there were a lot of needs out there, so I said, ‘Let’s join forces,’” Pokini said.
Since then, they’ve built a cadre of committed volunteers and formed relationships with animal clinics and shelters to make sure these dogs and cats are cared for.
Every Sunday, rain, snow or shine, volunteers are at Pioneer Park passing out food, leashes and dog treats. They check on the pets to help make sure they’re in good health and well cared for. In the winter months, they hand out dog sweaters and coats.
Twice a year, volunteers come down to make sure the pets are properly vaccinated, free of charge. That’s where I met Miko, who was cuddled up on a blanket next to Davis under a tree. She was one of dozens of dogs, from a shivering chihuahua to a hulking mastiff, on hand to get their shots.
Varela and Pokini keep bags of food and water and collapsable dishes in their cars so they can stop when they see someone who might be in need.
Part of the mission is also education, sharing information with owners about the importance of getting their pet spayed or neutered and options available for those procedures, Varela said. Often, they’ll help pay for all or part of the cost.
The work can be emotionally taxing. They can’t save every animal, Varela said, but they try to help as many as they possibly can.
“I have a client that comes to my house and he lives in his car with his three dogs since his wife died and left him stuck with medical bills last year,” Varela said. “We’re not judgmental against anybody.”
And that’s what I think makes the Street Dawg Crew’s work so important — no judgment. Most of us, fortunately, won’t know what it’s like to be homeless, but it’s a hard life. A pet, volunteer Stan Stensrud, is a friend these folks can count on, who won’t judge and who will love them no matter what.
So when those pets need a little care, it’s good to know there are people like the Street Dawg Crew who will be there to provide that love the same way Miko the pit bull would — unconditionally.
Free vaccines for homeless pets
ABC 4 News | April 30, 2018
Volunteers gave out vaccinations, food and treats to the pets of individuals experiencing homelessness in downtown Salt Lake City over the weekend.
From noon to one on Sunday, the organization Street Dawg Crew of Utah provided free shots and dog food packets at Pioneer Park.
President Margie Varela says she started the program after seeing people who live on the streets begging for food for their dogs.
Now she says they’re appreciative of everything the organization provides.