Lucy’s House for the Prevention of Homeless Pets minimizes the financial stress of pet ownership to ensure pets are able to stay in their homes throughout unexpected economic challenges. Hannaford has supported this nonprofit organization through the Hannaford Helps Community Bag and Bloomin’ 4 Good Programs.
Tell us about Lucy’s House for the Prevention of Homeless Pets.
Our mission is to keep pets in their homes through our various programs, which focus on pet food, medical support, and homemade pet toys. We realize the value of a pet is priceless, so our goal is to keep pets with their families. Pets reduce isolation and depression for many people, specifically the elderly and people with limited mobilities. We know that challenges happen in people’s lives, and we want to be there to support them.
We know that challenges happen in people’s lives, and we want to be there to support them.
Lucy’s House for the Prevention of Homeless Pets got started after some family medical challenges. We adopted an abandoned American Stafford Terrier named Lucy to help us deal with a lot of the challenges that came alongside treatment. Lucy had been abused and abandoned, and her story unfolded as we saw her challenges from her experiences. Lucy was seven months old when we adopted her and was only with us for a few months before she died from a rare heart condition. From the short time we had with Lucy we wanted to name our organization for her to help honor and respect what dogs like Lucy go through before they get to us. We named the organization after Lucy with the goal to help families keep their pets so other pets did not go through the emotional feeling of abandonment she experienced.
Another reason why I started Lucy’s House was a unique experience I had. I was badly injured in a car accident. Fortunately, I had planned young for emergencies, but I couldn’t help but think about what happens when people don’t. I was stuck in a wheelchair for over six months and decided to help other people keep their pets because I was fortunate to have the ability to maintain what we needed for our animals.
Today, there is a lot more research going into animals’ feelings and emotions, specifically the sense of abandonment that an animal feels when they lose someone that’s been with them forever, because suddenly the family can’t afford it. We want to step in and make sure the family can keep their pet. It’s not only great for that family’s emotional health, but it’s really important for the wellbeing of that pet.
We want to step in and make sure the family can keep their pet. It’s not only great for that family’s emotional health, but it’s really important for the wellbeing of that pet.
What services do you provide to the community?
Our services are a way of going in the back door to help people facing food insecurity. We have found a lot of people will go without food to take care of their pets. If we can provide pet food, then those elderly people, veterans, and people with disabilities who are receiving support from us won’t have to share their limited food with their pets. It’s a win-win situation when both the owner and pet can eat healthy food.
We bring pet food to local food shelves. During Covid, we were even able to get grants to ship one-time donations to help homebound individuals. These donations would last them several months. We’re looking to keep this going to help homebound people get through the winter months when mobility is less accessible. In addition to pet food, we collect and distribute a lot of supplies, such as dog bowls, beds, bones, and toys. We also have a specific request form for people who need specific items.
The second part of our services is our medical support program. We provide information about low-cost wellness care clinics and funding for things outside of wellness care. Right now, I’m looking at how I can build our medical support program back up again, potentially through a mobile clinic.
We also support people who are trying to be a caretaker for a stray cat colony with pet food and insulated cat houses. In networking with other organizations, work is done to get them spayed and neutered and to find them homes. Some of these stray cats are truly wild and don’t want to be in a closed, space, but they may make good barn cats. In addition, our work supports stronger and healthier outcomes through flea and tick medications and dewormers for free roaming colonies. Barn cats are a healthier way to deal with rodent control then pesticides and that freedom is exactly what some of these cats want.
The last part of our services is community outreach. Since we are a tiny organization, we really try and build awareness. We put on events where people can make pet toys. We make things have catnip sock toys or rope toys.
What sets Lucy’s House for the Prevention of Homeless Pets apart from other nonprofits in your community?
One thing that sets us apart is that we are not a shelter or rescue. Our mission is to keep pets in their homes. Our organization is 100% volunteer-based which means no one collects a salary and all money donated goes directly to our programs and to the cause. When people donate monetarily to us, they know every dime goes toward the work we do. Everything goes right back into keeping pets in their homes.
When people donate monetarily to us, they know every dime goes toward the work we do. Everything goes right back into keeping pets in their homes.
Please tell us a story that illustrates the good work of your organization.
A woman lost her housing and had to move to another town. She was really struggling and had two large dogs. She heard about a food shelf that I brought pet food to and started going there.
Since she was struggling financially and had to do this move, she didn’t know what to do and just had a list of things she needed. Our organization was able to collect everything she needed, including two orthopedic dog beds, flea and tick medicine, and a ramp for the older dog to use to get into the car.
When she received the items, she was just glowing and said, “I don’t know what I would have done if I hadn’t found you guys. I would never have let go of my pets, but it would have come at the cost of things for myself.”
Giving this type of support and having moments like this are a really special part of what we do.
What is your most outstanding achievement or contribution to the community?
Years ago, we started doing community events where people make pet toys. The idea was to start showing people that you don’t have to buy a toy. You can make some of your own. You can even just play with your dog using only a tennis ball or use simple feather rods to play with cats. We have also expanded these events to making dog beds out of fleece remnants. Basically, we just want to show that you don’t need a lot of money, you just need love.
What is the most important thing you want people to know about Lucy’s House for the Prevention of Homeless Pets?
We are a 100% volunteer organization, and all funding goes directly to our programs to support keeping pets in their homes. We are always looking for donations. We’ve recently been working with Hannaford stores in our local area that donate ripped bags of pet food and other pet supplies. Getting in-kind donations like these changes what we do, so we’re always trying to build on that.
How will you use the funds received from the Hannaford Helps Community Bag and Bloomin’ 4 Good Programs?
We will put these funds towards our pet food program. We are struggling to get enough cat food donated right now, since the need for that has increased a lot. The people using our services has tripled in the last two years, so these funds really help us to meet the growing need.
Interview with Jan Ellis-Clements, Founder
Published February 15, 2024.