Pets for Life
Overview
CAA’s Pets for Life program was established in 2017 to keep pets and people together in some of the most underserved areas in East Baton Rouge Parish. Our program is based on the Humane Society of the United States’s Pets for Life program model. Pets for Life is driven by social justice and guided by the philosophy that a deep connection with pets transcends socio-economic, racial, and geographic boundaries, and no one should be denied the opportunity to experience the benefits, joy, and comfort that come with the human-animal bond. Since our program’s inception, we have continued to increase the number of people and pets served through Pets for Life.
The services provided by our program are invaluable to the underserved members of our community. Many pet owners would struggle to provide basic care to their beloved pets without these services. We recognize that a lack of resources does not equate to a lack of love and that everyone deserves the love and companionship of a pet. Every day, we see firsthand the transformative power of our program as it brings joy, stability, and hope to countless lives. The success of our Pets for Life program underscores the importance of collaborative efforts in addressing community needs.
In the lifetime of our Pets for Life program, we have provided the following veterinary services and animal care resources that pets and owners may not have otherwise received:
1,672 spay/neuter surgeries
13,899 veterinary services, including medications
3,189 animal care supplies
Our program has served 2,756 people and 5,339 pets.
Our Pets for Life program is one of the leading programs of its kind across the country and has assisted the Humane Society of the United States mentorship team in training other animal welfare organizations to build their own access to care programs.
History
In 2017, Companion Animal Alliance began strategic outreach efforts in some of Baton Rouge’s most underserved communities. These communities were identified through data analysis of animal intake by zip code. The zip codes with the highest intake were 70802, 70805, and 70807–areas that have been colloquially referred to as “North Baton Rouge.”
These areas are known as low-income, high-crime areas that have been historically marginalized.
CAA believes that everyone deserves the love and companionship of a pet regardless of socio-economic status and that veterinary care should be accessible to everyone. In parts of Baton Rouge, there is a major shortage of accessible veterinary services. Our Pets for Life program began as a strategic outreach program to bridge the gap between affordable veterinary services and pet owners living in underserved communities.
Over time it became evident that the need for our services extended into other zip codes within East Baton Rouge Parish, so in 2022, our Pets for Life program expanded to include additional zip codes: 70815 and 70791. We continued this focused effort through 2023, however, it became evident that the gap between access to veterinary care and pet owners living in underserved communities transcended these zip codes. With this expansion came the realization that the need for our services transcended zip codes. In 2024 we began providing resources and increased access to veterinary care to underserved members of all communities, regardless of their residential zip code. Removing the limitation of zip codes allowed us to provide substantially more resources to even more pet owners living in underserved communities in East Baton Rouge Parish.
Through our expanded reach, we have learned that there is a major gap between pet owners living in underserved communities and access to veterinary care across the East Baton Rouge Parish. Even access to basic resources such as pet food, shelter, and supplies continues to be a struggle for pet owners in underserved communities, but providing these resources has resulted in fewer animals entering the shelter. This initiative has not only alleviated some of CAA’s burden of animal sheltering in East Baton Rouge Parish but also strengthened the bond between pets and their owners. By bridging this gap, we ensure that more pets receive the care they need, leading to healthier, happier lives. Moreover, our efforts have highlighted the resilience and dedication of pet owners who, despite facing significant challenges, strive to provide the best for their animal companions. Throughout the lifetime of our Pets for Life program, we continue to learn that the human-animal bond between pets and their owners transcends all socio-economic factors.
If you or someone you know qualifies for and would benefit from these services, please reach out to our Pets for Life Team via email at petsforlifebr@caabr.org. No email address? No worries! Leave us a voicemail at (225)954-2348 and our team will get back to you as soon as possible.
