An estimated 23 million dogs and cats live in poverty with their families in the United States, says the Humane Society of the United States. No wonder financial hardship accounts for 25% of the pets that are surrendered to shelters.

For families who face the difficult decision of whether to give up their pet, being able to turn to a pet food bank can make all the difference. A pet food bank provides emotional relief to owners who can no longer provide for their pets. Some pet owners will take food from their own mouths to feed their pets or choose homelessness rather than relinquish their pets. Pet food banks exist to help pets stay with their families.

Across the United States, there are at least almost 150 pet food banks, including one run by Lincoln Animal Ambassadors. I chatted online this past month with four of them.

Megan has a big heart for homeless animals. She also believes in having animals spayed and neutered. For that reason, she’s grateful for the assistance she’s received from Lincoln Animal Ambassadors.

By this time, I realized Sam was very pregnant. I didn’t want another litter after her first, and so I set up the appointment to have Sam fixed as soon as possible after the babies were delivered and I got clearance from the vet saying she was ready.

Plan on having LOTS of delicious locally made Ice Cream in August this year! Ivanna cone has recently offered to make a signature LAA flavor in support of LAA in August! During the month, they will make our special flavor and a portion of this flavor’s sales will be donated to LAA! Then, on August 28th, A portion of ALL of their sales will be donated as well! It’s the perfect excuse to cool off and enjoy everyone's favorite treat!

A note of thanks for all your assistance with getting our puppy, Sunshine, spayed. Your help was invaluable– especially when she went into heat. You saved us! Keep being awesome.–Danielle

One service offered by Lincoln Animal Ambassadors is a low-cost spay/neuter program for Lancaster County, Nebraska, who are unable to pay the full cost of altering their pets. There are many health benefits to having a pet fixed. Spaying and neutering reduces the risk of infection and of cancer in both males and females. It curbs undesirable behaviors such as aggression and the insatiable desire to seek attention from the opposite sex. Finally, when it comes to cats, it helps to minimize a tendency of either sex to roam and of male cats to spray in the house. Healthy pets also make for happier pets and owners. And of course the most important reason to spay/neuter is to help end animal homelessness.

Just want to thank you all for your recent help with neutering costs. A beautiful young female came onto my farm this spring. In less than a week I noticed she was pregnant. She had her litter of kittens outdoors, because she doesn’t like to be indoors for more than a few minutes. The family now spends a good deal of time on my back porch. The two kittens who survived were neutered with the help of your vouchers. I had the mother spayed at my own expense in July. I feel responsible now that my feline population is in check. Your help made this warm, fuzzy feeling possible.–Gayle

The number of unwanted animal is heartbreaking. To cite just two stats: 2.4 million dogs and cats are euthanized (killed) each year because of overpopulation. In addition, there are estimated to be 70 million homeless dogs and cats. By making spaying and neutering more affordable, Lincoln Animal Ambassadors is addressing the root cause of homelessness.

Hi Pauline. I wanted to let you know that I received the voucher and printed it off. Thanks for this type of program. I’ve been worrying for the last 2/3 months about how I’ll be able to afford to fix my dog. This help is amazing and very much appreciated.–Heather

Pauline Balta’s duties as the coordinator of LAA’s spay/neuter program include working with vet clinics. I asked two of the participating vets why their clinic works with Lincoln Animal Ambassadors. Both stressed the importance of preventative care. Dr. Megan Ehlers stated, “It is important to offer anything that is preventative. Vaccines, parasiticides, routine parasite screening, and spay/neuter options are all important to aid in prevention of diseases that are expensive and difficult to treat.” Dr. Kimberly Ehlers noted, “Our involvement with Lincoln Animal Ambassadors involves performing spays and neuters on these pets, as well as other procedures that may be necessary such as hernia repairs. We do require that the pets are vaccinated and that dogs over 6 months are tested for heartworm, but these requirements are good for proper health care of your pet anyway and should be done regardless of whether the pet is spayed or neutered.”

Thank you so much for helping me get my kitty cat spayed. You are providing such an amazing service. Lyndsay

Making use of Lincoln Animal Ambassadors’s low-cost spay/neuter program is simple. To have your name added to the waiting list, complete the form at Lincoln Animal Ambassadors’ website or leave a message at 402-817-1168. A volunteer will call you to conduct a short interview that will include your selection of a participating vet clinic. You will then receive your voucher in the mail, and then it will be your responsibility to make an appointment with the chosen vet.

Since Lincoln Animal Ambassadors began its low-cost spay/neuter program in 2010, over 2,700 pets have been serilized. Sadly, in February of this year, Lincoln Animal Ambassadors was forced to reduce the number of vouchers it provides to pet owners in need. On Give to Lincoln Day, please give generously so that even more pets can be helped, and so that together the Lincoln community can help reduce pet overpopulation.

Thank you, I have indeed received the voucher! Please know that your efforts are much appreciated and that I’ll continue to encourage spaying and neutering!–Kacy

Lincoln Animal Ambassadors is once again hoping that all of our wonderful supporters remember us at the annual city-wide event; Give to Lincoln Day. This fundraiser is a super quick and easy way to make a difference in the local community by support grassroots organizations like LAA. Your donation makes the pet food bank and low-cost spay/neuter program possible and has an immediate and direct impact on the number of homeless animals in our area and beyond!

Don’t fear missing the event! This year, you can make your tax deductible donation online at givetolincoln.com from 12am to 11:59pm on May 1st through Thursday, May 31st!. All donations during this time will count towards the matching fund! You can also make a donation an in-person during regular business hours at the Lincoln Community Foundation, 215 Centennial Mall South on May 31st! All funds raised for LAA on Give to Lincoln Day are eligible for a proportional share of a $400,000 match pool from the Lincoln Community Foundation.

With all the press around Give to Lincoln day, we know that it will be hard to miss the event; but if you are worried - just follow LAA on Facebook! We’ll keep you in the know on Give to Lincoln Day and all our upcoming fundraisers.

This May, we hope you will join us in addressing the root causes of animal homelessness in our area. Whether it’s to provide food and supplies for companion animals in need, or to combat overpopulation through spaying and neutering, even the smallest donation makes an enormous difference in the life of animal.

In 2016, our Fix Me Meow project was enormously successful, spaying or neutering 110 cats in just 2 months! Thanks to a generous grant provided by the Bissell Foundation, we are once again able offer spay/neuter procedures for Owned or Community (not feral) cats for just $25 starting May 1 until we have issued vouchers for 100 cats. This is the perfect opportunity to reduce the spring influx of homeless kittens!

Lincoln Animal Ambassadors wants to send an enormous Thank You to the Lincoln Community Foundation. It awarded a $2,000 Quick Response grant to Lincoln Animal Ambassadors’ Pet Food Bank this past winter. The grant is for the purchase of prescription and specialty (age specific, limited ingredient, etc) diets for qualifying pet parents.

Prescription and other medically necessary diets make up a significant portion of the costs associated with the Pet Food Bank. These types of food are generally more expensive and are rarely donated. This grant will make it significantly easier to provide the speciality foods that some pets need to stay healthy and happy! We want to thank the foundation and its donors for providing these funds and making a huge impact on the community.

LAA has had overwhelming support this year from our supporters. With great attendance and support through our fundraisers, and wonderful corporate and community support throughout the year, LAA has been able to make great strides in addressing the root causes of animal homelessness.