Poverty's Pets

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Phoenix, AZ
Poverty's Pets

Poverty's Pets supports under-served communities with a focus on spay/neuter & community education.

Poverty’s Pets was incorporated in 2005 under the direction of the Founder and Animal Advocate, Kate Sivolella and is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. With a mission of aiding abandoned, neglected, and abused companion animals in low-income and underserved communities, Poverty’s Pets also provides education programs and veterinary care services (including spay/neuter) to families in the low-incom

e areas of Phoenix, AZ. In addition to these initiatives, Poverty’s Pets partners with local schools to educate students on the respect and welfare for all beings, and to promote positive interactions between the dogs and students. Since 2008, Poverty’s Pets has facilitated the adoption of over 1000 animals, provides medical services (including spay and neuter) to over 800 each year. With a compassionate volunteer network, it is Poverty’s Pets goal to end animal cruelty, suffering, overpopulation and homelessness.

08/06/2026

We have been busy!

We were actually on our way to another property that was already on our radar when we came across this situation.

Our goal is always to talk with the owner and offer services to help them better care for their pets. We see so many animals in need, and the hard fact is that our resources are limited. We can't take in every dog and cat that crosses our path because we don't have a shelter, and many situations are simply overwhelming.

In this situation, the owner told us the mama dog and puppy belonged to his son. By the end of our visit, however, the owner asked if we could help the puppy. If it weren't for our rescue partner, HARTT, making room for him, it would have been another sleepless night for us, haunted by the thought of having to leave him behind.

Our work at this property is not complete. We need to make sure mama never has another litter outside—in the heat and dirt, under an abandoned RV. Her life will improve immensely.

08/05/2026

Hot off the press. These dogs are roaming.

Please don't @ us asking what more we can do. We are no different than you. We tried to help them

We never post private properties for liability purposes...this trio: a westie mix, shepard mix and doodle mix are roaming 29th Ave and Polk.

THIS IS PHOENIX. We see this nonstop.

08/04/2026

That happened today.

Thank you, HARTT, for working with us to make room for this deserving boy. For two years, he had never stepped off that concrete slab.

Today, his world got GIGANTIC.

This is why we never give up.

08/03/2026

This is a tough one. We've been working with this gentleman for quite some time. We have sterilized six of his dogs, but he recently added two more. When we arrived, every water bowl was empty, and the pools we had delivered just days earlier were bone dry.

It was 115 degrees.

Before we left, he filled the pools and water containers, giving the dogs some much-needed relief.... and giving us a small peace of mind.

We will continue to offer help whenever we can, but we also have a responsibility to speak up when an animal's basic needs are not being met. Stay tuned.

07/31/2026

Lately, we've found ourselves hesitating before posting. Not because of the work—we are incredibly proud of what we do—but because of the comments that inevitably follow.

"Just take the dog."
"How can you walk away?"
"You're enabling cruelty."
"You suck."

What many people don't understand is that rescue work is not as simple as seeing a photo and making a decision. We cannot legally remove owned dogs. We don't make the laws—we work within them while continuing to advocate for change. Our goal is to improve the life of the animal through education and services we provide.

Sometimes we wonder where these comments come from because they don't reflect the reality of the work we do. A Facebook or IG post is a snapshot. It doesn't show the years spent building relationships in communities, helping families, advocating for legislation, providing spay and neuter, or walking into neighborhoods where many of you pathetic key board warriors would never go.

For over 20 years, Poverty's Pets has shown up. We fought for the anti-tethering legislation that is now law, have rehomed hundreds of dogs from horrific situations, and we have spayed and neutered thousands upon and thousands and continue doing the work every single day.

We are not interested in likes and can give a rats ass on how many follwers we have. We are interested in making a difference. And yes, we are grateful for the block button when comments become unfair, harmful and cruel.

Now, let's focus on why we are posting this dog: Does any of our rescue partners have room to intake this two-year-old doodle? He lives outside 24/7 on a concrete slab. We brought him a pool and will be delivering a raised cot, but he deserves so much more. Let's put our energy into changing his life.

07/27/2026

This past weekend, we delivered pools to dogs that live outside 24/7.

When the owner of this home came out to greet us, we recognized him immediately.

"Are you the spay and neuter people?" he asked.

Of the eight dogs on the property, we had sterilized six of them. He was happy to see us because he had since found two more.

"I find them on the streets," he told us. "I feel sorry for them."

The truth is, he is overwhelmed. He is an older gentleman with limited mobility, yet he continues taking in homeless dogs.

There were water bowls scattered throughout the yard that he said he fills, but with so many dogs, the water doesn't last long.

The dogs had ticks, and one—the big brown dog with the floppy ears—is in need of veterinary care for a severe ear infection.

The good news is that we'll help get the two new arrivals sterilized. Yesterday, we treated all of the dogs for ticks, and the pools will help them get through the brutal Phoenix heat. The situation is far from ideal, but yesterday was a good day for the dogs.

07/24/2026

Phoenix Peeps!

If you see an animal in distress, please call the Phoenix Police at 602-262-6151 or the Arizona Humane Society at 602-997-7585.

Please remember that shade and water are not always enough. During extreme heat, animals—and people—can still suffer from heat-related emergencies.

If it is an immediate life-threatening emergency, call 911 or transport the animal to the nearest emergency veterinary hospital if it is safe to do so.

Please stay safe, look out for one another, and be the voice for those who cannot speak for themselves.

07/23/2026

It is never a good feeling when your phone rings at 3:00 a.m. The number was unfamiliar, and one's initial thought is that perhaps it is a spam call gone wild.

The voice on the other end was apologetic from the moment he said hello. He sounded a bit panicked as he explained that he walks his dog at 3:00 a.m. because of his work schedule. The reason for his call was that a kitten was following him and his dog, crying the entire way. He didn't know what to do, and he was worried about the tiny kitten.

The caring man explained he had recently seen a flyer for a lost dog that was still hanging on a utility pole, so he called that number.... at 3:00 a.m.

Within a few hours, the kitten was in our care, and the lost dog flyer was removed because the dog was also safe. This is a happy ending to a 3:00 a.m. phone call.

07/21/2026

This big boy made the best decision of his life when he strutted into a humane trap.

Freeway was trapped under a freeway at our March feral cat clinic, and he quickly became a volunteer favorite. He was a big boy—so damn filthy and covered in both old and fresh wounds. But he was also incredibly sweet, and it was obvious he was tired.

As we've mentioned before, our feral cat clinics are incredibly rewarding, but they also pull at our heartstrings. We meet so many cats with medical needs, and many who would thrive in a loving home. Freeway was one of them.

Fast forward a few months, and look at him now. Freeway is all tuned up, healthy, and one very handsome, affectionate gentleman.

He is now available for adoption through our friends at Whiskers and Wishes. Whoever adopts Freeway is going to be getting one truly wonderful cat.

07/19/2026

Sweet Rango. ❤️ Rango is one of those dogs who quietly steals your heart. He came into our care about five years ago, and we're honestly stumped that we've never received so much as a nibble of interest in adopting him.

He's a gentle, affectionate guy who loves having his paw held, gets along well with other dogs, and is happiest simply being close to his people. More than anything, Rango craves love and attention.

After waiting all these years, we would love nothing more than to see Rango spend his golden years in a home he can finally call his own. If you've been thinking about opening your heart to a senior dog, Rango is waiting patiently for someone to choose him. Please share his story. His family may simply not have found him yet.

Address

PO Box 40112
Phoenix, AZ
85067

Website

http://www.povertyspets.org/

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