Outreach includes pets at Anchorage’s largest homeless camp

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) – Davis Park in Mountain View and the snow dump across the street together make up the largest homeless camp in Anchorage currently but it isn’t just people who live there, it’s also their pets.

Since last fall, the Alaska Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, or SPCA, has been conducting outreach at the camp every Thursday afternoon, often with a vet team. Alaska SPCA Director Kelly Donnelly estimates they’ve interacted with approximately 60 to 80 animals during that time.

The team provides food, pet supplies like collars and leashes, blankets, and other basic health needs. An important part of their work includes vaccinating animals and electronically storing the information so owners can provide proof of vaccination, especially if they are looking for housing.

“When we are doing spay/neuter or vaccination we set up an electronic medical record for their pet that they can access anywhere from a smartphone or a housing coordinator’s office,” Donnelly said. “They just log in and they can download that information so they don’t have to worry about losing a rabies certificate.”

Getting camp animals spayed or neutered is also important. The camp has seen unplanned litters of both dogs and cats. Donnelly said people who live near the camp have also reported an uptick in strays. The organization is partnering with the Mountain View Lions Club and plans to offer a spay/neuter clinic at their clubhouse adjacent to the park at the end of April specifically for pets in the camp.

“I think the more that we as a community can work together to help people be responsible for pets and make resources available the happier we all are,” Donnelly said.

The SPCA’s mission is to reduce the suffering of cats and dogs in Alaska but the work at the homeless camp is benefiting humans as well. For some, the love of an animal is almost all they have. Donnelly said the organization is doing its best to help keep that connection.

“So that we can help these people keep their animals safe and secure, keep them from roaming as much as possible, and help them to nurture those relationships as much as possible,” she said.

Donnelly said those who want to help with their efforts can donate to the Alaska SPCA or keep an eye on the organization’s Facebook page which will list specific supplies they need on any given day.

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