Mission Statement
Barrio Dogs is a 501(c)3 non-profit, animal welfare organization based in Houston, Texas. We focus on community education as the most effective tool to end the intractable problem of stray and abused animals in Houston, currently estimated to number as high as 1.2 million.
Our message is consistent: the only lasting solution to animal overpopulation is spay and neuter of pets and other animals.
Description
Barrio Dogs has been working in Houston’s Greater East End since 2010 with the mission of raising awareness about proper animal care and the importance of spaying and neutering pets. We teach residents that animal birth control and humane treatment and care of pets will create safer, healthier, higher property value communities for themselves and their families.
Programs and services we offer:- Youth and Paws program
- Tails to Tails Reading Program
- Barrio Dogs Therapy Program
- Barrio Watchdog Resources
- Barrio Dogs for Better Communities Outreach
- A Home For All rescue dog program
All our programs are designed to raise awareness in low-income communities about proper animal care. We put special emphasis on encouraging pet owners to spay or neuter their pets. In many cases, problems are caused not by a lack of caring for these animals, but the absence of resources like proper education and affordable and easily accessible veterinarian services. To assist these owners, we raise funds to provide access to low cost vet care.
A special part of our organization reaches out to children, using the natural connection between children and animals to influence pet owners of tomorrow. We provide programs in schools teaching responsible pet care and even helping children learn to read. We encourage children to be the messengers of loving pet care to their parents, siblings and communities.
Although Barrio Dogs is not a rescue organization, we work closely with many local animal rescue groups to deal with the immediate crisis of street dogs in especially bad physical condition, helping to nurse them back to health and finding foster care and permanent homes. The problem of strays, however, is far too large in Houston for rescue alone to work. That's why Barrio Dogs' educational programs are so critical for finding a permanent solution.
