Animal Samaritans was founded in 1978 on the premise that all pets deserve to be loved, respected, and treated like part of the family. Today, Animal Samaritans remains committed to viewing all living creatures with compassion and respect, with a primary focus on dogs, cats, and the people who love them.
After 40 years of service, Animal Samaritans has grown to become the Desert’s largest, most comprehensive animal welfare organization by adopting out more than 10,000 homeless dogs and cats, rescuing more than 11,000 at-risk public shelter animals, and spaying and neutering more than 200,000 pets. They’ve also educated more than 225,000 school children on the importance of treating our four-legged companions with kindness and compassion, and made tens of thousands of pet therapy visits to people in nursing homes, assisted living facilities, area hospitals, and facilities for disabled and abused children.
In just the past two years, Animal Samaritans has created new partnerships with local animal welfare groups and businesses. In 2015, they began a dog adoption program with The Westin Mission Hills Resort and Spa, and recently celebrated the resort’s 100th pet adoption. In 2017, Animal Samaritans began a three-year partnership with Palm Springs Animal Shelter and Best Friends Animal Society to help spay and neuter 10,500 community (aka feral) cats. Already, their efforts have made a dramatically positive impact on pet homelessness and feline euthanasia numbers.
Of its many partnerships, Animal Samaritans’ most important one continues to be with you, the community members we serve. Thanks to 40 years of individual, company and corporate donations, Animal Samaritans continues to thrive and provide important charitable service to the Coachella Valley. During this 40th year Anniversary, Animal Samaritans encourages anyone celebrating a 40th birthday in 2018 to ask friends and family to donate to Animal Samaritans in their honor! Of course, you don’t have to be turning 40; a birthday at any age will do! The process is easy and is a great way to help the animals through your own birthday celebration. Contact Kim Laidlaw at klaidlaw@animalsamaritans.org or 760-601-3754 for more information.
