Corpus Christi (KIII News) — A new program aimed at helping pet owners in under-served communities launched in Corpus Christi.
On Thursday afternoon, volunteers with a group called Pets For Life went door to door on the city's west side offering free services like spay and neutering as well as flea and tick prevention.
Ida Arrington said ten years ago she began rescuing animals.
"Somebody went and dropped them off," Arrington said. "They were little and I started feeding them and it was super cold so I took them inside."
As time went on she couldn't turn away those sad eyes that would stop by her gate.
"These animals just bring me more and more close to them," Arrington said.
Arrington said she moved from Brownsville and found herself unemployed.
And like so many residents in her area, she needed help.Then one day...
"Well they had a big van and it said spay and neuter well then I said," Arrington said. "I have a question to ask."
That's when she met Julie Ayala, a program coordinator for Pets For Life.
"Helping them with simple things like flea and tick prevention or updating vaccinations," Ayala said.
Pets For Life is under the umbrella of the Humane Society of the United States and is run locally by People Assisting Animal Control or P.A.A.C.
"Since we started a few months ago we've already been able to provide resources to almost 300 animals," Cheryl Martinez, P.A.A.C. founder and president, said.
The program has more than 40 different mentorship groups across the country.
"Right now Corpus Christi is our only active market in Texas," PFL Mentorship and Training Manager, Rachel Thompson said.
They mainly work through door to door outreach in lower income communities.
"No one should be denied the love of a pet just based on socioeconomic circumstances," Thompson said.
Currently, they are limiting services to the Elgin Street and Verbena Street areas.
"It's so obvious how much everybody in this neighborhood loves their pets," Nikki Prather, deputy state director of the Humane Society of the United States, said.
Organizers said it's not only about helping animals but building bonds with the people they serve.
"They're there for us for I mean everything I mean they really helped," Arrington said.
For more information on the program you can call 361-857-4498.