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Photo courtesy of Gateway Pet Guardians
This year marks the 20th anniversary of Gateway Pet Guardians, an animal rescue organization that goes beyond saving pets and finding homes for them – though these are important components of its core mission. In those two decades, GPG has grown from a grassroots organization without a physical location that fed stray dogs to a thriving pet resource center based in the former Miles Davis Elementary School in East St. Louis.
The team behind GPG is driven to create a community of healthy pets and empowered pet owners by investing in people and communities – and that makes all the difference.
“By building capacity for animal advocates in our own neighborhood, we increase animal wellbeing across the east side pet district and beyond,” says GPG executive director Alisha Vianello. GPG works to address the root cause of pet homelessness and pet overpopulation by providing progressive and affordable programming for pet owners, including having one of the few low-cost medical clinics in the country.
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Photo courtesy of Gateway Pet Guardians
The organization offers free spay and neuter services, affordable vaccines and a full range of veterinary medical services priced so that people in the community can afford them. The team also does weekly community outreach to offer supplies and services to pet owners who might be struggling to keep their pets.
Another key to GPG’s success is its barrier-free foster and adoption approach. Traditional barriers can include everything from references and veterinary checks to home inspections and fences. GPG removed these five years ago, resulting in double their adoption numbers.
“We believe that everyone deserves the love of a pet regardless of their income level,” Vianello says. “And every pet who gets adopted or goes into foster care means that we can make space to save another life of a pet in need.”
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Photo courtesy of Gateway Pet Guardians
To Vianello and the team behind GPG, this service means they’ve witnessed the transformative power of compassion and advocacy. From this comes gratitude, which only inspires them to continue working with greater dedication and innovation to make a bigger difference in the lives of pets and people for 20 more years and beyond.
“This anniversary is a testament to the enduring commitment of our volunteers, staff, donors and supporters who have worked tirelessly to make a difference in the lives of pets and people alike in our area,” Vianello says. “It’s a reflection of the countless lives we’ve touched and the animals we’ve saved.”
Gateway Pet Guardians, 725 N. 15th St., East St. Louis, 618-687-8007, gatewaypets.org
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Photo of Mandy Kirleis and her husband (seen at left) courtesy of Gateway Pet Guardians