Meet Lori Rich

Today we’d like to introduce you to Lori Rich.

Hi Lori, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
In 2012, my teen daughter Shira and I were volunteering for rescues and shelters in Riverside and Los Angeles. We would regularly pass out food to the homeless here in Riverside. One day, we stopped for a couple and they had dogs. My daughter asked me how they got fed if the people had no money. This is when we began including waters and pet treats on our travels. At some point, we began doing this multiple times a week and people were asking for pet supplies. I went on Facebook and shared photos of the people and pets. I asked for what they said they needed and people began bringing or sending the items. A couple of months into doing this, I realized that the pets were not getting spayed/neutered or vaccinated. I asked a few of the homeless if they would let us help with that. When the first person said yes, I got on Facebook and asked for funds to help do that. We were not a 501 (c)(3), at the time so any money given was more like a gift and not a donation. I created another Facebook page and started calling us ‘Taking It To The Streets with Lori and Shira’. I kept a daily diary of where I/we went, what I/we did and posted photos with the commentary. I was trying to remain transparent.

In February of 2013, we had spayed and neutered numerous pets but I felt like we might be able to get better funding if we were a legitimate nonprofit and people could write off donations. In February of 2013, we applied and when it was approved, it dated back to January 2013 so that is when we became official. My daughter went off to college but I continued with the work on my own and grew the charity to where we are today. We have had volunteers over the years to help with some of the free ‘street stores’ and other similar events. We have a small number of dedicated volunteers who work ‘behind the scenes’. Our logo was inspired from a relationship I developed with a gentleman and one of the first dogs I ever met. The man’s name was RobbieB, and the dog was ‘Fluffy’. March 2022 is our ten year anniversary. We have spayed/neutered, microchipped and vaccinated over 1600 cats and dogs. We have licensed most of those dogs so they are legal and we have provided updated vaccinations and licenses for hundreds more. Covid stopped me from having any volunteers do ride along once a week but with the exception of illness or being out of town, I have remained on the streets daily since day one.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Nothing about working with the homeless is a smooth road. Many do not want to spay/neuter and we do not provide any supplies or assistance unless the pet is already spayed/neutered or they allow us to. We put people and pets in motel rooms for two nights after spay/neuter surgery so the pets can begin to recuperate and so they can rest with their people. We have issues with them not having ID’s and criminal records which hinder my being able to assist them the way I would like to. I have been threatened multiple times and accused of doing or saying things I have not. I schedule 6 pets weekly for spaying and neutering and even when I confirm, there are times one or all are no shows. No matter how much I do or give, there are those that get upset because it isn’t enough. The list goes on but the bottom line is that none of it deters me. I am out there trying to educate the homeless about pet responsibility and helping them keep their pets healthier as well as not producing litters that add to pet overpopulation and euthanasia in our shelters.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I have had many jobs over the years and even had an online baking business for a few. The longest job I had was for 30 years. It was a nonpaying job I did for a family member. My children are ten years apart. I was a stay at home Mom for both and volunteered at their schools as well as in the community. Taking It To The Streets with Lori and Shira is something I started at 57 years old. It was not planned but it is my passion and I know all the roads in my past led me here.

Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
The only advice I can give is that this is not work you can learn about by reading books. There is no manual on how to be good with pets or their homeless companions. Compassion is not something that can be taught. If you want to do this, you have to have a ‘thick skin’ and make a commitment to learn from them today and bring the lessons to the future. I once had visions of my charity branching off and being in other cities but they would be missing a very important element and that is me. I feel like I am this charity as the love I have for animals and the devotion I have towards making a difference is what makes me successful at the work and I don’t know how to teach that. I have a two-year college degree which is not much but I feel like I am good at what I do because of who I am and not because of any education. I consider myself self-taught in this field and continue learning daily.

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: www.streetkindness.org
• Instagram: streetkindness
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TakingItToTheStreetsWithLoriAndShira/?eid=ARBqcqE5VBy3qJSyMdfUFRmcN16jrjX1vbZy_n25sU1_UGvSK__-aOd-6_SI4gdGoPrYpU9S1276jr08&timeline_context_item_type=intro_card_work&timeline_context_item_source=805783468&fref=tag
• Twitter: @kinderstreets