Program areas at Gateway Pet Guardians
Intake, Shelter, Foster and Adoption Programs: GPG takes in stray and surrendered animals from residents in the East Side Pet District. These include East St. Louis, Cahokia Heights, Washington Park and Fairmont City (zip codes 62201- 62207). GPG partners with the local animal control facility, St. Clair County Animal Services to intake animals as well as intakes directly from individuals. Roughly 80% of the animals in GPG care were in foster homes in 2023, which greatly expands GPG's animal intake capacity and provides a secure home for the pet while they await adoption. In 2023, GPG adopted out 1,076 dogs and cats, transferred 10 to partner organizations and returned 92 back to their families. GPG utilizes volunteers in a variety of positions to save funding to help more animals. In 2023, volunteers gave 14,400 hours of service which saved the organization over $360,000 in labor expenses.
Rescue Bank, now known as the Goods Program, is a partnership with the Greater Good where GPG purchases low cost pet food and supplies and distributes to other rescues and our community. In 2023, GPG warehoused and distributed 609 tons of pet food and litter to other rescues.
Community Program: At GPG, we firmly believe that every family should be able to have the companionship of a pet even if they have financial restrictions. In 2023: 751 owned pets were and community cats were spayed/neutered at no cost to the owner, 1,445 pets received free or low cost life-saving vaccines and 620 pets received free or low cost microchips. In addition, over 450 owned pets received medical care. GPG started an affordable grooming spa at the end of 2021 and 2023 was the first year that GPG employed a full-time groomer, resulting in over 1,500 dogs receiving affordable grooming. GPG also has a low-cost pet supply store where pet owners can purchase pet food for 35 cents per pound and get much needed supplies for their pet for an affordable price. GPG has become a community partner providing services that were previously never provided in East St. Louis and provides them at a a price that is affordable and attainable for pet owners in need.
Other programs