Date: May 15, 2025
Story Overview:
When Joye found herself caring for two adult dogs and a surprise litter of eight puppies in a crowded home, she was overwhelmed and facing animal control citations. With support from the PetSmart Charities Access to Care Grant, Pets4Life Louisville provided vaccines, facilitated rescue placement for several puppies, arranged spay/neuter services, and worked with local authorities to find safe, long-term solutions—helping Joye regain stability and ensure a healthier future for her pets.
Story Details:
Joye first came to a Pets4Life Louisville Resource Day in February, clearly overwhelmed. Her older daughter had recently moved in, bringing along her unspayed female dog, Babygirl. Joye already had a male dog, Buddy—and the result was a litter of eight puppies born just two weeks before we met.
Suddenly, Joye found herself caring for two adult pit bulls and eight puppies in a small, two-bedroom home shared with her daughters. With limited resources and no fenced yard, the adult dogs had to be tied outside, and Joye received multiple citations from Louisville Metro Animal Services (LMAS) for improper restraint.
In March, Joye returned to the Resource Day hoping for help. She wanted to ensure the puppies were healthy before being rehomed. Through Pets4Life Louisville’s Puppy & Kitten Outreach, made possible by PetSmart Charities’ Access to Care Grant, we visited Joye’s home to provide DAPP vaccines and dewormers to seven of the puppies.
During our visit, we saw that the indoor conditions were unsanitary and the puppies were at risk. Recognizing that Joye was doing her best but simply overwhelmed, we connected with one of our Mission Partners, Mispits & Friends Rescue. Joye agreed to rehome four of the puppies, keeping one herself and placing another with a trusted friend. That very same evening, four puppies were picked up and taken into rescue, where they’ll receive full care and find loving forever homes.
We also arranged for Buddy to be neutered, and Pets4Life will be making arrangements to get Babygirl spayed. To help Joye comply with local ordinances, our team worked with LMAS to delay enforcement and explore safer containment solutions for the adult dogs, such as a trolley system.
Impact:
Joye’s stress has eased, her household has stabilized, and she now feels empowered, not judged, by the organizations helping her. LMAS, initially seen as an enforcement agency, became a collaborative partner, showing Joye and her family that resources do exist—even within the systems they feared.
Thanks to compassionate, community-centered care—and the support of PetSmart Charities—Joye and her pets are on a healthier, safer path forward.
