Determination in the midst of destruction

Thank you to Patterson Veterinary Territory Manager Katie Bean for going above and beyond to aid animals – and the humans who care for them – by organizing a large-scale donation to an animal shelter serving as an evacuation site for animals displaced by the California fires.

Katie, who serves our customers in California’s Central Coast, also owns Creekside Pet Boarding in Arroyo Grande, California, along with her husband, Sean. They mobilized their team at the boarding facility to collect pet supply donations from local vet clinics, medical supply samples from vendors, and additional supplies from the community. They then loaded up their vehicles and made a three-hour trek to drop off the impressive collection of donations at Agoura Hills Animal Shelter.

Besides being special because of their work to take in evacuated pets from the Malibu and Palisades fires, Agoura Hills Animal Shelter is also close to Katie’s heart because it is the place where her animal care journey began, by way of volunteering with them in high school. It is also the organization through which she adopted her first dog. (Her name is Kirra, and she’s 15 years old and still living her best life!)

After reflecting on this initiative, Katie notes, “The fire has hit harder than I thought, as it’s affecting an area I know well. I am so amazed at the outpouring of support from my community, my team, and my family. We collected more donations than I ever expected and I’m thankful for everyone who donated and made this happen.”

Amidst the destruction left in the wake of the fires, we are heartened to encounter stories like these, of individuals and communities coming together selflessly to make a powerfully positive impact!