St. Huckleberry Animal Fund

Wellness Pet Company – Happy Healthy Cat Month

In honor of Happy Healthy Cat Month this September, we chatted with Lori Dover, president and founder of St. Huckleberry Animal Fund, an organization that prioritizes animal well-being in Lake Charles, Louisiana.

Q: You founded St. Huckleberry Animal Fund in honor of your kitten, Huckleberry. Could you tell us about his impact on you and your drive to make a difference? 

A: St. Huckleberry Animal Fund is named in honor of my beloved kitten, Huckleberry.  Based out of my hometown of Lake Charles, Louisiana, the St. Huckleberry Animal Fund mission statement is to provide and promote the humane treatment of all animals by building a global movement to end animal cruelty and a motivating force for good on their behalf.

Q: Can you tell us about your background before St. Huckleberry? 

A: My career background includes art acquisition and R&D (research and development) in creating and bringing to market innovative products in the Pet category that solve real problems for pets and pet parents. Shortly before the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, I debuted an LED technology and Fiber-optic illuminated dog safety leash on QVC. A few months later, my hometown was devastated by 4 historic disasters (in the span of 9 months) which resulted in extreme economic hardship on the human scale, and far worse for animal welfare.  

Q: Since founding your organization in 2021, what moment has stood out to you as one of the most impactful things you have done? 

A: Since there are a multitude of impactful moments during the last 3 years – on a smaller, more intimate scale to a larger one far-reaching in scope – it is challenging to select just one, as everything is interconnected and led me to this moment in time speaking with you during Happy Healthy Cat Month!  Forming a partnership with Wellness Pet Company and other U.S. pet brands and brokering sizable pet food and pet supply donations to give away personally and at the free events has been really meaningful. Meeting pet parents at these free events, as well as online across the country, and learning their daily economic struggles due to the high cost of veterinary care for their furry family members has also been really eye opening.  

Q: How many animals do you think you have helped to date?             

A: It’s rather difficult to provide an exact number for the animals that have benefited from St. Huckleberry Animal Fund thus far, but a fair estimate would be well over 3,000. Unlike some other animal organizations, mine is self-funded, as I do not seek, nor do I require, monetary donations to operate. I find inspiration in the Danny Thomas St. Jude’s Research Hospital for Children and Newman’s Own, founded by Paul Newman, as their mission, values and goals align with mine regarding the business model for St. Huckleberry Animal Fund.  

Q: Now that St. Huckleberry Animal Fund is three years old, what are your goals for the coming years? 

A: The charitable arm of St. Huckleberry Animal Fund is to provide quality pet food and supplies at free events to assist pets in need and their pet parents struggling due to economic fallout.  St. Huckleberry Animal Fund Hospitals offering pet health insurance would be a first in the country and could revolutionize the wellbeing of pets, address the systemic issue of animal overpopulation, as well as provide financial relief to pet parents.  Creating a network of hope and a kinder, safer and brighter world for all animals is the St. Huckleberry Animal Fund mission and common purpose.  It’s the unbreakable bond and true-blue love for all animals that motivates me every single day to fight the good fight. This is one from the heart, pure and simple.  

To learn more, visit https://sthuckleberryanimalfund.org/, and be sure to check out Lori’s feature in Oprah Winfrey’s series, “Women Who Start Things.”