Boyle Heights man helps feed homeless animals – NBC Los Angeles
Making a distinction in an animal’s life may appear to be a easy bowl of water, some kibble and even a toy.
Omar Martinez, a Boyle Heights resident, began providing meals, water and toys to homeless canines a few months in the past. He shares the movies of those encounters on social media the place he is called Meta Meal Drops.
Martinez, who has two canines of his personal, stated he by no means owned a pet earlier than his canines.
However when one among his canines developed a well being situation, inflicting its again legs to not work correctly, he stated he realized much more about what it takes to take care of a pet.
After talking to a vet and getting his canine some dietary supplements, he grew to become vigilant of different canines he got here throughout on the street, generally noticing the same limps his canine skilled.
“I’d really feel so unhealthy as a result of most of them have been on the street, homeless folks, so almost certainly they don’t find out about it. Or even when they do, these gummies are sort of costly,” Martinez stated. “And I used to be like, ‘Oh my God, I want I may do one thing.’”
Whereas driving round sooner or later, Martinez stated he got here throughout a girl whose canine appeared to have points with its again legs. He approached the lady and alerted her that her canine was virtually dragging its legs.
“I’m not the kind of particular person to inform folks what to do with their pets, however I felt so unhealthy as a result of I don’t know if she was conscious or not,” Martinez stated.
In hopes of serving to the lady and her canine, Martinez bought some joint dietary supplements to supply to the lady, however stated he by no means discovered her once more. He stored the dietary supplements in his automotive in case he encountered another person who may have them.
That’s when he started brainstorming methods he may provide some assist to different homeless canines in want.
“Nicely, aside from the dietary supplements, what about if I give them a complete meal? What about in the event that they haven’t ate?” Martinez stated he thought to himself.
Martinez started planning and out of his personal pocket, bought kibble, disposable bowls, water bottles and canine toys.
He created a setup in his trunk, and whereas driving round on breaks throughout his work day, he would spot homeless canines and their homeowners who may want some assist.
“Ever since I used to be a child, I’ve been an individual that feels so much for folks,” Martinez stated. “If I see someone going via a tough time, I attempt to assist.”
Though some homeowners have been a bit skeptical at first, Martinez says their faces instantly modified as quickly as he opened his trunk.
“I really feel like they get stunned, they don’t know if they need to settle for it or not,” Martinez stated. “I don’t understand how many individuals really provide to assist them.”
One specific video that garnered him consideration was a canine named Maya, who he noticed a few occasions on the road and was capable of provide her proprietor some water and pet food.
Martinez stated that video, which has over 400,000 views on TikTok, is what prompted different social media customers to succeed in out to him through messages, movies and feedback and start asking him how they might help.
“Since I used to be getting all this consideration I sort of needed to make it like a workforce factor,” Martinez stated. “I by no means had that in thoughts of donations. I simply didn’t really feel good taking cash from folks.”
As an alternative, he determined to arrange an Amazon wishlist the place folks might help buy provides for his trunk setup.
“I nonetheless really feel unhealthy regardless that I’m nonetheless doing this as a result of I do know it’s not a lot. I want I may change their entire scenario,” Martinez stated. “Particularly the canines, get them inside a house, not within the streets.”
“I may see the little modifications. I’m not saying I made it good for them, however I may most likely present a pair meals. I may make their days good for the subsequent couple days, subsequent couple weeks,” Martinez stated.
Martinez added that he additionally hopes his movies assist encourage others to assist even in small methods like a little bit of meals.
“I want I may change all the pieces to their entire scenario, however I can’t,” Martinez stated. “That’s why I do it, to be like, ‘Okay I did one thing to assist, not less than one thing small however I did one thing.’”
