In January 2010, Dr Roberts and her staff volunteered to take part in a project aimed at improving the lives of pets belonging to migrant workers in a dismal trailer park outside of Thermal, California.  The community is on reservation land, and pet "ownership" is often casual, amounting to providing limited food for animals that have been dumped by uncaring owners or have otherwise found their way to this impoverished but proud community.  Organizing the effort required coordinating state and country health officials (many of the dogs were covered in ticks, and most were presumed unvaccinated against Rabies and other diseases) with local veterinarians, local animal agencies, and two national animal advocacy groups: The Humane Society of the United States and Best Friends Animal Sanctuary.

Dogs and cats were vaccinated and treated for parasites on our first visit.  A few weeks later we returned for a marathon weekend spay/neuter effort.  Over 200 animals, mainly dogs, were sterilized and then the females were tattooed with an "X" near the incision.  This serves as confirmation to anyone checking in the future that this one was already spayed!

Donations of pet food ensured that everyone would have plenty to eat for at least the near future.

Unfortunately, the van full of equipment that made this effort possible was soon disbanded by the HSUS due in part to budget constraints.  It remains to be determined whether future efforts in this direction will be undertaken in the future.