HSPPR receives $100K grant to address lack of veterinary care in excluded communities
Many communities have been left out of the veterinary care services altogether due to rising costs combined with geographical, cultural, and other barriers. While many American households include pets, access to basic veterinary services has not kept pace.
'Pets are universally considered important family members and keeping them together requires resources that are often missing,' HSPPR wrote. 'This is particularly felt in many underserved communities where not only cost, but geography and systemic inequities have left veterinary care beyond reach.'
In 2023, PetSmart Charities committed $100 million over the next five years toward improving access to veterinary care. The grant focuses on historically excluded communities, according to HSPPR, many of which lack access to community supports, including veterinary services.
HSPPR was chosen to receive a grant to address barriers in accessing veterinary care in East Side Pueblo.
'HSPPR is excited to partner with PetSmart Charities and the East Side Pueblo community on this innovative initiative, which will help identify the community's most pressing pet care needs,' said Lisa Johns, HSPPR Director of Veterinary Services. 'HSPPR will work alongside community members and local partners to fill those gaps, with the ultimate goal of bringing additional resources, including affordable access to veterinary care, to the people of East Side Pueblo.'
The grant is designed to give veterinary organizations a one-year runway to build relationships with and deepen their understanding of their partner community.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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New York Post
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Chronic stress impacts the immune cells in the brain, according to a 2025 study in Biology. But that's not all: Chronic stress 'can make your chromosomes look 10 to 17 years older than your biological age," says Esther Sternberg, MD, a physician, research director of the Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine, and author of Well at Work, Creating Wellbeing in Any Workspace. This accelerated chromosomal aging means that your body doesn't repair itself as well as it should, making you more vulnerable to diseases like cancer and making your body feel older than the number on your driver's license. Before you freak out that your doomscrolling and deadlines are messing with your immune system and adding a decade or more to your body, remember that you can't—and wouldn't want to—eliminate stress from your life entirely. A dose of stress is what keeps you on your toes when you need to perform a task, and keeps you aware of your surroundings when you're walking home late at night. You just shouldn't be living your life 24/7 like you're trying to land a plane. Fortunately, all the things that you already do—or try to do—to keep yourself healthy will also help lower stress and, in turn, maintain your immune system and keep inflammation at bay. Think: good nutrition, rest, regular physical activity, and stress management exercises like meditation, mindfulness, or therapy. Best of all, these things all work really well together, like an Avengers team for your body. Catch Enough Zzzz's It's boring but it's true: 'Sleeping is really important for good health,' says Dr. Sternberg. During sleep, your body is working hard to repair itself, and your brain is washing out waste, setting you up for success when you wake up. Sleep actually controls the production of cells that are the drivers of inflammation, according to a 2022 study in the Journal of Experimental Medicine. Getting enough sleep means that less of these cells are floating around. So skip the caffeine later in the day, limit screen time before bed, or at least get some blue light filtering, and stick as closely to a regular bedtime as you can. Feed Your Anti-Inflammation Defenses There are countless reasons to ditch processed and fast foods, limit alcohol consumption, and eat a colorful, whole foods-based diet, and most of them will lead you straight back to reducing inflammation. The right foods can help maximize your heart health, lower your risk of type 2 diabetes, calm your stomach issues, and more. A great place to start is by introducing more fiber into your day. 'One statistic that is troubling is that 95 percent of Americans have a fiber deficiency,' says Dr. Ravella, 'Fiber is one of our most anti-inflammatory nutrients, and we want to go even beyond the recommended daily allowances (about 28 - 38 grams for adults) to prevent and to manage inflammation.' Fiber can affect every part of the immune system, whether directly or through the gut microbiome, she says. Want even more info on how to fight inflammation through your diet? Check out the Women's Health+ Anti-Inflammatory Diet Guide. Sweat It Out Among the many benefits of exercise, it can help lower the bad kind of inflammation while it promotes the good kind with muscle repair. 'We have many clinical trials across age groups that point to the ability of regular exercise to decrease chronic, low-level inflammation,' Dr. Ravella says. Its positive effect on inflammation isn't just because it can result in fat loss; exercise lowers the number of inflammatory proteins released in the body, she explains. It might even impact your gut microbiome, which plays a role in reducing inflammation. 'When it comes to exercise and inflammation, it's not primarily about the numbers on the scale, it's about realizing that exercise can affect hidden inflammation in the body regardless of body type or weight loss,' Dr. Ravella says. Consistency, as always, is key, so lean into the activities you enjoy. And if it's your thing, invite a buddy to the gym or on your morning run, to add an immunity shot of social connection to the package. Healthy relationships help build healthy immune systems, boosting your mental health and helping minimize your risk of inflammation-related conditions like Alzheimer's and heart disease. But Don't Sweat It Go easy on yourself when making lifestyle changes. "One of the problems with people trying to help themselves and reduce stress is if they can't, then they feel they're a bad person, they're guilty, or they failed," says Dr. Sternberg. "That's even more stressful." If you're feeling overwhelmed, start by targeting one thing, preferably the issue you struggle the most with, whether it's getting enough sleep or finding a workout that works. Allow yourself space for trial and error, and don't get discouraged. Building healthy habits takes time and some effort, but you've got this. After all, you've already got a whole army inside of you, and when you treat it right, it's fighting on your side. You Might Also Like Jennifer Garner Swears By This Retinol Eye Cream These New Kicks Will Help You Smash Your Cross-Training Goals
