Meet the Woman Who Wants to Create a Kinder World for Animals
You could say that for Lori Dover, ensuring that animals receive quality care is more than her passion—it’s her purpose. In fact, she has dedicated her life to putting all animals first. In 2021, Dover founded St. Huckleberry Animal Fund—an organization that prioritizes animal well-being through advocacy, fundraising, and more—in her hometown of Lake Charles, Louisiana, after a few devastating instances of animal mistreatment.
Dover’s kitten, Huckleberry, was the target of a hate crime in 2018; meanwhile, the Covid-19 pandemic and four natural disasters were creating an animal welfare crisis in the Southwest part of the state. (Hurricanes Laura and Delta hit in 2020, plus an ice and snow storm, and a fatal flash flood in 2021—during which Dover rescued a beloved kitten named Lord Sugarplum Puddington, who has since become part of her world.)
“People had been dumping their pet cats in the gully of the Walmart Neighborhood Market on Ryan Street, so for over two years, I fed, rescued, provided veterinary care, and transported these abandoned pets to my network of friends and partnerships outside the city,” Dover tells Oprah Daily. She says that a greater number of extreme weather events are predicted to occur because of climate change, so she promotes the preparedness of both animals and humans.
Below, read more about Dover’s mission with St. Huckleberry Animal Fund.
Can you tell us about your background?
My roots are Southern, and the greatest influence in my life was my mother, also a true-blue animal lover. She believed that the grand essentials of happiness in life are: something to do, someone to love, and something to look forward to. I would like to amend that to include courage. My career background in product innovation is in the pet sector—I debuted an illuminated LED technology, fiber-optic dog safety leash on QVC in February 2019. I will expand and scale up to launch an e-commerce online pet company, Pets R. Family, that will supply quality products, value, and care for animals and their pet parents.
What inspired you to start St. Huckleberry Animal Fund?
The inspiration behind St. Huckleberry Animal Fund was born out of loss and heartbreak. But unfortunately, not uncommon heartbreak to pet parents: My beloved kitten, Huckleberry, was the victim of a hate crime. It fueled me to become more politically engaged and advocate for stronger animal cruelty laws, like a bipartisan piece of legislation, the ACE (Animal Cruelty Enforcement) Act, co-sponsored by four bipartisan U.S. senators. One cannot legislate love, kindness, and respect for animals, but there should be codified laws in place that are enforced, and in the ACE Act, the DOJ will do just that.
What did the organization focus on initially?
The animal welfare crisis unfolding in Southwest Louisiana, resulting from the global pandemic and the four historic disasters that shredded the city. These went without national coverage and a federal aid package for 18 months, until a Wall Street Journal story I pitched went live on February 20, 2022. I reached out to policymakers and civic and industry leadership, and formed partnerships with Weruva, Wellness Pet Company, Newman’s Own, and Dr. Elsey’s, which all generously donated pet food and supplies to my St. Huckleberry Animal Fund welfare mission.
What initiatives or projects are you focusing on at the fund now?
I am laser-focused on launching affordable St. Huckleberry Animal Fund Hospitals in cities, towns, and rural communities across North America. They will provide quality, affordable veterinary care and MASH (Mobile Animal Sterilization Hospital) clinics to remedy the animal overpopulation crisis—and will accept pet insurance, as pet parents now pay their vets more than their primary care physicians. The St. Huckleberry Animal Fund Hospital model will potentially revolutionize the well-being of animals nationally.
What accomplishment are you most proud of?
By creating a network of hope and esprit de corps for these abandoned animals, I am proud and grateful to connect with like-minded professionals in a multitude of sectors, who also believe that one person can make a positive difference and know that together we can move mountains, and transform, improve, and save lives—both animal and human. My St. Huckleberry Animal Fund mission is to make the world a safer, kinder, and better place for all animals through policy change and advanced technological innovation, and to provide and promote the humane treatment of all animals by building a global movement to end animal cruelty.
This interview has been condensed and edited for clarity.
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