Instagram story viewer> @markperez> Tagged

Mark Perez

@markperez

1.3K

followers

1614

following

Screenwriter (#GAMENIGHT #ACCEPTED). Cuban. Seminole. Animal ❤️er. Male V.P. of Women United for Animal Welfare. @wufaw_official 501(c)3

POSTS STORIES REELS TAGGED

💛THE STORY 💛 PT 1
a LOT of social media posts about this unhoused woman and her dogs — and unfortunately, what followed was a wave of hate.
People have driven by yelling at her, harassing her and even throwing things — including a glass bottle that shattered where her dogs and puppies walk.
So instead of judging her from a social media post, we decided to go see for ourselves.
We met Griselda, a survivor of domestic violence who had an apartment until May. Since then, she has been living under an overpass with four adult dogs and eight puppies.
We asked if she would let us spay and neuter all of her dogs. She agreed. But also said that five puppies already had homes, so we offered to return the next morning and fix them before they left. But just over 12 hours later, four puppies were gone.
The social media hate had made Griselda afraid to trust people — including us. She didn’t know who was really there to help.
So rather than get angry and walk away, we tried to understand her fear and earn her trust. She came with us and stayed with her dogs while they had surgery.
When we returned, one of the puppies she had given away was there with a man on a bicycle who was clearly in no condition to safely care for a puppy.
We explained to Griselda that this was exactly what we feared — puppies ending up with people who aren’t equipped to care for them.
She agreed to let us take the four remaining puppies and promised to get the other puppy back. Three puppies are still unaccounted for, which breaks our hearts.
Then we asked for Mom.
She said yes — but only if we took Dad too.
Deal. ❤️
She asked for the weekend to say goodbye and promised to keep them safe until we return Monday morning.
We are choosing to trust her the same way we asked her to trust us.
🚨 RESCUE NEEDED MONDAY MORNING 🚨
We need a reputable rescue — or multiple rescues — willing to take Mom, Dad and four puppies, potentially five.

Now we need our rescue friends to help us get this family safe. ❤️🐾

HUGE thanks to @thespayceproject for getting all of the appointments so fast @thestreetvet for covering the costs - YOU ALL SAVED THE DAY !
#spayandneuter #adoptdontshop #rescuedog #streetdogs

376

54

This is Coco. 💔

A few weeks ago, we got a call from The Russ, an SRO in Skid Row where WUFAW has spayed and neutered many of the residents’ pets.

One of their residents was being evicted, and while she was on her way out, staff noticed her 15-year-old dog, Coco, was in distress. She was barely able to hold her head up, walking in circles, filthy with paws full of feces and urine— and needed immediate vet care.

Because of our relationship with the case managers there, they called us and we immediately put Coco in an Uber and sent her straight to the emergency room.

Thanks to our friends at @thestreetvet , who covered her initial ER visit, Coco received the emergency care she desperately needed.

Then we learned that our wrost fears were true:

COCO TESTED POSITIVE FOR METH 😢

From the ER, we sent Coco to one of our incredible veterinary partners, where she has now been receiving care for about a month.

Based on her neurological symptoms, our vet believes Coco may have suffered from chronic environmental exposure to methamphetamine.

While we may never know for certain - there is one thing we do know: Coco had been neglected for a very long time. Her condition did not happen overnight.

Today, Coco is clean, eating, comfortable and safe. ❤️ She has improved, but still has significant neurological issues and a long road ahead. At 15 years old, we don’t know how much time she has left — but whatever time she has, she deserves to spend it being cherished and loved.

And thankfully, she will.

Our amazing vet is willing to care for Coco for as long as she needs, even if that means for the rest of her life.

Coco is just one of the animals WUFAW is currently supporting. Medical care, diagnostics, medications and ongoing support add up quickly, but when an animal like Coco comes to us, we simply cannot walk away.

We want to keep answering the phone and saying, “Yes. Send the dog. We’ll figure it out.”

But we need your help to keep saying yes.

Please donate. Please share. Every dollar helps us be there for the next Coco. ❤️🐾

#wufaw #talkaboutitbeaboutit #lesstalkmoreaction #dogsarethebest

283

38

🎉Little Foot Update ‼️

His surgery went very well @sevillavet where they repaired his broken front leg. The Dr believes he will recover perfectly allowing him to be the happy dog he deserves to be. 🫶🏼

He’s recovering in medical boarding for 3 days but after that we will need a foster!!! 🙏🏼

Thank you @thestreetvet for always helping us with these urgent cases. We couldn’t do it without you.

Please DM us if you can foster.

#wufaw #talkaboutitbeaboutit #fosteringsaveslives #spayandneutersaveslives

65

3

Pringle was abandoned in Skid Row in transitional housing. He was alone and scared in a filthy drug riddled room

Because @corinthian.x immediately said YES to being his foster … he gets a different ending to his story

He is the perfect example why we fight so hard for the ones that are forgotten, the ones that no one sees

Pringle is perfect

There are 100’s of others just like him, waiting to be found

Please keep supporting us so we can continue to show up for them

THANK YOU @shirascottastrof @theanimalrescuemission for making this all possible, your financial support is how we keep going - you are the reason we can say YES

Please welcome 🎉PRINGLE🎉

THANK YOU SO MUCH to @shirascottastrof @theanimalrescuemission for your generous financial support - you always go above and beyond

#adoptdontshop #rescuedogsofinstagram #rescuedog #animalrescue fosteringsaveslives

2k

56

Meet our friend Karley 🐾

After twenty-five years of homelessness, she’s finally got a place of her own.

We met her several months ago when we picked up her four rescue cats to be spayed and neutered—but her story goes so much deeper.

Karley came out as transgender in 2024. Her family and friends didn’t accept it, and disowned her. But her four kitties, rescued off the freeways, loved her unconditionally. They were her whole world. 🐱

She ended up at the Weingart in Skid Row about ten months ago with no hope in sight. She was bullied by other unhoused residents there, and even staff came down on her for having four cats—despite keeping a spotless room, unlike so many others who trash theirs while housing multiple pets of their own.

That’s when we knew we had to step in.

Our dear friend @livandlu guided Karley through the housing system, and got her approved !! Without her, none of this would have been possible.

She got her keys last week, and we moved her and her furry children in on Sunday. 🏡

But she’s starting from absolutely nothing—no bed, no clothes, one pair of shoes.

Her cats saved her life. Now let’s help her rebuild it. 💛

Her Amazon wishlist is linked in our bio with things she needs, or you can donate to our fundraiser so she can buy clothes and essentials herself. Everything goes straight to Karley.

She deserves this.

#wufaw #talkaboutitbeaboutit #donationsneeded #skidrowsurvivor

801

137

Hard to beat an impromptu dance party 🪩

25

4

We got them. 🎉🐾

After four long months of doing everything in our power to get these puppies to safety, they are finally free.

Back in March, WUFAW brought this situation to the attention of the City’s much-publicized “collaboration” between the Mayor’s Office, LAPD, and Los Angeles Animal Services. We provided photos, the owner’s name, the exact location of his tent, and detailed information about what was happening. We were assured the situation would be addressed.

It never was.

So we kept showing up.

We worked to build trust with the owner and the people around him. We discussed spaying and neutering the parent dogs. We offered financial assistance. We offered rewards to anyone who could help us get the puppies to safety. We explored every avenue we could think of.

Nothing worked.

We knew time was running out. We feared the mother would become pregnant again or that something terrible would happen.

Sadly, it did.

The mother pug had another litter and, just two weeks later, was struck by a car and killed.

We immediately asked for her newborn puppies, but they had already been given to someone to bottle-feed. Most of you know how that heartbreaking story ended.

Today, however, is a good day.

The remaining puppies are finally safe.

And that only happened because of one person: the owner’s daughter, Jessica.

The owner was never interested in money. He was never willing to let them go. Jessica is the reason these puppies are alive and out of that environment today.

Jessica, we cannot thank you enough. We are forever in your debt.

Sometimes rescue is not about one dramatic moment. Sometimes it’s four months of showing up, building trust, refusing to give up, and waiting for the one opportunity to finally do the right thing.

Today was that day. ❤️🐾

#WUFAW #RescueWorks #SkidRowDogs #PugRescue #AdoptDontShop AnimalWelfare LosAngelesDogs StreetDogsMatter

497

38

Please explain how this adorable six month old , 7lb, gorgeous girl still hasn’t found her family??!!

We know they are out there we just wish they’d hurry up! 🫶🏼

January is from Skid Row where she lived in transitional housing with a bunch of other animals. She was destined to live a life of hardship and chaos. But we had other plans for her. And now she’s enjoying the good life with her foster mom @irbivor 🥰

However, this girl really wants a family of her own. A family that embraces her spunk and sass and doesn’t care that she’s deaf. Because she doesn’t. Nothing seems to stop her.

If you’re interested in meeting her please apply at the link in our bio 🙏🏼

#wufaw #adoptdontshop #talkaboutitbeaboutit #fosteringsaveslives #spayandneutersaveslives

134

3

📣We were proud to partner with @thestreetvet last week for a wellness day at Skid Row Care Campus.

While their incredible team provided vaccines and wellness exams, WUFAW focused on what we do best — building trust with pet guardians and signing animals up for spay and neuter, the most important step in preventing future suffering.

By the end of the day we had seen 85 dogs and cats belonging to people experiencing homelessness.

We spent hours answering questions, fitting dogs with harnesses and collars, and talking with pet parents about prevention. ‼️

32 dogs and cats are now on our waitlist for spay and neuter surgery. 🙌🏼👊🏼

We also handed out supplies — food, leashes, beds, toys and other basics — to help people care for the animals they love.

The need is enormous and we never have enough supplies. 😫😫😫

If you’d like to support this work, please consider purchasing an item from our Amazon wishlist linked in our bio. 🫶🏽🫶🏽

Every leash, bed, bowl and bag of food goes directly to animals living in and around Skid Row.

Thank you to @obolpaws for always being a great resource, to @loveatfirstmutt for volunteering— and to everyone who helps us keep showing up. 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼

And because no day is complete without a little chaos…

we locked the keys in the van. 🙄

#wufaw #talkaboutitbeaboutit #fosteringsaveslives #spayandneutersaveslives #donationsneeded

102

18

‼️Skid Row is complicated.

There is suffering.😢
There is love.🫶🏽
And sometimes there is abuse.💔

This week we provided spay and neuter surgeries for 14 animals living in Skid Row.

5 cats. 🐱
9 dogs. 🐶

We realized four of the dogs were not having their needs met and convinced the owners to surrender them to us. 🙏🏼

When we see it’s necessary, we do step in and remove pets off the streets.

But stepping in isn’t simple.
It means medical care.
It means securing safe homes — and fosters are harder than ever to find.
It means long-term commitment.

The noise is necessary.📢
Advocacy matters.
But outrage must come with solutions.

Prevention is the solution.
Spay.
Neuter.
Vaccinate.

We have more than 40 dogs and cats on our waitlist for spays and neuters 👊🏼

This work is powered entirely by donations — and the fosters willing to open their homes.

If you want real change, help us fund the next surgeries. 💉💉

Or step up to foster. 🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼

🐾 Donate today. (Link in bio)

#wufaw #talkaboutitbeaboutit #fosteringsaveslives #spayandneutersaveslives #fosteringsaveslives

304

44

Bambi is patiently waiting for her forever family to show up. But she’s losing hope. At just 7 months old she has already suffered enough. Born at a junkyard. Eating dirt and gravel. Even a screw. Had swimmers legs and her “owner” tied her legs together causing even more damage. Spent 6 weeks in boarded rehab and now foster care for over 3 months with @whathefuckali

She’s needs someone to love her despite her minor challenges. She love every dog and cat she meets. Loves kids. People. Loves to play and also a cuddle bug.

If interested in meeting her please fill out the application in our bio.

#wufaw #talkaboutitbeaboutit #adoptdontshop #fosteringsaveslives

115

8

Since launching this program on December 9th, we’ve spayed and neutered nearly 50 dogs and cats 🐶🐱 belonging to people experiencing homelessness and transitional housing in and around Skid Row and South LA.

Many of these animals aren’t visible on the streets. They’re behind closed doors. Inside RVs. In temporary housing.

Through flyers and word of mouth, people are reaching out. 🤝 They’re trusting us with their animals.
And that trust matters.

We now have a waiting list of over 60 more dogs and cats who need help.

Blanket removal of animals isn’t the answer. There is nowhere for them to go. Our shelters are overcrowded and euthanizing puppies. Fosters and adopters are harder and harder to find.

Prevention is the only sustainable solution.
Spay. Neuter. Vaccinate. Microchip. ✂️💉

If we want real change — not just temporary fixes — this is where it starts.
One surgery at a time. One family at a time. One neighborhood at a time.

Our @spca_international grant — along with the help of @caravitafoundation — allowed us to launch this program. 💛 
Those funds are now exhausted, so if you’d like to help us reach the next 60, we would be incredibly grateful. 🙏

Link in bio to donate 👊🏼

#wufaw #talkaboutitbeaboutit #spayandneutersaveslives #donationsneeded #fosteringsaveslives

268

69