What started nearly a decade ago with a simple act of rescuing stray dogs has blossomed into a full-fledged operation thanks to community support and tireless efforts by local volunteer organizations.

Mell’s Mutts, founded by Mell Garcia, began as a personal mission to save abandoned dogs in the streets. After rescuing a pair of pit bulls and struggling to find proper resources, Garcia turned her passion into a formal rescue.

“It started me chasing dogs around town, literally, like just finding dogs on the streets,” said Garcia, who now manages a network of volunteers and fosters.

The organization specializes in rescuing dogs, usually with severe medical needs, from broken limbs to cancer survivors like Eddie, a one-eyed dog who received life-saving care. “If we can afford it and quality of life for the dog is is going to be OK, then we definitely will. We’ll jump at that and we’ll help them,” Garcia said.

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Mell’s Mutts relies entirely on donations from local supporters. Community engagement, particularly through social media, has been crucial in covering veterinary costs.

“Everything that we do is 100% donation and that means it’s 100% from people that follow us on social media, from our friends … everybody that truly stands behind us and helps us,” Garcia explained.

In addition to their rescue work, Mell’s Mutts benefits from a partnership with Granville Home of Hope, which has provided a vital safety net for the organization. This collaboration has enabled the nonprofit to extend its outreach and care for more animals.

“Granville Home of Hope has already helped us tremendously because we know that we have kind of have like a safety net to fall back on and so there’s been a lot of dogs and even cats,” Garcia said. “It allows us to be able to pay off our vet bills and they know that we’re good for the money and they allow us to to bring in dogs and put them on credit, I guess you would say.”

“Mell’s Mutts has been a godsend to our community in Fresno,”  Fresno City Councilmember Luis Chavez told GV Wire. “They started working in SE (Fresno) and their operation and love for our doggies and kitties has grown as big as their heart. They treat our furry friends with love, compassion and (give the) care our pets deserve. I named SE Fresno‘s first dog park after Mell’s Mutts because it symbolized what our community is about. It’s about serving and helping our most vulnerable populations and they do just that.”

Local Veterinary Clinics Aide Mell’s Mutts

One of the most impactful parts of Mell’s Mutts’ work is their collaboration with local veterinary clinics, particularly Animal Medical Clinic and Sunnyside Pet Hospital, where they receive ongoing support for major medical cases. “Dr. J has been amazing,” Garcia said, recalling times when she was in tears, begging for help in the clinic’s parking lot. “They never pressure me (about payments).”

Dr. Whitney Janzen, a veterinarian at Animal Medical Clinic, discussed the severe pet overpopulation problem in Fresno and the city’s shelter challenges. She highlighted the importance of spaying and neutering pets, noting that Fresno’s situation is one of the worst in the country.

“I was in school at Purdue in Indiana, and they were actually looking at case studies in my classroom in Indiana about Fresno and how much worse our problems are here than other places and how how terrible the situation has become,” she said.

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Dr. Janzen reflected on her ongoing work with Mell’s Mutts, recalling heartwarming stories of animal rescues, such as saving Franklin from a serious injury and helping Leo, a border collie abandoned in a canal. She praised Mell’s Mutts for its dedication to alleviating the pressure on local shelters, calling Mell’s drive and heart invaluable to the community.

She also addressed the issue of pet abandonment, urging owners to take responsibility for their animals. “When we get an animal, we take a responsibility on as well … it’s cruel. It’s something that can be avoided … these are living creatures that deserve better than that kind of neglect,” she said.

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Garcia emphasized the importance of community involvement, urging residents to consider fostering or volunteering to help with the growing number of abandoned pets.

“We’re in a crisis,” she said. “You can foster, you can volunteer. There’s so many ways, not just by donating, especially in times like this. Foster homes are really needed so that we can save more dogs and there’s a lot of ways to help.”

For more information or to help, donate to Mell’s Mutts at Granville Home of Hope to donate directly to their fund to support ongoing rescue efforts.

(Disclaimer: The president and CEO of Granville Homes, Darius Assemi, is the publisher of GV Wire).