New Orleans, LA
Our New Orleans team works in unbridled collaboration to raise money for their local chapter of The Street Dog Coalition. To donate to their efforts to provide free veterinary care to pets of people experiencing homelessness in New Orleans, click here.
Team Leads:
Rita Akers, DVM
I went to vet school at Colorado State University, which is where I met and worked for Jon Geller, the founder of The Street Dog Coalition. After graduation I served as a public health officer in the US Air Force and then returned to clinical practice when I left the military. I currently work ER in New Orleans.
Kris Guffa
I am a Licensed Veterinary Technician with nearly 30 years of experience in specialty and emergency medicine and currently serve as the Clinical Education Specialist at a specialty hospital in Mandeville, Louisiana. I work clinically with a focus on veterinary anesthesia and analgesia while also supporting technician education and mentorship.
I am honored to serve as a co lead for the Street Dog Coalition’s New Orleans team, where I help support outreach efforts that improve access to veterinary care for pets in underserved communities. This work reflects my commitment to compassionate care, health equity, and strengthening the human–animal bond.
Partners & Resources:
Harry Tompson Resource Center
The Inner Pup (TIP)
Louisiana SPCA
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