About Gateway Guardians

PJ Hightower started feeding dogs in East St. Louis, a very impoverished neighborhood in Illinois, in 1995 on her way to her sister's house. She began going on a regular basis from there and has not missed one single day since 2001. The dogs rely on PJ, waiting for her car every morning. They come running at its sound and most come straight up to her car door as she stops. She not only feeds, but medicates, domesticates and rescues when we have a home that will take one in.

A small group of people decided to form Gateway Pet Guardians around PJ's efforts in 2004. Gateway is fast growing and excited about what the future holds for the stray dogs of the East side. Or hopefully lack there of.

When we pull a dog, we give it veterinary care and put it in a foster home where it can learn to live as a dog should live and be loved. We find that with our "virtual" shelter system, the dogs tend to have better outcomes in their forever homes. Although we are saving to build a shelter, we still plan to keep our dogs in foster homes as often as possible.

We are a small group of people devoted to solving the homeless dog population in East St. Louis through education/outreach and spay/neuter programs. We would love your involvement!

Mission Statement

Gateway Pet Guardians is dedicated to rescuing homeless pets in the St. Louis area, getting them great veterinary care, and finding them forever homes. We are a virtual shelter with all of our pets waiting for adoption in the care of volunteer foster families. Gateway Pet Guardians is a 501c(3) tax-exempt organization. Donations are always greatly appreciated and are used to provide veterinary care for our foster pets, some of whom have been badly injured by automobile accidents, cruelty, neglect, or life on the street. Donations are tax-exempt to the extent allowed by law. Please consult your tax advisor for information specific to your tax situation.

Coming Soon

Gateway Guardians: A Documentary