Local nonprofit wants to keep your pets safer from predators of all types in the hi-desert
DeAnn Lubell is a writer, publicist, and non-profit president based in Yucca Valley. Also an animal lover, in 2015 she had adopted Amy, a mini Australian Shepherd and Chinese Crested Powderpuff mix, from the rescue organization Loving All Animals. Lubell and her family moved from the Coachella Valley to the Hi-Desert in 2019. On one beautiful Sunday afternoon, shortly after the move, Lubell let her two dogs out into their fenced-in yard: an outing that ended in tragedy.
“I ran in to get a cup of tea for however long it took, two minutes in time to come out. I saw three coyotes over Amy, and they killed her. That was probably one of the most traumatic things that has ever happened in my life.”
Lubell and her family founded the nonprofit Amy’s Purpose in 2020, along with her husband, Jeffrey Clarke, and daughter, Tanya Martin-Yee. Named after their late pup, the organization aims to educate individuals about the dangers posed to pets throughout the desert. These include a variety of animal predators, as well as human theft.
“Don’t trust your six-foot, eight-foot fence. There are different devices you can put on the fence to deter a predator. Our biggest suggestion is not to leave your small pets, especially in the high desert unattended. You have to be with them. Number two, no doggy doors. You don’t want your pet going in and out on its own with not only coyotes, bobcats, owls, hawks, rattlesnakes, and people. We don’t advocate harming wildlife at all. We want your pet to be safe, so you’ve got to be smart.”
About a year after Amy’s passing, Lubell tried to find emergency veterinary care for her American Bulldog, who had injured her leg. She called over ten clinics in the high and low deserts; all were experiencing issues with staff shortages.
“Amy’s Purpose decided to add another mission, and we were able to form a partnership with the College of the Desert PACE program, which offers a course in becoming a veterinary assistant. We decided we would form a scholarship program and award eligible students a full scholarship for this course. Since that time, we have awarded more than thirty full scholarships to locals in the high and low desert.”
One scholarship was awarded to Yucca Valley resident Kaylee Maraveles, who, after taking the course, interned and was recently hired at Companion Animal Clinic in Yucca Valley.
In 2026, Amy’s Purpose plans to expand its scholarship offerings by including a program for prospective veterinary technicians. The organization also aims to extend its reach by hosting educational sessions at high schools, interviewing professionals about pet safety, and interviewing those who have experienced pet loss, or, as they hope, individuals whose animals were saved due to increased awareness and education.
“If you value your dog, you just have to be aware. That’s our motto. Just be aware.”
