The non-profit I Stand With My Pack, located in Los Angeles, California, has been focused on improving the lives of dogs in need. ISWMP is determined to take furry friends out of kill shelters throughout L.A. County, rehabilitate them, and eventually, help them find their forever homes.

Fun fact, Lauren and Jason on the Woof Republic team rescued their new dog Sadie through ISWMP this year!

The founder and president of ISWMP, Aleksandra Schiffer, is a Yugoslavian refugee who immigrated to the United States in 2007. During a February 2022 interview with Lauryn Evarts Bosstick of “The Skinny Confidential,” Schiffer shared that she has been “drawn to animals” from an early age. She explained that she decided to establish ISWMP as a way “to strengthen the human-animal bond” and to give a voice to the voiceless. 

“I started with animals on the street, bringing them home, providing them veterinarian care & ended up keeping them all. In fact, I was even in situations where I was protecting them from the individuals who were trying to harm them,” shared Schiffer. “I had volunteered with other organizations, made financial donations and when I saw the cracks in the ongoing efforts of rescues and shelters is when I founded ISWMP. Through the work I had been doing I had created my own pack of fosters, donors, and volunteers that made it possible for ISWMP to do a wider range of work.”

During the interview, the ISWMP founder shared why she believed it is important for dog lovers to adopt, not shop. She explained that she feels that “buying a dog is just continuing the vicious circle of breeding.” She also noted that “a majority of the dogs that [ISWMP] rescue[s] were acquired from backyard breeders.” 

“Now rescuing a dog means helping first & foremost that dog, which probably didn’t have a happy & healthy life before. Secondly helping the rescue community to help continue to do the work. Third, it feeds your soul, which in turn helps that individual become a better person,” stated the animal advocate. 

In September 2020, “Mad Men” actor Jon Hamm adopted an adorable pup named Splash from the organization. The official ISWMP Instagram account uploaded a picture of the “Top Gun: Maverick” star and his canine companion. According to the post’s caption, the dog “was returned twice at the shelter because of his puppy energy.” 

“We rescued him and found him the best home. He lives a fairy tale life now.🦋Happy adoption Splash. 🤍We are over the moon for you,” read a portion of the post.