‘Street Vet’ Gives Free Medical Care To The Pets Of Homeless People

Exact figures are impossible to come by, but there are hundreds of thousands of Americans sleeping rough every night, often in large urban centers.

For many homeless people, having a pet like a loyal dog can help ease the sting of being homeless. Unfortunately, it's as hard for these people to get medical attention for their pets as it is to get medical attention for themselves.

Known as the 'Street Vet', Dr. Stewart is performing veterinary work as he makes his way through school. For the past few years, he's helped the homeless people of California with their pets.

Dr. Stewart was named as GoFundMe's Hero for February 2020. He was recognized for his tireless work to keep pets healthy. This, in turn, is good for the mental health of the pets' handlers.

After the housing crisis hit Modesto, California, Dr. Stewart (who was working as a county vet at the time) noticed how many people had become homeless. He also noticed how many of them had to surrender their pets.

“About 25% of our homeless population own a pet, and I knew that if I set up a table at a soup kitchen I could help a small group of animals,” he said. “So that’s what I did. I called over anyone who was holding their pet and told them I’d take a look and vaccinate or treat their pet if I could.”

After realizing how many homeless people had pets, Dr. Stewart soon worked visits with the homeless population into his regular routine. He took his vet bag to encampments to ask if anyone needed help.

Expanding his practice outside Modesto, Dr. Stewart soon started helping up and down the west coast.

When you give back, there is something you get in return that feels much larger," he said. "I knew I wanted to keep doing it."

While it cost little more than his time to help with small ailments, Dr. Stewart soon found that he couldn't cover the costs of more invasive procedures, some costing tens of thousands of dollars.

You can find the fundraiser here. It's been an enormous success so far, raising tens of thousands of dollars to help California's animals in need.

Pets give much-needed support to homeless people. “Their relationship is on a totally different level,” said Dr. Stewart. “I can’t tell you how many times people told me their animals are their reason for getting up in the morning.”

Let us know your thoughts on this story, and share your stories about special veterinarians, in the comments section! Also, be sure to check out Dr. Stewart's GoFundMe.