June 23 was a hot and humid day in Austin, Tex., but no one at The Street Dog Coalition pop-up veterinary clinic, held in conjunction with the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) Convention, seemed to be bothered by the sweltering heat.
As the AVMA event buzzed at the Austin Convention Center, a team of veterinarians, veterinary technicians, students, and other volunteers were a short walk from the venue providing free preventive care to 38 dogs and two cats between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.
A team effort
A nonprofit organization that started in 2015, The Street Dog Coalition provides free veterinary care and related services to pet parents/owners facing, or at risk of homelessness. This dedication shone through in Austin, where four outdoor veterinarystations offered preventive care check-ups, and another one offered rabies certification, and several more provided food, water, administrative assistance, and vaccines.
Cheerful volunteers—veterinarians, vet techs, vet assistants, students, social workers, human healthcare professionals and human-animal bond advocates—stood in these make-shift tents, treating animals, educating pet parents, providing microchips, testing for heartworms, and distributing vouchers for spaying/neutering.
A growing community
When The Street Dog Coalition began its journey, it only had one team in Fort Collins, Colo. In the past decade, it has grown into a national nonprofit, with teams in more than 60 cities across the U.S. The coalition’s four core values are unconditional love, compassionate activism, unbridled collaboration, and trust.
Katrina Weschler, the nonprofit’s executive director, says preparation for the special clinic in Austin had been underway for weeks. “We’ve reached out to community partners to spread the word. Throughout the afternoon, we’re providing pet exams, vaccinations, medications, lunch, and backpacks with supplies for pets and owners,” says Weschler. “We want these phenomenal pet parents to feel appreciated and supported because their pets are loved and well cared for. Our team is here on the ground to provide the care they may not otherwise be able to afford.”
Hilary Wheeler, DVM, medical director of The Street Dog Coalition, says volunteers for the special clinic in Austin arrived from different clinics across the country. “Veterinarians, vet techs, vet assistants, practice managers, reception team members are among those who have volunteered their time in the Austin heat to help as many animals and their people as possible,” she states.
“They clearly adore their dogs. Some of the dogs are even better behaved than my own!,” says Laura Chemault, a veterinarian from San Antonio, Tex. and a volunteer at the rabies certification station, about the beneficiaries. “It’s evident they love their dogs but lack the means to care for them, which makes the services provided by the Coalition invaluable,” adds fellow volunteer, Francesca Meredith, a certified practice manager from East Dallas, Tex “Often, their pets are what keep them going,” Dr. Wheeler says the team’s work is “all about caring for lives on both ends of the leash”. The nonprofit “looks at the leash as a lifeline” and promises to deliver “services with compassion and kindness, devoid of judgment or conditions.”
“We’ve had tears of gratitude. One woman insisted on giving us $2, all she had, to support our work. These are the experiences we have at every clinic,” Wheeler tells Veterinary Practice News. “She got her vaccine today and they gave us a voucher to get her spayed, since that’s important. They took care of her, gave her medicines for heartworm and fleas. The care she got was just amazing,” says another happy pet owner.
Weschler says street clinics are a highlight for them every year and appreciated the AVMA’s support. While the clinic was set up just for the day, The Street Dog Coalition’s work does not end with it. The nonprofit’s Austin team ensures the animals which were treated receive follow-up care in the subsequent months.
A One Health approach
The clinic was also the site of Hill’s Pet Nutrition, announcing a new partnership with the Street Dog Coalition. The partnership allows the coalition to distribute essential oral health and hygiene products and Hill’s pet food to the communities the organization serves, furthering their One Health approach recognizing the interconnection between people, animals, plants, and the shared environment.
“Working with The Street Dog Coalition fits perfectly with Hill’s focus on transforming pets’ lives through science-led nutrition and Colgate’s purpose to reimagine a healthier future for all people, their pets and our planet,” says Karen Shenoy, DVM, U.S. chief veterinary officer for Hill’s Pet Nutrition. “Our partnership is about more than distributing pet nutrition or essential health and hygiene products. It’s about empowering pet parents who are experiencing homelessness or at risk of experiencing homelessness, to help them keep themselves and their pets healthy so they can enjoy more time together.”
At the pop-up, Hill’s provided free food and dental kits for pets, Western Veterinary Partners brought food for owners and any visitor who stopped by, Merck Animal Health provided core vaccines, heartworm prevention, flea tick, and more.
Another highlight of the event was The Street Dog Coalition’s new RV—donated by ElleVet Sciences, a legacy sponsor—which was unveiled at the clinic. The vehicle extends the coalition’s reach to rural communities who have little to no access to veterinary care facilities.