Page 51 - eclipse - Autumn 2018

By Imogen Richens
StreetVet originated in London in 2016 and was inspired by the bond between a homeless man, Gary, and his dog Lola.
We are a non-profit, RCVS registered practice providing free veterinary care to the pets of homeless people.
StreetVet Bristol started in December 2017, and there are also teams
of volunteer vets and vet nurses
in London, Brighton, Birmingham, Cambridge, Plymouth, Southampton and Cheltenham. In Bristol there is
a team out and about on Saturday mornings with a backpack of medication and a trolley full of dog food, collars, coats and toys. Every other Thursday evening there is a team outreaching with an organisation called Help Bristol’s Homeless, enabling us to cover a slightly different geographical area.
Our volunteers also visit local hostels to treat animals who live there with their owners. In total we have around 50 animals registered with us, and there are around 30 active volunteer vet nurses and vets. In addition to
the veterinary care we provide on the streets, a number of wonderful local veterinary practices support StreetVet by treating animals needing emergency care, hospitalisation or surgery.
I’ve been volunteering with StreetVet Bristol since February 2018. During this time, I have been struck both by the dedication of the StreetVet Bristol team, who often go above and beyond for the animals and their owners, and by the amazing pet-owning homeless community. The bonds between
the animals and their owners are obvious and it is undeniable how
important these dogs and cats are
to their owners. I’ve heard so many inspirational stories and spoken to so many people who just want to do the best they possibly can for their pets. In order to provide a completely
free service StreetVet relies on the generosity of the veterinary industry and members of the public.
Myself and other RVC alumni make
up some of the StreetVet volunteers.
If you would like to help us continue to care for even more pets on the street there are lots of ideas on the StreetVet website, ranging from information
on how veterinary professionals can volunteer with us, to ideas for raising money and the link to our Amazon Wish List. You can find the details at: streetvet.co.uk/get-involved
CLASSNOTES
RVC alumni volunteer with StreetVet
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