It Takes a Village
As any pet owner knows, veterinary care is expensive. Caring for a cherished pet with health issues is difficult for anyone, let alone people who are unhoused in a region with close to the highest cost of living in the world. That’s where SFCCC’s Vet SOS program comes in- and we’re spreading the word! Recently, Vet SOS was proud to provide educational presentations to several other local safety net organizations, sharing information on how to access our services, and other resources for free or low-cost veterinary care that can be accessed by unhoused people.
In August, Vet SOS presented to the staff and pet-owning residents of Jerold Commons, a tiny home community for unhoused older adults in the Bayview. In September, we spoke to staff of SFDPH’s Maria X. Martinez clinic and in October, to the social work team at UCSF’s Saint Francis/St. Mary’s Hospital. Finally, in November, we gave a talk at the East Bay SPCA’s inaugural “Human and Pet Equity Summit”.
Medical providers and support staff working in care facilities serving large numbers of unhoused individuals frequently mention that while pets provide great emotional comfort to their patients, the human-animal bond can sometimes also be an obstacle to accessing services for the pet owner. Too often they witness situations like those in which an owner needs surgery but forgoes it because they have no one to care for their pet while they’re hospitalized. Other times a pet needs vaccines to be admitted with their owner into shelter or housing, and they refuse moving indoors until their pet is able to join them. While Vet SOS doesn’t have all the answers, we’ve been working in the field for almost 25 years and have a lot of knowledge about where to start.
We’re grateful for the interest that everyone showed during our presentations and hope the information we provided will help their patients and pets. Our presentations had the added benefit of helping Vet SOS with volunteer recruitment- some participants later spoke with their veterinarian acquaintances, which led to new providers for our program!
Always, our takeaway message is that caring for pets means caring for their people, and vice versa. By bridging human health care and veterinary care, Vet SOS not only improves the health of animals but also the well-being of their owners. We are heartened that so many other organizations share this vision. While Vet SOS can’t meet the needs of every unhoused person and pet in need, we can continue working together with likeminded organizations as a dedicated village.
To support Vet SOS, consider making a donation!
About the Author
Boyd Williamson is the Veterinary Street Outreach Services Program Manager at the San Francisco Community Clinic Consortium.