Project Street Vet Expands into Atlanta, GA
Project Street Vet (PSV), a California-based nonprofit public charity that provides free veterinary care, treatment and support to the pets of individuals experiencing homelessness and housing vulnerability, has established a chapter dedicated to serving Atlanta, GA. The expansion is part of PSV’s partnership with Fetch by The Dodo, a leading pet insurance provider, to bring the organization’s ‘no judgment, just help’ model of mobile pet care to more communities throughout the country. Marking PSV’s first expansion beyond Southern California, the Atlanta team will be led by Dr. Kristen Schmidt. Schmidt and her team are off to a fast start, currently treating 60 pets as of October 2022.
PSV was founded in 2020 by Dr. Kwane Stewart, a licensed veterinarian who has worked with pets of the unhoused in the Southern California community for more than a decade. Through PSV, he provides services such as routine exams, vaccines and life-saving surgeries – all at no cost. Fetch supports PSV through financial contributions and community-awareness campaigns, reaching potential veterinary volunteers and donors to further advance PSV’s mission. To date, Fetch has donated more than $50,000 and launched a fundraising campaign on Oct. 1, 2022 through the end of the year, matching donations dollar for dollar up to $101,000.
“We are incredibly proud to support Project Street Vet’s expansion,” said Paul Guyardo, CEO and President of Fetch. “The launch of the Atlanta chapter demonstrates that Dr. Stewart’s unique model of bringing vital health care to pets in need can be replicated nationwide.”
It is estimated that more than 580,400 people are experiencing homelessness in America and that 10 to 25 percent are pet owners, putting the number of pet parents experiencing homelessness in the nation at anywhere from 58,000 to more than 145,000 individuals.
“I started Project Street Vet to address an urgent need and to provide judgment-free care to the pets in our communities that need it most. Our expansion to Atlanta is hopefully the first of many. I look forward to partnering with Dr. Schmidt and thank her for her time and dedication as she leads our efforts in the local community,” said Stewart.
Schmidt has a long history of volunteering with people experiencing homelessness. While attending the University of Florida’s College of Veterinary Medicine, she volunteered at a weekly pet care clinic for clients who were unhoused, where she discovered her passion for helping pets and pet parents in need.
“I am thrilled to join the Project Street Vet team and continue the great work started by Dr. Stewart and Fetch,” said Schmidt. “Our pets are our family, and regardless of someone’s circumstances, I strongly believe that everyone should have access to the pet care they need. I am proud to build a team and extend important veterinary care to those who need it most.”
To learn more about how to donate to or volunteer with PSV, click here.