Volunteer veterinarians provide free clinic for pets of Asheville’s homeless population

Volunteer veterinarians welcome pets of Asheville’s homeless, at-risk population for free clinic

ASHEVILLE –

For nearly a year, a blue nose American Staffordshire terrier named Smoke has been by the side of his human companion, Reginald Bolden Jr. On April 13, the duo sat together while Bolden finished breakfast and Smoke basked in the sun in the parking lot of the Asheville Buncombe Community Christian Ministry, where three organizations gathered to aid unhoused and at-risk community members: Street Dog Coalition, Asheville Humane Society, and Least of These.

Smoke received vaccination shots from the volunteer team of veterinarians from the Asheville chapter of Street Dog, a Colorado-based nonprofit, that hosts free veterinary clinics for pets of people experiencing or at risk of homelessness. The veterinarian volunteers provide free treatment and resources for pets such as health exams, vaccines, heartworm tests, and parasite preventatives.

Bolden called Smoke his best friend and fought to hold back tears while sharing how Smoke helps him through daily challenges. “It’s hard out here. You’re trying to make it, trying to get by, at the same time trying to live a better life ― not only for myself but for him,” Bolden said. “I swear, this is the best thing that’s ever happened to me. Without him, I feel like I’m … In truth, I need him more than he needs me.”

Street Dog Coalition vet clinic days

Every two months, Street Dog hosts the free vet clinic; the next dates are set for 9 a.m.-noon on June 15, Aug. 10, Oct. 12, and Dec. 14 at ABCCM, 24 Cumberland Ave. The group served the public at Haywood Street Congregation until relocating to ABCCM last March. Street Dog team lead Cat Ashe said the clinic may see 30-40 pets within three hours, and seven to 15 professional veterinarians and other community volunteers may provide services from direct pet care to pet check-in.

“We have a large homeless or at-risk population in Asheville, and a lot of them have pets and a lot of pets act as mental support for a lot of our clients so it’s important that they get medical care, as well,” said Ashe, a veterinarian at Beacon Veterinary Hospital in Swannanoa and relief worker for South Asheville Veterinary Emergency & Specialty.

Mash Hes, Street Dog co-lead and associate veterinarian at Sage Pet Hospital in Hendersonville said part of her motivation for volunteering is public health and protecting pets from disease. She said the free vet clinic services take the burden off owners so they can focus on accessing housing, food, and other necessities. “I want to help take that stressor away from them,” Hes said. “We have a couple of people who come almost every single time we are here with their pets, if nothing else to come and say ‘hi’ and let us see them, which is a wonderful thing, to get that feedback from them that we’re making a difference. It’s good to be here for them.”

Ashe said Street Dog’s local chapter launched in September 2020 amid the COVID-19 pandemic. “A lot of these pets I’ve been taking care of for the last four years of their lives,” Ashe said. Dogs, cats, and other pets are welcome. “We see anything that shows up,” Ashe said.

Pet care and companionship

William Thompson took turns bringing three of his dogs to the outdoor vet stations for their check-ups, including a 4-year-old red nose pit bull-golden retriever mix named B who received medication for itching. Lissa Franks and her chocolate lab puppy, Rolo, have visited the Street Dog and Asheville Humane Society booths where the puppy has gotten his nails clipped, vaccination shots, and a basic checkup. Franks said she struggles with bipolar disorder and post-traumatic stress syndrome and lives by herself. Rolo, whom she rescued a few weeks ago and called an emotional support pet, offers comfort and companionship.

“I want to help the people. I love people and pets and I think it’s good for people’s mental health to have pets,” Ashe said. “Pet care has gotten very expensive. … A lot of people cannot afford health care. They’re homeless themselves and they can’t afford their own medical and dental care, so we provide that for their pets. I like to help people that society forgets about a lot and treats like a stigma.”

Hes said there are challenges and limitations at the pop-up clinic. Street Dog has an emergency fund designated for pets needing advanced care at a traditional clinic for issues like a broken leg, stitches for wounds, or tumor removal. Street Dog welcomes monetary donations, particularly for its emergency fund to provide advanced care to pets, and in-kind donations like new and gently used food, leashes, bowls, sweaters and harnesses, and new socks for human clients. Volunteer opportunities are available.

Community partners

The Asheville Humane Society often partners with Street Dog at pop-up events to offer additional services and resources. On April 13, two staff members fit pets for collars, leashes, and clothing and provided prepackaged bags of food for cats and dogs. Elsa Enstrom, a veterinary technician with AHS, said there’s an increasing need for programs serving homeless and at-risk individuals’ pets in the area.

“There’s been a lot of homelessness and a lot of economic insecurity for some folks, and we want to be here for them,” Enstrom said. “We’ve seen an increase of animals coming to the shelter, and the best way to prevent that from happening is to meet people where they’re at and provide services, so they don’t end up having to give up an animal or an animal doesn’t end up stray and running around.”

Across the parking lot, Liz Loop, director of the nonprofit ministry Least of These, prepared a hot breakfast of bacon, eggs, and hash browns that volunteers boxed up in food containers and distributed to visitors. Loop said the group is on-site every Saturday and provides meals, snack bags, and beverages every Saturday morning outside of ABCCM.

“We love to give back to the community and love on the homeless and provide some of their basic needs,” Loop said. She said 30-50 individuals are served each week, and the organization is 100% donation-based with funds used for food and supplies.