For many people, a dog is more than a pet; they’re a best friend and a light in the darkest of days. So, it makes sense that even those without a home would do anything to keep their beloved furry friend by their side. A California veterinarian, Dr. Kwane Stewart, is helping them do so. For a decade, Dr. Stewart has provided essential veterinary services for unhoused people’s pets, transforming — and sometimes saving — lives.
How the ‘Street Vet’ Got Started
Stewart, who has over 20 years of veterinary experience, started offering free veterinary services to underserved populations while working as a shelter veterinarian in an impoverished area of California. It wasn’t long before he established a mobile pop-up clinic.
In 2019, Netflix commissioned a TV show, “Project Street Vet,” starring Dr. Stewart. The series showcases his work as a traveling, not-for-profit doctor visiting various sites and providing essential services to pets in need, free of charge or judgment.
In 2020, Stewart founded a non-profit organization of the same name.
“During my time volunteering, I’ve experienced some of the most genuine stories of love, compassion, struggle, and hope, and learned a lot along the way,” he said on the Street Vet organization website.
Helping Pets & Encouraging Others To Do the Same
Stewart said estimates indicate about 10 to 25% of unhoused people have a pet.
Veterinary care can be expensive even for financially stable individuals. Even basic services, like flea treatment, can be inaccessible for those with insufficient resources.
“This work has been life-changing and truly inspiring but has also come with many challenges. Some of the pets I come across need treatment, sometimes life-saving treatment, that can be very costly, and it’s hard to say ‘no’ to a pet that’s truly in need,” Dr. Stewart said on the website. “That is why we started Project Street Vet — to shine a light on these stories and encourage others to give back a little, too.”
In addition to Project Street Vet and working as a veterinary consultant for Netflix, Dr. Stewart owns and operates his private practice, Papaya Pet Care.
