What began in 2016 as two vets, Jade Statt and Sam Joseph, and a backpack full of veterinary supplies, has grown into a robust volunteer-delivered organisation, with over 300 vet and vet nurse volunteers, who swap the practice for the pavement in more than 20 locations across the UK, from Glasgow to Cornwall.
Today, StreetVet is an award-winning national charity dedicated to delivering free accessible veterinary care and services to pets belonging to those experiencing homelessness. Motivated by a chance encounter between co-founder Jade and a homeless gentleman with his dog, StreetVet was founded to take veterinary care out onto the streets directly to the people and pets that need it most. Inspired by the importance of the human animal bond, StreetVet’s mission is to keep pets and their owners healthy and together.
StreetVet challenges the negative stereotypes associated with homeless pet ownership every day. Many believe these pets are acquired to increase sympathy and donations. However, the majority of StreetVet’s clients have had their pets long before they became homeless, and the pets stand as a link to happier times. They provide companionship, security, mental health support, warmth and unconditional love. Many clients refer to their pets as family and they enhance their social, physical and emotional wellbeing. Pet ownership can lead our clients to make better life choices such as reducing substance abuse or criminal activity as the last thing our clients want is a custodial sentence that means forced separation from their pet.
But owning a pet on the streets comes at a cost. As well as restricting the mobility of someone who is homeless, owning a pet can often reduce access to soup kitchens, health care, hostel accommodation and associated services.
Imagine being told to choose between a roof over your head or your pet. It is a choice none of us would want to make, but with less than *10 % of homeless hostels accepting pets, it is an impossible choice facing StreetVet clients every day. If they stay on the street, they are labelled ‘Voluntarily homeless’. If they say yes to a hostel place, they are forced to relinquish their only friend. ** Less than 7% of owners would consider giving up their pet in this situation, so the lack of pet inclusive accommodation is helping to perpetuate UK homelessness.
In response to this, in 2020, StreetVet launched our accredited hostel scheme. In 2024 this expanded to also include day centre services, with the sole aim of making it as easy as possible for hostels and day centres to say yes to pets.
The initial response has been very promising and accredited hostels and day centres are beginning to see real tangible benefits of being pet inclusive such as a reduction in homelessness, improved staff and resident wellbeing and financial savings as they are no longer having to fund hotel rooms or Bed & Breakfast style accommodation.
To find out more about StreetVet’s work across the UK or the StreetVet accredited hostel and day centre scheme please visit www.streetvet.org.uk or email hostels@streetvet.org.uk
* Dogs Trust’s Hope Project and Homeless Link statistic
**Singer RS, et al. Psychol Rep. 1995;77(3 Pt 1):851–7
