Vet’s mission to treat homeless people’s dogs
you would in a normal consultation. If a dog needs surgery, we can arrange that at no cost.
“Creating a rapport with the homeless and gaining their trust does not happen overnight but, when you get it, you have it for life.
Jade, who graduated from Glasgow Vet School in 2002, added: : “What started as a pilot t scheme started to snowball at an astonishing rate as it became clear there was a national need for this service. I then met vet Sam Joseph, who was doing a simi lar street outreach project in his own area.
“We have 300 vets and nurses volunteering their time in nine cities around England and, so far, we have helped treat more than 450 dogs, a few cats, a snake and even a scorpion. We hope we can do the same and more when we branch out into Scotland.
“If everything goes well, we will launch in Glasgow early next year. We are planning a collaboration with Trusty Paws, who run clinics once a month for dogs belonging to the homeless community.”
Jade, who lives with her husband Adam Scott, 40, and their huskies Innoko and Timber in Hertfordshire, said: “Seeing the strong bond between the homeless and their canine companions is a privilege and drives me on to grow the organisation even further. .”
StreetVet are f inal ists in a competition being run by Animal Friends Pet Insurance, which could see them scoop a prize of £100,000.
Ruby Shorrock, 26, who runs The Trusty Paws Clinic, said: “By teaming up with StreetVet, there will behelp and treatment available to the homeless and their dogs every week of the year.”