Pulse - May 2023 - 11

Dr. Prupas notes. " The veterinary social workers talk to the
families to find out what other issues they're facing, because if
they are having problems paying for veterinary care, there are
probably other issues going on in their lives as well, " he says.
Ronaldo " Joey " Vasquez, DVM, owner of North Figueroa
Animal Hospital, commonly sees clients who have financial
issues or face other barriers. He does what he can to help,
including providing a gold standard of medicine within the
client's budget without compromising the level of care and
outcome. " We have also built strong relationships with organizations
that are willing to help our clients financially, including
AlignCare Los Angeles, " Dr. Vasquez says.
Dr. Vasquez was approached by Dr. Prupas and SCVMA
Executive Director Peter Weinstein, DVM, about participating.
" To be honest, when we were first asked to join AlignCare,
we were already extremely busy at our practice and were not
accepting any new programs or rescue groups, " Dr. Vasquez
says. " However, after being presented with what AlignCare
is trying to do in Los Angeles and speaking with Dr. Michael
Blackwell, director of the Program for Pet Health Equity,
which developed AlignCare, we immediately decided we
needed to help in getting it established in L.A.
" AlignCare is unique in that it attempts to offer solutions by
connecting animal rescue groups, human social services and
veterinarians, " Dr. Vasquez continues. " For instance, if a pet
owner is homeless or has mental health issues, AlignCare will
seek social services to help them, as well as helping their pet. "
Victor Ramirez, DVM, founder and CEO of Los Angeles
Veterinary Center, joined AlignCare Los Angeles for similar
reasons. " It was a program that echoed what we'd already been
doing, " he says. " We've been working with Downtown Dog
Rescue for a long time and working with the community to
help clients who didn't have much money. So, when AlignCare
came into the picture, we thought, this is perfect! It's a
more organized system with bigger outreach capabilities. " Dr.
Ramirez estimates that as many as 10 percent of his client
base will benefit from the AlignCare program.
An Example of Services
Dr. Ramirez recalls a case involving a dog that had a bone
lodged in its esophagus. Ordinarily, such a case would be
referred to a specialist with the proper equipment to remove
the foreign body, but the client could not afford it. Dr.
Ramirez surgically removed the obstruction, but the dog experienced
complications, including pneumonia, and spent a
week in the hospital.
" In that case, we combined everything and heavily discounted
our services, " Dr. Ramirez notes. " We didn't even charge
for the week of hospitalization. AlignCare Los Angeles and
Downtown Dog Rescue helped cover the cost of the surgery. "
Downtown Dog Rescue was instantly drawn to AlignCare's
mission, which meshed nicely with its own, says founder Lori
Weise. " Our main focus has always been on keeping individuals
and families with their pets, and paying for veterinary care, "
she reports. " In 2010 we partnered with LA Animal Services
to begin a program called Shelter Intervention, which assists
PULSE
MAY 2023
HOMELESSNESS:
The Greatest Barrier of All
A
n estimated 25 percent of unhoused people are pet owners,
according to a 2015 report in the journal Child Psychiatry &
Human Development. Unfortunately, due to financial hardship
and other barriers, few unhoused pet owners are able to access veterinary
care when their charges require it.
Dr. Kwane Stewart, DVM, has made it his mission to help this
underserved and frequently ignored population. Popularly known
as The Street Vet, Dr. Stewart walks the streets of Los Angeles
and San Diego providing free medical care to unhoused dogs, cats
and other animals. His advocacy is funded through private donations
and corporate sponsorship, including Fetch By The Dodo.
Through such efforts, Dr. Stewart has been able to establish Street
Vet teams in Orlando, Washington, D.C. and San Francisco.
It's important for society to understand what unhoused pets
mean to their owners, Dr. Stewart says. For many, especially
women, a dog may mean protection and security while living on
the streets. For others, a pet is their last remaining link to society.
" For many homeless people, their pets give them hope, a sense of
purpose and love, " Dr. Stewart notes. " Many of these people are in
crisis mode, and their pet is the last thing that gives them hope. "
Dr. Stewart is not the only veterinarian who has taken to the
streets to help unhoused pet owners. Others have started a similar
outreach, often setting up near homeless encampments or support
centers. In 2020, the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine
started Davis Pet Advocacy and Wellness (PAW): A Clinic for the
Pets of the Homeless, a local satellite clinic of the Mercer Veterinary
Clinic for the Pets of the Homeless in Sacramento. Through
monthly clinics, Davis PAW offers an array of veterinary services to
homeless pets, many of whom have not been seen by a veterinarian
in years, if at all.
" If you look at the published literature on this subject, it is overwhelmingly
apparent how beneficial pets are to the homeless, "
observes Kim Conway, DVM, a veterinarian and graduate of the
School of Veterinary Medicine's Master of Preventive Veterinary
Medicine degree program. " Pets can improve their mental and
emotional health, as well as prevent suicide and decrease drug use. "
- Don Vaughan
http://www.donaldvaughan.com
http://www.tafnc.com
On Twitter: @writerdvaughan
11
http://www.donaldvaughan.com http://www.tafnc.com
Pulse - May 2023

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