What we do
Expert veterinary care, protecting lifelong companionship
StreetVet helps those experiencing homelessness care for the pets they love - because no one should have to choose between their best friend and a roof over their head.
How we operate
We do two things that work best together:
1. We deliver free accessible veterinary care and ongoing support
StreetVet volunteer vets, vet nurses and support volunteers work alongside outreach and homelessness support services to provide the same care you’d expect in a veterinary practice—but in places individuals experiencing homelessness trust and can actually access.
Outreach clinic support can include:
General health check consultations and clinical treatment
Vaccinations, microchipping and parasite treatment
Preventative medicine
Prescription medications and follow-up veterinary support
Advice and reassurance - sometimes just taking the time to listen
Provision of food and daily pet essentials
Pet owner education
When a person and their pet experiencing homelessness are unable to access one of our outreach clinics, or when a pet requires treatment beyond what our volunteer-led clinics can provide, we work with trusted veterinary practices across the UK to ensure each pet receives the diagnostics, treatment and care they need.
2. We help homelessness services become pet-inclusive - keeping people and pets together
We don’t just treat pets, we help to remove the barriers that prevent those experiencing homelessness with their pet access the support services they need.
Our accreditation scheme supports hostels, day centres, temporary accommodation providers and other homelessness services to welcome pets safely, confidently and responsibly, so people can access the shelter and support they need without having to give up the animal they love and rely on.
Why it matters:
Too often, those experiencing homelessness face an impossible choice between seeking help and staying with their pet. By enabling homelessness services to become pet inclusive, the scheme helps people access vital support while ensuring their pets receive the veterinary care they need and deserve. Keeping people and pets together allows owners to focus on rebuilding stability and moving forward.
Proof point:
Since StreetVet began, we’ve supported 3,500+ pets, delivered 14,500+ outreach consultations, helped 500+ pets and owners through the StreetVet Accredited Hostel & Day Centre Scheme.
What we do
Delivering StreetVet Care
Every outreach clinic or hostel visit is delivered by a minimum of two trained StreetVet volunteers providing safe, practical, reliable, and compassionate veterinary care.
StreetVet teams deliver our outreach services in three core ways:
Static Outreach: A consistent, fixed location on a set day and time, providing a dependable point of contact for pet owners experiencing homelessness. Often delivered in partnership with trusted local organisations - such as soup kitchens - whose insight and relationships help us connect with eligible service users. These partnerships strengthen our reach and ensure pet owners know exactly where and when to find us.
Walkabout Outreach: Taking care directly into the community. These sessions complement our static outreach clinics, enabling volunteers to engage proactively with those experiencing homelessness. By following routes where we are likely to meet both new and familiar pet owners, we reach individuals who may not attend a fixed location but still need veterinary support for their pet.
Hostel & Homelessness Support Service Outreach: Our teams sometimes visit hostels or other homelessness support services to provide veterinary care. Working closely with staff or volunteers at each pet-inclusive facility, we ensure pets receive the care they require while protecting the vital human-animal bond.
In Practice Support: For any treatment we cannot provide during an outreach clinic, we arrange and fund appointments with trusted local veterinary practices - including procedures such as neutering, dental work, removal of lumps, and any other necessary veterinary treatment or surgery, ensuring every pet receives the full care they need and deserve.
Outreach clinics
Street-level outreach is where StreetVet began, and it’s still at the heart of our service.
Our teams of volunteer vets, vet nurses and support volunteers are out in communities weekly, delivering free, accessible veterinary care to pets belonging to those experiencing homelessness across the UK.
What you can expect at outreach:
A warm, non-judgemental welcome
Practical clinical care in a community setting
Access to daily pet essentials
Signposting and support that’s realistic for those experiencing homelessness with their pet
In-practice support through veterinary partners
When a pet needs more than our outreach clinics can provide, our clinical team works with trusted veterinary practices to make sure they have access to the right diagnostics and treatment - without cost becoming a barrier for the owner.
How we support and keep care moving:
Triage and clinical referral from StreetVet's Clinical Team
Funding for diagnostics and surgery where needed
Treatment approvals and estimates to ensure charitable funds are used responsibly
Practical logistics (like transport to support owners to get to vet appointments where necessary, or in certain circumstances)
Ongoing support on a case-by-case basis for the pet owner, volunteers and partner practice
24 hour Out-of-Hours guidance and support for registered StreetVet patients via a dedicated freephone 0800 number
Why it matters:
This keeps treatment pathways moving, so pets get the veterinary care they need, whilst protecting the vital human-animal bond.
Out-of-area support
If an eligible client is not near an outreach clinic location, StreetVet can still be contacted for guidance and next steps.
Who’s eligible:
StreetVet supports people of no fixed abode, including those sleeping rough, using shelters or hostels, living in tents/cars, in short-term squats, or sofa surfing.
Important to know:
StreetVet is not an emergency service. We respond as quickly as possible during our working hours of Monday to Friday, 9:00am to 5:30pm.
StreetVet cannot offer fostering or rehoming
If you have urgent welfare concerns, you should contact the relevant animal welfare authority. More information is provided in the FAQ section on our 'Veterinary Care at StreetVet' page.
StreetVet Accredited Hostel & Day Centre Scheme
We are helping to create homelessness services that say 'yes' to welcoming people and their pets together.
No one should have to choose between a safe place to stay and access to the support they need, or their pet.
Through our Accredited Hostel & Day Centre Scheme, we help organisations become pet-inclusive, opening the door to accommodation, support services and a pathway to independent living.
Together, we're ensuring those experiencing homelessness together with their pet can access the help they need without leaving their beloved companions behind.
Want to support StreetVet where you live?
Volunteers are vital to delivering StreetVet’s service. Whether that’s at outreach, supporting the central staff team, or helping deliver pet-inclusive accommodation and support services through the hostel and day centre scheme.
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