Homeless pets get free care

San Francisco-Volunteers from the San Francisco Veterinary Medical Associationlaunched the Mobile Veterinary Street Outreach Service (MVSOS) to treatacute health problems as well as provide preventive medication and treatmentfor pets of the San Francisco homeless.

Unvaccinated and unaltered pets of homeless are at high risk of developingand spreading infectious diseases in the parks and streets of San Francisco.MVSOS provides vaccinations, medical treatments as well as transportationto local veterinary hospitals for more extensive care when necessary. MVSOSuses a van provided by the San Francisco Community Clinic Consortium, anorganization that provides similar services to the homeless themselves.

Dr. Ilana Strubel, head of MVSOS says, "We've treated over 80 animalssince June of 2001 that might never have gotten medical care otherwise."

Strubel adds,"Their pets are often the only family they have andtheir only source of companionship."