Recently, on All My Children Wear Fur Coats, Daria Tavana conveyed the significance of the human-animal bond, and explained how The Street Dog Coalition is working to provide accessible healthcare to pets of people experiencing homelessness.
Daria Tavana is the Development Director of The Street Dog Coalition, an organization that hosts pop-up street clinics in over 60 cities throughout the United States. Volunteers including veterinarians, vet techs, and social workers contribute to the clinics by providing complimentary services like vaccinations, spay/neuter vouchers, and other preventative health measures. The Street Dog Coalition also educates its clients on the best ways to care for their pets, in consideration of local weather and the animal’s individual health needs.
The Street Dog Coalition’s efforts aren’t limited to one country. They recently partnered with Worldwide Vets to provide support to pets in Ukraine. Dubbed “Operation Ukraine,” the project afforded free healthcare to pets who were abandoned or injured as a result of the Russo-Ukrainian War. The Street Dog Coalition also assisted individuals in obtaining up-to-date medical records for their pets so that displaced Ukrainians could travel across the country’s border and not be forced to leave their pets behind.
Daria refuted the stigma that individuals experiencing homelessness should not keep or have pets because they are unable to care for them properly. She admitted that she originally agreed with this ideology, but her experiences with the Street Dog Coalition shifted her views. She pointed out that many individuals are closer to homelessness than they realize, just one unfortunate circumstance away from losing their homes. Daria wagered that individuals without a roof over their head deserve to experience the human-animal connection and can benefit from it greatly. She also indicated that most of the animals that come through her clinics are extremely well cared for, since people experiencing homelessness often prioritize the wellbeing of their animals above all else. She called attention to the systemic issues that create difficulties for pet owners experiencing homelessness. Many shelters are unwilling to house pets, making it difficult for these individuals to obtain housing or attend a job interview.
Daria explained that The Street Dog Coalition practices a One Health approach to veterinary care. Since pets can carry infectious diseases that may be transmitted to humans and other animals, providing individuals with accessible pet health care creates a safer community for all.
To learn more, or to become a volunteer, visit TheStreetDogCoalition.com or Facebook.com/TheStreetDogCoalition
Please don’t neglect to protect your loved pet with a Pet Trust! Visit ACT4Pets.org for more information.
