Fort Collins veterinarian honored for work helping Ukrainian war refugees and their pets

Fort Collins veterinarian Dr. Jon Geller, founder of the Street Dog Coalition that cares for pets owned by people experiencing homelessness, has been awarded a top honor by the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, or ASPCA.

Geller received the ASPCA Henry Bergh Award in honor of founder Henry Bergh for his work treating animals at the Ukraine border as Ukrainians and their pets fled following the Russian invasion.

In March, Geller traveled to Romania and spent several weeks setting up and operating a vet clinic at the Romania-Ukraine border with the help of a pair of Romanian veterinarians and local border authorities. The clinic provided refugees with free vet exams for their pets, vaccines, microchipping and the documentation and pet passports needed to keep traveling with them through the European Union, Geller told the Coloradoan in March.

In other cases, Geller said he saw transports come across the border with homeless pets that had been left behind in Ukraine amid Russia's ongoing invasion.

The award, which will be presented at a luncheon in New York in mid-October, is given to people or institutions that have have made significant achievements to save or protect vulnerable animals while exhibiting exceptional leadership, compassion and commitment to the cause of animal welfare in America, said Matt Bershadker, ASPCA president and CEO.

“No one fits that description better than Dr. Jon Geller, whose courageous animal rescue work at the Ukraine border and compassionate work here in the U.S. on behalf of pet owners and vulnerable animals is an inspiration to us all. We’re proud to honor and thank him for his tireless efforts to ensure a safer world for animals in need."

Geller calls the type of care he provides "street medicine" —  it involves a lot of preventive care, like rabies and distemper vaccinations, heartworm prevention and minor medical attention for problems such as parasites or gastrointestinal issues.

Dogs that live outside with their owners are generally healthy, Geller has said, because dogs that aren't well socialized or healthy are not going to make it on the street.

In previous interviews, Geller estimated about 10% of people experiencing homelessness have pets.

For every unhoused person "who has no incentive to get up in the morning because no one cares, they get up to take care of the dog. It gives them a purpose in life," Geller said in a previous Coloradoan interview.

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Their animals provide emotional support, unconditional love and acceptance — something they rarely feel elsewhere. And the animals can provide protection while their owners sleep.

Geller initially self-funded the coalition to help homeless animals, with help from area veterinarians who donated time and supplies such as vaccines. Street Dog Coalition has since achieved nonprofit status and spread to more than 50 cities across the country. For more information, visit www.thestreetdogcoalition.org.

Coloradoan reporter Erin Udell contributed to this report.

Pat Ferrier is a senior reporter covering business, health care and growth issues in Northern Colorado. Contact her at patferrier@coloradoan.com.

This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan: Street Dog Coalition founder honored by ASPCA for work in Ukraine