Low-income, unhoused pet owners in Stockton can rely on ElleVet Project Thursday, Friday

Hannah Workman, The Record
Updated ·4 min read

Pets are a pillar in many people's lives, and that is even more true for people experiencing homelessness.

That is one of the reasons why Amanda Howland co-founded the Maine-based ElleVet Project — a nonprofit organization that provides free veterinary care, food and supplies to pets and pets of unhoused people.

Since 2020, the ElleVet Project has embarked on a veterinary mobile relief tour every summer. Licensed veterinarians and volunteers pack the nonprofit's 38-foot van with pet food and supplies, and travel across the U.S. to provide care to animals in the most vulnerable communities.

The ElleVet Project will be returning to Stockton for a fourth consecutive year, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday and Friday at the Salvation Army at 120 N. Airport Way. Howland said all are welcome to bring their pets for services including vaccines, flea and tick preventatives, deworming, general checkups, and even emergency surgeries.

"We see the need. We see so many pets, especially in Stockton and Modesto. We always have a huge turnout. People really need us," she said. "We just think about the pets and the people that we saw, and we just know we have to come back."

The project benefited 1,000 pets in 2020 and more than tripled that in 2021. Howland estimates the number has grown by a few thousand after expanding to five additional states last year.

Veterinarian Dr. Sophie Liu, left, examines 9-year-old yellow Labrador Rex held by his owner Audra Steven at the ElleVet Project's stop at the Salvation Army in Stockton on Monday, June 13, 2022.
Veterinarian Dr. Sophie Liu, left, examines 9-year-old yellow Labrador Rex held by his owner Audra Steven at the ElleVet Project's stop at the Salvation Army in Stockton on Monday, June 13, 2022.

This year, ElleVet has stops in Florida, Nevada, California, Washington, Montana, Massachusetts, and New York. It's currently on the Central California leg of its national tour, with visits in Bakersfield, Fresno, Modesto and Stockton this June.

"We're so happy to be able to expand, to have the people and to have the knowledge, and kind of learn all these communities. On the other hand, it makes me think, 'Wow, we need more vans,'" Howland said. "We can't get to everyone, but we'd really like to get to everyone."

Howland said ElleVet is reliant on fundraising since it is a nonprofit, but she has plans to expand the project in future years.

"If we're able to raise enough money to get a second van, then we certainly would love to have a spay and neuter van too," she said. "That's one of our long-term goals."

Until then, Howland said it is her and her staff's goal to continue to help as many pets as they can, and reduce the stigma unhoused people often face for owning pets.

Nationally, up to 10% of unhoused people have pets, according to an estimate from the advocacy group Pets of the Homeless. In some areas of the country, the rate is as high as 24%.

Latanya Jackson, left, watches as certified veterinary technician Darian Mosely, left, and veterinarian Gabrielle Rosa examine her 8-month-old chihuahua named Pops at the Gospel Center Rescue Mission in south Stockton. Mosley is a part of a veterinary team with the nonprofit ElleVet Project.org which is on a tour providing free care to pets in homeless communities throughout California.

"People may be out panhandling with their dog, or sitting on the sidewalk and they hear, 'Oh, this poor dog.' They get looks and comments, but those who comment don't really know the whole story," she said. "There are certainly instances both with the unhoused and the housed where pets aren't treated well, but the people that come to us are doing their best."

Being able to talk to unhoused pet owners and hear their life stories has helped Howland understand the struggles they face.

"It's not always what people think. Some people think, 'Oh, they're homeless. Why would they have a dog if they can't afford to afford to take care of the dog?' But so many times we hear they've rescued the dog from an abusive situation, or found the dog in a dumpster, or tossed on the side of the road," she said. "They're taking them in and that's a really good thing."

Howland said the personal connections she makes while out on the road are what push her to keep growing the ElleVet Project.

"You don't very often get the chance to make a real impact on somebody's life right then and there," Howland said. "There's so many things that are stressful in the world today, but when you can meet somebody, look them in the eyes, play with their dog, make a real connection, and do something good ... it's an experience that's really hard to describe, but it's an antidote for a lot of the stress."

For a full list of upcoming tour dates, visit ellevetproject.org/schedule.

Record reporter Hannah Workman covers news in Stockton and San Joaquin County. She can be reached at hworkman@recordnet.com or on Twitter @byhannahworkman. Support local news, subscribe to The Stockton Record at recordnet.com/subscribenow.

This article originally appeared on The Record: Low-income, unhoused pet owners in Stockton can rely on ElleVet Project