Project Street Vet embarks on multi-city veterinary care tour

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Kwane Stewart, DVM, and Project Street Vet, a national 501(c)(3), sponsored by Fetch Pet Insurance, announced the first multicity traveling tour to give free veterinary care and pet supplies to those experiencing homelessness. Stewart and the Project Street Vet team will start the tour in Orlando, Florida August 28, 2024, and will visit Atlanta, Los Angeles, San Diego, and Riverside, California.

Those who attend the events will receive veterinary care including vaccinations and medical supplies as well as pet supplies and food. According to the release, Stewart will be joined by a group of local Project Street Vet veterinarians, including Kristen Schmidt, DVM, in Atlanta, Georgia, Frank Merrill, DVM, and Becky Nostrand, DVM, CVA, CHPV, from San Diego, California, Ari Aycock-Williams, DVM, DACLAM, and Nichole Weinstein, DVM, from Los Angeles, CA; Crystal Silveira, DVM, from Riverside, CA; and Mary Anne Holls-Bowen, DVM, and Orlando, Florida.

"We're thrilled to begin our first multi-city tour and I am looking forward to working side-by-side with our Project Street Vet veterinarians in other communities," said Stewart, in an organizational release.¹ "Thanks to our local volunteers and our sponsor Fetch Pet Insurance, we will bring vital veterinary care, vaccines, supplies, and food to many unhoused and vulnerable pets."

Stewart founded Project Street Vet in 2020 to empower veterinary professionals to provide free veterinary care to those experiencing homelessness. Stewart and his team have treated more than 2,500 pets, recruited more than 100 volunteers, and joined forces within almost 120 community clinics, hospitals, and organizations to help pets across the United States. To date, Project Street Vet has also raised over $2.6 million thanks to its sponsors.¹

"This work has been life-changing and truly inspiring," expressed Stewart.¹ "It's estimated that 10-25 percent of people experiencing homelessness have a pet. Through Project Street Vet, we aim to highlight these stories and inspire others to contribute."

Stewart has been a practicing veterinarian for almost 30 years and spent time as a shelter veterinarian in an area of California that is economically challenged. He then spent over a decade volunteering his time to provide veterinary care to those experiencing homelessness before starting Project Street Vet.

Stewart currently serves as the chief veterinary officer at Kismet, the pet food company owned by Chrissy Teigen and John Legend, and is the chief medical officer of Holistapet. He also serves as a founding member of the Fetch Pet Insurance Advisory Board. Stewart was also the winner of the 2023 CNN Hero Award.

Reference

Project Street Vet, CNN Hero Dr. Kwane Stewart & Fetch Pet Insurance Launch Free Veterinary Care Tour for Pets in Need. News release. Project Street Vet. August 27, 2024. Accessed August 27, 2024.