Dr. Kwane Stewart:
“The Street Vet”
👇 🎥 👇
Meet the vet who‘s been giving free medical care to pets of the homeless for almost a decade
Dr. Kwane Stewart has been caring for pets belonging to the un-domiciled people of California since 2011, and mostly at his own expense.
By Fino Menezes
According to CNN, Stewart had been helping ill-fated animals long before he became "The Street Vet." Growing up in New Mexico, he spent his childhood trying to rescue stray animals and dreaming of beaches. This dream eventually brought him to California where he practiced veterinary medicine and ran an animal hospital before becoming the county veterinarian for Stanislaus County in Modesto, California. However, when the Great Recession hit the U.S. in 2007, Stewart realized that he needed to do a lot more.
The street vet who gives free medical care to companions of the homeless
A day volunteering at a soup kitchen would bring Dr. Kwane Stewart face-to-face with his life's calling. What started out an exercise in teaching his young son the importance of giving back and helping others, became the start of a decade-long mission to provide free healthcare to the pets of homeless people on the streets of California. Today, the 49-year-old veterinarian spends his free time driving around the state in search of homeless people with animals who might be in need of medical attention. His role as "The Street Vet" has taught him a valuable lesson: these animals offer more than companionship to their owners. They also give them love, hope, and security.
A day volunteering at a soup kitchen would bring Dr. Kwane Stewart face-to-face with his life's calling. What started out an exercise in teaching his young son the importance of giving back and helping others, became the start of a decade-long mission to provide free healthcare to the pets of homeless people on the streets of California. Today, the 49-year-old veterinarian spends his free time driving around the state in search of homeless people with animals who might be in need of medical attention. His role as "The Street Vet" has taught him a valuable lesson: these animals offer more than companionship to their owners. They also give them love, hope, and security.
Stewart hopes to challenge preconceived notions of what homeless people are like through a TV show, in which he stars, called "The Street Vet." He describes it as a "passion project" that he created with his brother. So far, it’s shown in smaller markets in Eastern Europe, Canada and China. While people sometimes assume Stewart is rich because he’s in a show and has had high-profile jobs, such as chief veterinary officer of the nonprofit American Humane, he’s still paying off his student loans from veterinary school.
Animals offer their owners “love, hope, and security”
Dr. Stewart was interviewed by
GoFundMe, and he explained that pets were more than companionship to
the people having to surrender them. They also “offered love, hope, and
security.”
“About
25% of our homeless population own a pet, and I knew that if I set up a
table at a soup kitchen I could help a small group of animals,” he explained. “So
that’s what I did. I called over anyone who was holding their pet and
told them I’d take a look and vaccinate or treat their pet if I could.”
On
that first day at the soup kitchen, he treated fifteen pets. Seeing the
need, he packed his bags with supplies and started making a regular
habit of walking around underpasses and other encampments, checking in
to see if anyone needed help with their animals. He was able to treat a
number of ailments, from fleas to ingrown toenails, on the spot. But at
times the need was greater. He ended up raising ten thousand dollars to
help with pets that needed more serious care, including surgeries at his
clinic.
While some say that homeless people shouldn’t own pets, Dr. Kwane believes the opposite: “I’ve seen homeless people feed their pet before they feed themselves. I’ve seen them give their last dollar to care for their pet,” he said. “They sustain each other and that is the power of pet companionship.”
Dr. Kwane Stewart, 49, spends his free time wandering in the impoverished areas of his hometown of San Diego and Los Angeles. Sometimes,
he also strolls around Sacramento and San Francisco. But wherever he
goes, his mission remains the same – to provide free veterinary care to
homeless people’s pets.
Stewart had been helping ill-fated animals long before he became "The Street Vet." Growing
up in New Mexico, he spent his childhood trying to rescue stray animals
and dreaming of beaches. This dream eventually brought him to
California where he practiced veterinary medicine and ran an animal
hospital before becoming the county veterinarian for Stanislaus County
in Modesto, California. However, when the Great Recession hit the US in
2007, Stewart realised that he needed to do a lot more.
Stewart hopes to challenge preconceived
notions of what homeless people are like through a TV show, in which he
stars, called "The Street Vet." He
describes it as a "passion project" that he created with his brother. So
far, it’s shown in smaller markets in Eastern Europe, Canada and China.
While people sometimes assume Stewart is rich because he’s in a show
and has had high-profile jobs, such as chief veterinary officer of the
nonprofit American Humane, he’s still paying off his student loans from
veterinary school.
Stewart pays out of his own pocket for the treatment of most of the pets he encounters. However,
when he runs into animals with severe issues such as tooth decay or
illnesses that need treatment at a veterinary hospital, he turns to
GoFundMe to cover their surgeries and invasive procedures. Over the
course of the past nine years, he has treated about 400 animals with
allergies, skin and ear infections, flea infestations, bad teeth, and
even arthritis. He has also come to realise that almost everything he
thought he knew about homelessness wasn't true.
Pets can provide homeless women with a sense of protection and security, and offer hope to their companions — a reason not to give in to despair or fall deeper into drug or alcohol addiction, says Dr. Stewart.
Out on the streets, the most common afflictions Stewart sees are flea infestations, ear infections and mild arthritis. But
sometimes a pet needs surgery to remove a tumor or rotting teeth. In
the past, he would pay for it out of his own pocket; he is grateful to
have found reduced-price care at Beverly Oaks Animal Hospital in Los
Angeles. Dr. Laurie Leach, a veterinarian at the practice, has even
performed some surgeries pro bono.
Stewart keeps a bag stocked with medical supplies in his car at all times If he sees a homeless person with a pet while he's driving, he has a variety of medicines and treatments to hand.
“I was guilty of some of the judgments about homeless people before doing this work,” said Stewart. “But
I realised that something as simple as losing your job can lead to bad
credit — and then it can be difficult to get an apartment… You would be
amazed at how these negative moments can snowball. I’ve looked at these
people and thought, ‘I could be you. I could end up where you are.'”
Dr. Kwane: The Street Vet The
Street Vet charts the humanitarian exploits of Kwane Stewart, Doctor of
Veterinary Medicine. The series follows Dr.Kwane's journey to help the
pets and people who need it the most. Traveling the city streets Dr.
Kwane and his assistant Genesis administer basic care and in some cases
life saving aid to some of society's most vulnerable. Amazing stories of
hope, struggle and inspiration are revealed.
The Street Vet GoFundMe Campaign
“Want to join me in making a difference? I'm Dr. Kwane Stewart,
I've been a veterinarian for over 20+ years and over the past few years
I've been passionately motivated to impact the lives of our homeless
pets and people. When I had spare time or if I happened to be driving
home and saw a pet and owner in need, I would offer some assistance. A
quick check up, maybe some medication or food...it wasn't a lot but
sometimes giving a little can make all the difference.”
Check out the GoFundMe campaign for more photos, information, and to donate. Follow The Street Vet on Instagram and Facebook
Source: Upworthy
Source:
Gofundme/TheStreetVet
Source:
Facebook/Dr.KwaneStewart
Dr .Kwane The Street Vet on the Dr. Oz Show
The Power of One - Dr. Kwane talks about his street vet mission with Dr. Oz
The Power of One - Dr. Kwane talks about his street vet mission with Dr. Oz
Go Fund Me
THE STREET VET - https://www.gofundme.com/f/thestreetvet
February 21, 2020 by Kwane Stewart, Organizer
Wow! I am blown away by your generosity! Thank you all so much. Originally I set a modest goal of 10k (and didn’t think I would reach that) but the outpouring has been amazing. I’m setting a slightly higher goal (thanks to all of you). The more I bring in the more I can help. It might even be possible now for me to bring on more vets in different cities to spread the goodwill to more pets. Sincerely, thank you all!
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