For Dr. Kwane Stewart, what began as an afternoon of volunteering soon transformed into a passion and almost a decade-long mission to give proper medical care to pets of the people who’re less fortunate.
Back in 2011, Stewart, a Californian vet, realized he needed to provide affordable medical care to the pets owned by the homeless community.
He set up a table at a soup kitchen to see if any homeless individuals would be interested in getting free medical care for their beloved pets.
In just one day, he treated 15 animals. This high number motivated him to keep going with his free-of-charge practice.
The Street Vet: One of the Most Rewarding Experiences
Stewart said that this first experience was very rewarding. GoFundMe even awarded him with their GoFundMe Hero honor.
He said about the award that when you give back, there’s always something in return that feels larger.
Since his first day, Stewart has been going all around California, providing medical care to animals in need, without charging them.
He’s spending his free time walking through overpasses and alleyways with a bag full of medical supplies and treating different animals, including dogs, cats, and even once a python in need!
Generally speaking, he’s helping the animals with ear infections, fleas, and mild arthritis.
The GoFundMe Page Helps a Lot with the more Seriously-Ill Dogs
But, in cases when there’s a need for a medical procedure done in a hospital, it’s more than what he can handle from his pocket. This is where the donations from his GoFundMe page help. It was launched in 2019.
To this date, he’s collected more than $47,000 and exceeded his original goal of $10,000.
He doesn’t want to turn people down because he’s seen people’s faces when they get their pets back after a procedure or a life-saving surgery. These moments he says will be in his heart forever.
This amazing vet has also partnered with an animal hospital in Los Angeles and is hopeful that others will also dedicate some of their time to volunteering with animals that are underprivileged.
He believes that we all have the power to help and we can volunteer and rescue or donate money.
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