IT is a homeless project with a difference offering care to the pets of those who are living on the streets: now the service, run by veterinary students at Glasgow University, is expanding to London.
The Trusty Paws clinic in Glasgow takes place on a monthly basis at a homeless charity and offers free care such as vaccines and worming treatments, as well as a general health check-ups for the animals.
One year after being set up, the project is becoming formally established as a charity and will open a ‘branch’ in London next month, run by students at the city’s Royal Veterinary College.
Ruby Shorrock, founder and trustee of Trusty Paws, said the idea for the clinic came after she heard about a similar project in Nottingham.
She said: “I carried out lots of research and found only that not only wasn’t a clinic like this here, but none of the homeless hostels take dogs – so the homeless with dogs are quite vulnerable.
“A lot of the time the homeless with dogs can also be quite intimidated by big vet practices or vets in clinical settings, so we try and make our clinic as informal as possible.
“And if the dogs need medical care, it is a good platform for them to then be able to go to a vets as they trust us and listen to us and are okay with going to the vets on our advice.”
The clinic takes place at a hub which offers information and advice to the homeless in Glasgow’s London Road, which is run by charity Simon Community Scotland.
It is staffed by volunteers from fourth year studying at the University of Glasgow’s vet school, who offer services such as health check-ups and microchipping.
If the animal requires any further treatment, the owner is referred to a local vet for further advice, with the bills paid for by Trusty Paws.
Shorrock said an example of the dogs they had treated included two Staffordshire Bull Terriers – Tara and Bruno, who are “adored” by their owner.
After being taken to the clinic, Tara was put on a weight less programme, with special food provided to her owner, while Bruno was treated by a vet for an infection.
The first Trusty Paws clinic in London will be take place on the 4th November and donations to the project can be made at www.thetrustypawsclinic.co.uk.
Shorrock added: “We see such amazing people and dogs and the whole reason we are doing this is we believe the human and animal bond is really important and worth preserving, especially for people in difficult situations.
“These dogs provide companionship and they don’t judge.”
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