Jordan and his pitbull, Duchess, were the first to receive care at the new Marion and Bob Auray Companion Animal Clinic (photo courtesy of St. Vincent de Paul).
In early July, the St. Vincent de Paul (SVdP) celebrated the opening the Marion and Bob Auray Companion Animal Clinic, a 3,000-square-foot vet facility on SVdP’s main campus in downtown Phoenix.
Through SVdP’s Companion Animal Program, the clinic will offer basic veterinary care onsite to the pets of residents living in its transitional housing program and emergency shelter.
Jordan and his pitbull, Duchess, were the first to receive care at the new clinic.
“They live just steps away at Rosalie’s Place, and now he has peace of mind knowing Duchess can get veterinary care without the stress of transportation or cost,” SVdP said in a social media post.
“At SVdP, we believe that care for the pet is care for the person,” said Jessica Berg, chief program officer. “Our residents’ beloved dogs or cats are their family. They provide comfort, purpose, and even protection – especially during difficult times. Often people will forgo shelter if it means leaving their pet behind, and then the community has lost the opportunity to save a human life and an animal life. That’s why we’re committed to keeping people and pets together as part of the healing process.”
The new facility features three examination rooms, a grooming room, a dog and cat ward, a pet pantry room and a treatment room. It provides routine wellness checkups – including vaccinations, microchipping, grooming, and other essential veterinary services – all at no cost to residents. Services are provided by a rotating team of volunteer veterinarians, and appointments are required.
The clinic builds upon the foundation of SVdP’s Companion Animal Program (CAP), which launched in 2021 to ensure the pets of vulnerable individuals remain safe, together and well cared for. So far, CAP has served more than 2,600 companion animals – with 67 percent belonging to individuals experiencing homelessness and 33 percent to families facing economic hardship. Currently, about one in five residents in SVdP shelters has a pet.
The organization said that the July 8 soft opening represents the first phase of a broader plan to soon expand access to pets of individuals experiencing homelessness and low-income families.
Learn more at www.stvincentdepaul.net.
