CARE Project didn’t begin in a conference room or with a strategic plan. It began outside – on sidewalks, in parking lots, behind buildings, in the quiet corners where people experiencing homelessness share their lives with the pets who stay by their side. This is how CARE Project began or got started, from a place of true community need.
If you’ve ever stopped to really see those moments, one thing becomes immediately clear:
These pets aren’t accessories or afterthoughts. They are family. They are emotional anchors. They are stability in the middle of instability.
And yet, the veterinary system around them simply wasn’t built for people without housing, transportation, or financial security.
CARE Project was created to change that.
It Started With Listening
Before any nonprofit paperwork was filed, there were conversations, real ones, with people living outdoors or in transitional situations. People who were doing everything they could to care for their pets despite unimaginable hardship.
What we heard over and over was this:
- “My dog is all I have.”
- “My cat keeps me going.”
- “I’d rather go hungry than let my pet suffer.”
- “I want help, but I don’t want to lose him.”
These weren’t isolated stories. They were a pattern – a loud and clear need. Our community members were trying to protect and care for their pets, but they simply didn’t have access to veterinary care, transportation, supplies, or even basic preventive medicine.
And no organization was filling that specific gap.
So CARE Project stepped in.
From Small Acts of Care to Something Bigger
The first efforts weren’t big outreach events. They were simple, human moments:
A sick cat needing antibiotics.
A dog with a wound that had gone untreated for too long.
A pet needing vaccines to stay safe in a harsh environment.
A person asking for help because they didn’t want to surrender their only companion.
One need led to another.
One connection led to another.
One act of compassion revealed ten more opportunities to help.
People in the community began reaching out:
“Can you come look at a dog near the shelter?”
“There’s a cat colony behind this building – can you help?”
“My friend’s pet is sick but they don’t have a way to get to a clinic.”
What began as individual efforts naturally grew into something structured, something that needed to exist, something that deserved a name.
Becoming CARE Project
CARE Project was formed with a clear mission:
To provide free veterinary care, outreach, and support to people experiencing homelessness or housing instability in our local community.
To meet people where they are – literally.
To create access where none existed.
To keep pets and people together when life becomes unstable.
This wasn’t charity from a distance.
It was care delivered up close, with dignity and respect.
Where We Are Now
Today, CARE Project proudly serves our community through:
- Free Veterinary & Medical Care
- Mobile & Street Outreach Clinics
- Pet Retention Support to prevent surrender
- Our Community Cat Program for humane TVAR and wellness care
Every service reflects the same belief:
People deserve to keep their pets, no matter their housing status.
Where We’re Going
We’re building a future where compassion is accessible, where veterinary care reaches everyone, not just those who can get inside a clinic.
Our goals include expanding our outreach, strengthening partnerships, and continuing to show up for the people and pets who need us most.
CARE Project didn’t start with resources or infrastructure.
It started with attention, compassion, and the willingness to say:
“We see you. We see your pet. And you both deserve care.”
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