We are the Bristol Paws Project – a student led organisation that was set up with the aim of researching and understanding the problems of homelessness and housing in Bristol, providing veterinary care and assistance to those who cannot afford it and educating veterinary students (both nurses and vets) about the needs of the pets and the individuals that do not have access to ordinary veterinary services. We would ultimately LOVE to have a permanent clinic – whether that be a mobile trailer or a building – but until this becomes a viable, we are going to start a service in which people can bring their pets for basic veterinary care which will hopefully include vaccinations, flea and worm treatments and health advise. We would love to be able to provide basic supplies for pets (collars, leads, food etc) and their owners (scarves, hats, gloves etc). It is our dream to establish a real presence within Bristol and begin to move out to other areas with large homeless populations and provide a similar service.
Since starting in 2016, we have been involved with handouts of food and supplies to both the homeless and their pets and last year we were involved with a vaccination clinic run with Bristol Animal Centre in which we helped vaccinated just over 70 dogs and cats belonging to individuals in low income households. This was an incredible programme to have been involved with and it has massively inspired us to do more to help.
That is where YOU come in – in order to help in more ways, we’ve got to rally together collectively to raise the money needed to kickstart our initiative!