A service fair for people who are homeless and have animals in Toledo will be held Saturday, Feb. 18, to provide free vaccines, minor medical exams and treatment, animal care supplies, and basic dog training.
The fair will take place from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. at Cherry Street Mission Ministries’ Life Revitalization Center, 105 17th St., Toledo.
My Dog is My Home, a national nonprofit that helps communities meet needs of people who are homeless and have companion animals, is working with several local agencies to present the event.
After reading a story in The Blade last summer about a woman who became homeless and her dog, Dr. Janet Hoy was moved to take action.
“I invited the director of My Dog is My Home to Toledo and initiated a meeting with community agencies to explore how we could do better with this in Toledo,” Hoy, UT associate professor in the School of Social Justice, said.
“We also will be doing research at the event to better understand service needs,” she added.
Christine Kim, director of My Dog is My Home, said, “Understanding the scope of the problem opens new doors for creating policies and services that target this special population. We are hoping to add depth to that understanding through the information we collect at the service fair.”
The ultimate goal, according to Kim, would be to initiate the development of a co-sheltering infrastructure within Toledo’s homeless service system.
Partnering with My Dog is My Home for the service fair are UT, the Toledo Area Humane Society, Humane Ohio, Toledo’s PET Bull Project and Cherry Street Mission Ministries. The Toledo-Lucas County Homelessness Board also has provided support.
Donations of supplies — dog and cat food, toys, leashes, etc. — are being collected by Hoy and may be left outside her office, which is in Health and Human Service Building Room 2610.
My Dog is My Home is seeking donations for its generosity campaign to raise funds for vaccines, flea and tick treatment, and spay/neuter vouchers.
Those interested in learning more about the event, including volunteering, may contact Kim at christine@mydogismyhome.org.
