Pets-DC

Pets-DC enables people living with HIV/AIDS to maintain and care for their pets. Pets-DC provides public health education, exercise, pet food, veterinary care, grooming, foster care, and adoption services at no cost to individuals in the Metropolitan Washington area.

Many people with HIV/AIDS live alone and having a pet supports them living independently. A pet’s love and affection are unconditional and everlasting. That love is a very important part of the emotional support network of persons living with HIV/AIDS; yet many of Pets-DC’s clients experience financial and physical barriers, making it difficult to care for their pets. Pets-DC seeks to fill in the gaps between other AIDS-service providers and animal-related organizations, and to address the particular health-related needs of pet owners with HIV/AIDS in the metropolitan Washington, DC area. Pets-DC’s mission is to assist by providing public health education, volunteer, financial, and advocacy resources.

Hundreds of dedicated volunteers assist clients in obtaining: public health education, veterinary care, in-home pet care (e.g. dog-walking, feeding, litter box care, cage/tank cleaning), pet food and supplies, housing advocacy, foster pet care, grooming care, and pet adoption services. In addition to serving clients, the public health education program offers assistance to other health care providers such as physicians, nurses, and other AIDS service agencies.