Salvation Army in Ohio Hosts Pet Clinic 

by Hugo Bravo 

Rising food and health care prices are affecting every member of the family, and that includes the beloved family pet.  

“The Salvation Army works with folks who suffer from all types of poverty and food insecurity, and with that comes problems feeding their pets and keeping them healthy,” says Captain Joel Ashcraft, divisional secretary for The Salvation Army in Greater Cleveland. 

A member of the Salvation Army Echelon chapter in Cleveland who works for the Cleveland Animal Protective League (APL) suggested that the two organizations partner together to help those families. Sometimes the APL hosts mobile clinics for pets, when community members can meet with veterinarians for free health exams for their animals, including the administration of tracking microchips and pet vaccines.   

“We set up some recurring Saturdays so the APL could bring their vets to the Salvation Army in Cleveland,” says Ashcraft. “The APL also brought representatives from a local pantry for pet food. During each Saturday, the Army welcomed over 200 families to receive pet food and health services.  

“We served puppies, kittens, and even a few hamsters.”  

During the pet events, The Salvation Army also arranged a backpack giveaway to the kids of the corps who came with their pets or to meet the pets from their community.  

“There was no registration required for that,” says Ashcraft. “We just opened it up to anyone with children who came to us. We even had the grills running and made hot dogs and burgers for the pet owners.” 

As one of the premier social service agencies in the community, Ashcraft says that this was a unique need that The Salvation Army could meet. 

“We don’t want our friends and neighbors to have to choose between providing for their family or providing for their pets. Those dogs and cats are family too.”