Hope 4 Hounds
Non-Profit Helps Unsheltered Care for Their
Canine Companions
By Camp Bow Wow
You’ve seen them on the corner — someone with a sign asking for help. And your heartstrings tug a little tighter when you notice their dog sitting patiently beside them.
“People who are unsheltered who have dogs want to care for them,” said Jill Powell who, along with her husband, Ross, started the San Antonio non-profit organization Hope4Hounds to provide veterinary care to dog owners experiencing homelessness served by Communities Under the Bridge (CUB).
“We provide the things they need so they can care for the pups they love. If they had the financial means, I’m sure they’d do it,” she added. “Sometimes they go hungry to feed their dogs.”
Most local homeless shelters do not accept pets overnight. Those experiencing homelessness must choose between a roof over their head and their dog. Usually, their animals are more important to them than a warm bed — even when temperatures dip below freezing.
“These animals are their companions. They quite literally keep some of their owners alive because they give them something to care about other than themselves,” Jill said. “This has become our life’s mission because we love God, people and dogs.”
Each of the approximately 25 dogs Hope4Hounds sees each quarter at CUB receives close to $450 worth of services like parvo testing, worm/flea/tick prevention, immunizations, ear cleaning, nail clipping, and vet exam. Jill can arrange for the pup to be treated at San Antonio Wellness Spay and Neuter, if needed. Pups can be microchipped so they can be reunited with their owner if lost. Pup parents also choose new leashes and collars and pick up bags of dog food. Volunteer make pup parents feel seen and valued while caring for their doggy best friend.
At one point two years ago Hope4Hounds thought they’d held their last clinic because they were running out of funds. Jill overheard one of the owners on the street saying they didn’t know what they’d do without Hope4Hounds, “They care for my pup and me,” he said. “We take time to talk to people about their lives and how tough it is on the streets while caring for their creature,” she said. “They trust us because they know we are here to help and won’t try to take their dog away from them.”
Jill and Ross saw the need when they were volunteering with their therapy dog at CUB. They wondered how the people lined up for meals were caring for their pets. They built on their relationship with CUB Executive Director Dianne Talbert and held their first vet clinic for five dogs in 2020. Since then, Hope4Hounds has expanded beyond CUB to offer clinics for those in low-income housing through the Agape Foundation and services for unsheltered families living in the L.E.E. High School cluster. Since 2020, Jill estimates they’ve seen at least 500 dogs – and all on a shoestring budget.
“Working to help people with their canine touches my heart like nothing else,” wrote one volunteer, Kathy, on Hope4Hounds’ Facebook page. “And all at no cost to the person who might not know where their meals will come from or where they might be able to safely lay their heads down to rest.”
Hope4Hounds is funded by donations from the community. Find more stories and ways to help at https://www.facebook.com/hope4houndssa?mibextid=LQQJ4d.
