A new food pantry will launch on Skid Row Monday, but this one is different -- it's dedicated exclusively to providing free food for the dogs and cats of unhoused pet owners.
It's the brainchild of Dr. Kwane Stewart, a veterinarian who over some 12 years of providing free medical services to the animals of the unhoused on Skid Row and throughout California has become known as "The Street Vet."
KNX News' Emily Valdez caught up with Stewart to talk about the new food pantry.
Located at the Skid Row Community Refresh Spot at 544 Towne Ave., "The Dog Food Pantry" will enable pet owners who are unhoused or struggling financially to take the food they need for their animal companions -- providing "adequate, consistent nutrition" for pets' total health, according to Stewart.
While it's officially called The Dog Food Pantry, it will also provide food to help feed the cats of Skid Row.
"I came up with a silly idea to put a, like a shed, like a pantry right here in Skid Row. And it's just stocked with rows of bag dog food, premium dog food. And it will be stocked with food consistently and it's free food to the residents of Skid Row," Stewart said.
According to Stewart, while there are services that will come through Skid Row with pet food, it's usually on a haphazard schedule -- and meanwhile, "in between, the dogs are eating their owners' food or scrounging from the streets. Consistency is key."
Since January 2022, Stewart's nonprofit, Project Street Vet, has been aided by Fetch Pet Insurance through a program called "101 Donations." Through the end of this year, Fetch Pet will match every donation up to $101,000 to help fund Project Street Vet endeavors.
"The 101 Donations Campaign has been a monumental success," said Stewart.
"Our growth the past two years because of this effort has exploded. With the additional resources we've been able to nearly triple the pets we've cared for. Since myself and all of my talented veterinarians and nurses in other cities volunteer their time, we can stretch a dollar."
Stewart's mission to help the pets of those in need began in 2011, as the U.S. was still emerging from the great recession of 2008-2009.
While the new Los Angeles Dog Food Pantry is Stewart's latest reach out to help the animal companions of those in need, it's hardly his first effort in Southern California.
Last December, he teamed with the HolistaPet company for one of his Skid Row pet clinics. It drew the attention of numerous local media outlets, and eventually he appeared on NBC's "Today" show and got a nomination for the CNN 2023 Hero of the Year award.
Stewart even got a call from a Hollywood producer looking to make a movie about "The Street Vet's" life.
"The visibility and warm outpouring of support has been amazing. I can't even imagine if I win the top award. It's been some ride and a career honor to serve these pets and their special owners."
Those looking to contribute to Project Street Vet through the Fetch Pet 101 Donations effort can do so at fetchpet.com/psv.
Follow KNX News 97.1 FM
Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok