About

The members of CAMP are committed to improving the quality of life for individuals in our community experiencing financial or housing hardships. Through compassionate action and assistance programs and services, CAMP strives to keep pets and families together. We are a group of animal welfare advocates, with professional expertise within the fields of veterinary medicine, social assistance and healthcare, pet nutrition, animal welfare and advocacy, and organizational leadership. 

The founders and volunteer members of CAMP understand the importance of the human-animal bond, and the myriad physical and psychological benefits of pet companionship for individual well-being, as well as overall community health. CAMP’s core values underscore the recognition that the deep emotional connection with pets transcends socio-economic, racial, and geographic boundaries. We believe no one should be denied the opportunity to experience the benefits and joy of the human-animal bond. 

People experiencing financial hardships and homelessness often faces multiple significant challenges; including mental and/or physical health disorders or limitations, sudden illness or medical emergencies, and severe poverty. The volunteers at CAMP understand that an individual's capacity to love and care for their pet is not directly correlated to their fiscal status. The importance of a “friend” during an individual’s greatest time of need, cannot be undervalued. Many of the people who are without consistent housing express their relationships with their pets as a necessity for their own “willpower” to keep living. By caring for their animal friends, many individuals find a sense of purpose and usefulness that encourages them to continue seeking healthier lifestyle options.

People experiencing financial hardship and homelessness face significant challenges upon re-entry into housing. Finding low-cost, pet-friendly habitation can be difficult, and most of these individuals will remain homeless over the alternative of relinquishment, or abandonment of their pet.  An important goal of CAMP is to improve the retention rate of pet companionship amongst individuals experiencing homelessness. By ensuring their pets are fully vaccinated, altered, and generally healthy, we can improve the chances of an individual gaining access to housing.