The Street Dog Coalition is a non-profit organization that offers veterinary services to pets of people who are unhoused or at risk of being unhoused. This organization started in Fort Collins and now is in 60 cities around the nation.

Veterinarian Dr. Tom Geller realized there was a vital need for these services in 2015 and set out to do something. Now SDC operates out of the Sister Mary Alice Murphy Center for Hope in Fort Collins.

SDC is staffed by volunteers: veterinarians, vet students, social work students, and the general public. In addition to providing animal care, they also provide some ‘people care’. They refer to it as serving ‘both ends of the leash’.

Dog Sweater designed by Louise Bollanos, © Louise Bollanos

I can only scrape the surface of what this compassionate organization does in this article. I encourage you to dig into their website for more in-depth information!

Many people don’t understand why an unhoused person would have a pet, considering the cost involved. To look at that with a different perspective, a pet, usually but not always a dog, provides love and stability to its owner. Such a strong bond is created that the two become family and each other’s lifeline. The pet provides a sense of purpose for its owner and often owners will be sure their pet is fed before they are. When you look at it from this perspective, you understand why a pet is so important.

Dog Coat, designed by Yarnspirations Design Studio,
© Yarnspirations Design Studio

My Sister Knits wants to support Street Dog Coalition by collecting dog sweaters, collars, leashes, food, and toys for these dogs. We have printed out several free patterns for dog sweaters and we’ll have donated yarn for you to use if you want. If you’d like to donate a purchased item, please be sure it is in new or like-new condition.

All sizes of dog sweaters are needed, from itty-bitty ones for chihuahuas to ones for large dogs. We are eager to see how creative our kind and generous community is. Will you make plain sweaters? Stripes? Colorblock? Cables? Is anyone game to practice some colorwork on a dog sweater? There are free patterns for all of this on Ravelry, in addition to the ones we have in the shop.

Fetch, designed by Asa Buchta, © Åsa Buchta

Our donation drive will run from Saturday, February 10th until Saturday, March 23rd. All items will be delivered to the Murphy Center periodically during this time.

Let’s help keep these dogs warm!

Happy knitting,

Learn About: Street Dog Coalition

A Collection of Goodies!

Scout: A ‘Yarn For the Sake of Yarn’