If you have ever witnessed the bond between a person and their pet during life’s hardest moments, you will understand why Safe Pets Safe Families (SPSF) has quietly become one of South Australia’s most powerful forces for compassion.
Founded in 2013 by survivor of domestic violence Jennifer Howard, SPSF was born from lived experience. When Howard fled violence, she was forced to leave her pets behind — a loss that shaped the organisation’s unwavering mission: to keep people and their animals together during times of crisis.
Since then, SPSF has grown into a lifeline for South Australians experiencing homelessness, domestic violence, mental health crises, medical emergencies and financial hardship. For many people, a pet is not just a companion, but a source of stability, safety and emotional grounding — and losing that bond can be unthinkable.
Through its long-running Paws & Pals program, SPSF delivers pop-up veterinary clinics and outreach services to people sleeping rough or living in unstable conditions. These clinics provide free essentials including vaccinations, flea and worm treatments, microchipping, grooming and preventative care. As Howard explains, “Sometimes people will seek help for their pets before they’ll seek help for themselves,” and for many animals, these clinics mark the first time they have ever seen a vet.
In December, SPSF reached a major milestone with the launch of its very first mobile community vet van — a long-held dream finally realised in Adelaide. Fully equipped and purpose-built, the van is designed to deliver weekly mobile outreach to homelessness hotspots, regional areas, shelters and pet-friendly domestic violence refuges where access to veterinary care is limited or unsafe.
“This van will allow us to meet people where they are — with safety, privacy and dignity,” Howard said at the launch. “Transport has long been one of the biggest barriers to accessing vet care, and for many people, leaving their belongings or their safe place simply isn’t possible.”
The mobile service removes the cost and transport barriers that so often prevent vulnerable pet owners from seeking help, while protecting a bond that can be life-saving during crisis. As Howard told attendees, “Access to veterinary care isn’t just an animal welfare issue — it’s a community wellbeing issue.”
The van also builds on SPSF’s Community Connections Project, supported by the Dog and Cat Management Board, which has delivered subsidised desexing, microchipping, registration support and no-interest vet payment plans — all designed to reduce pet surrender and keep animals in loving homes.
Demand for SPSF’s services continues to grow, and resources are stretched. The organisation relies heavily on community support to keep its programs running and its new mobile vet van on the road. Donations make a direct difference, helping SPSF reach people and pets who would otherwise fall through the cracks. Those wishing to donate via bank transfer are asked to email the organisation so a receipt and thank-you can be issued, as there is no automatic contact process in place.
In the end, SPSF’s mobile vet van represents a promise — that compassion can be mobile, accessible and woven into every corner of the community. For the people who rely on their pets most, that promise means everything.
For more info, head to the SPSF Facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/safepetssafefamilies/
