Seattle One Health clinic shows pets can open the door to care
A Seattle program highlighted by Vet Candy is drawing attention to a practical One Health model: bring veterinary care to young people experiencing homelessness, and many will accept medical care for themselves, too. The One Health Clinic at New Horizons Youth Shelter in Belltown is run through a partnership that includes the University of Washington’s Center for One Health Research, Washington State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine, Neighborcare Health, and New Horizons. According to a UW-led study of clinic visits from 2019 to 2022, nearly 80% of visits resulted in clients receiving human health care, including 69% of visits where the person initially came in only for a pet. Among 88 human clients, 75 saw a health care provider at least once, 40 established care for the first time in at least two years, and most returned for follow-up within two years. (washington.edu)
Why it matters: For veterinary professionals, this is a concrete example of veterinary care functioning as an access point for broader public health. The clinic’s model treats the pet-parent-pet unit as a shared care opportunity, not a side project, and it suggests that low-barrier veterinary services can help build trust with populations that often avoid traditional medical systems. That has implications for shelter medicine, community medicine, discharge planning, preventive care, and partnerships with human healthcare providers. The broader policy backdrop points the same way: a 2026 USC evaluation of California’s Pet Assistance and Support program found that $15.75 million in pet-inclusive shelter funding helped 37 organizations serve 4,407 unhoused people with pets, expand access to shelter and veterinary services, and support 886 exits to permanent housing, about 20% of participants—above the statewide rate cited in the report. Separate coverage also noted that the share of unhoused people with pets in Los Angeles rose from about 1 in 8 before the pandemic to 1 in 5 by 2025, underscoring the need for more pet-friendly capacity as housing pressures continue. (washington.edu; wmnf.org)
What to watch: Watch for whether more shelters, academic programs, and community clinics adopt this co-located model, especially as the Seattle team continues sharing a public toolkit for replication. Also watch whether pet-inclusive homelessness programs expand beyond pilot funding, since the California findings suggest demand is growing faster than current capacity. (onehealthclinic.org; wmnf.org)