Catholic Charities of South Jersey and Rowan University’s Shreiber School of Veterinary Medicine joined forces last month to host a pet supply drive at the Camden County Family and Community Center.
More than 30 clients of Catholic Charities of South Jersey and partner organizations received free cat and dog food as well as supplies such as leashes, collars, bowls and pet carriers during the event in Camden.
“People were thrilled beyond belief,” said Dr. Maria Elena Hallion, executive director of Catholic Charities of South Jersey. “They were so appreciative.”
In addition to food and supplies, staff from the Shreiber School of Veterinary Medicine brought a box of Halloween costumes that clients could choose for their pets.
“People loved that,” said Dr. Kirsten White, clinical assistant professor and section head of the school’s Shelter Medicine and Community Engagement. “That was fun for a lot of people.”
According to Dr. Hallion, an articulation agreement between Catholic Charities of South Jersey and the Shreiber School of Veterinary Medicine is being developed to create a formal partnership between the two organizations.
She sees the partnership as an additional way Catholic Charities can help clients. With pet ownership becoming more expensive, just as other daily costs of living have increased, people who once had the financial means to provide for their pets are sometimes facing tough choices. That includes basic necessities like pet food.
“We’re trying to provide holistic, caring, thoughtful assistance,” Dr. Hallion said.
She noted that a future collaboration opportunity will involve students and staff from the Shreiber School of Veterinary Medicine providing preventative care for pets through a mobile vet clinic.
Dr. Hallion initially saw the mobile clinic at Cathedral Kitchen, a Catholic Charities partner in Camden. “I reached out, and they were very receptive because they want more partners, especially in some of the counties that Catholic Charities serves.”
The Shreiber School of Veterinary Medicine, founded in 2023 with a $30 million gift from business leader and philanthropist Gerald Schreiber, is New Jersey’s first veterinary school. Key aspects of the school curriculum include giving students the opportunity to learn about shelter medicine and participate in community-based services with organizations like Catholic Charities.
“The goal of our Shelter in Medicine and Community Engagement Service is to partner with our community-based organizations in a one health model where we care for the intersections of people, animals and the planet, and public health is a big part of that,” Dr. White said.
She explained that the clinics currently provide basic vaccinations and flea and tick treatments, but additional services are expected to be offered in the future as the staffing at the school grows and more partnerships are created within the veterinary profession.
Dr. White noted the outdoor mobile clinics are only held when it is safe for people and their pets to be outside. “We typically stop sometime in December and then pick up again in March,” she added.
Both Dr. Hallion and Dr. White said they were pleased with the outcome of the first collaboration event with the veterinary school, which was held Oct. 5.
Dr. White looks forward to the official formation of the partnership between the Schreiber School of Veterinary Medicine and Catholic Charities.
“It’s very much in line with our mission to do this engagement work in the communities, and it’s supportive of Catholic Charities’ mission to support families and their pets,” she said.
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