“It’s just me and him, so we’re a team,” Stephens said.

Stephens was one of the pet owners who came to the MSU Street Clinic, an event that provides free veterinary care and supplies to people who may otherwise struggle to afford care for their animals. He learned about the clinic through the recovery community and came to the event knowing that routine veterinary care can be difficult to afford.

“My job as a peer recovery coach is to find resources and stuff for people who are displaced and struggling with addiction and things like that,” Stephens said. “It's not always perfect, and vet bills and medication and all that stuff can be very expensive. So I thought it was just a great opportunity to get my dogs checked out.”

Most of the organization and staffing of the vet's office is done by students. MSU veterinary students spend months learning in the classroom before they are given almost unlimited access and time to work with animals and their owners.

Second-year doctor of veterinary medicine student Kailey Roberts, who is the 2026-27 president of Street Clinic, explained this is a great way for students to get practical experience while helping out a community that has difficulty accessing veterinary services.

“We're able to provide them a space where they know they're not going to be judged for, you know, whatever level of care that they're able to provide to their animals,” Roberts said. “They know that they know that we're going to be there.” 

Those barriers can include transportation, housing and the cost of veterinary services. Roberts said some people experiencing homelessness may have difficulty finding housing that allows pets, while others may need something as simple as a rabies vaccination to qualify for housing.

The clinic also works with community organizations to connect pet owners with additional resources.

Paul Miller, a director of Homeless Angels, said the organization has worked with the clinic to reach people who may need the services it provides. The partnership began after veterinary students reached out to Homeless Angels; the organization already had connections with people who could benefit from the clinic. Miller said the need for resources extends beyond people who are unhoused.

“Even people that are housed are struggling to pay for food and vet bills,” Miller said.

During the clinic, veterinary students work in teams to provide preventive care. A typical exam team includes two DVM students and a veterinary nursing student. Depending on the pet’s needs, services can include physical exams, vaccines, heartworm testing, feline testing, microchips and preventive medications. The clinic also offers flea, tick and heartworm prevention when supplies are available.

Second-year DVM student and 2026-27 board member and finance chair Delani Stull helps coordinate volunteers, doctors, donations and supplies for the event. Veterinarians travel from across Michigan to volunteer their time.

The clinic has also partnered with PetSmart and PetKey to provide additional resources. PetSmart groomers volunteer to provide services such as nail trims, while Homeless Angels helps provide meals and other supplies.

During the event, the clinic saw 122 pets, including 76 dogs and 46 cats, while helping 77 families.

Third-year DVM student and senior event coordinator Katie Jean said the event follows a process designed to move clients through several stations. After checking in, pet owners are paired with a liaison before meeting with an exam team. Pets can then receive vaccines, testing, microchips or medications before visiting a prevention and supplies table.

Jean said one of her favorite parts of volunteering is seeing repeat clients. She has watched puppies who came to previous clinics grow into healthy dogs after receiving vaccines and preventive care.

“I just love seeing clients that have been returning for all the events that I've been helping out, it shows how much trust we've been able to build in the community,” Jean said. “I think it's just a really good representation of the character of our school and really inspiring.”

Those interactions have also influenced the students’ views of veterinary medicine, though the clinic feels like more than a practice for the students involved. Roberts said she has seen clients return to the clinic and recognize the students who helped them before, an experience that has increased her interest in shelter and community medicine.

“They’ll be like, ‘Can’t wait to see you!’” Roberts said. “Comments like that really, it just hits your heart real hard because it's like we made a real difference in three hours for so many people that may not have this access otherwise.”