A national effort providing free veterinary care, food, and supplies for the pets of homeless people will kick off its 2022 tour Thursday and Friday at the Poverello House in Fresno.

The ElleVet Project is the nonprofit arm of the science-focused pet CBD+CBDA company ElleVet Sciences. This is the third summer that the project has visited California, but the first time it has stopped in Fresno. Services and supplies will be available at the Poverello House from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. each day.

“Our efforts these past few years have taught us first-hand how helping a pet can change their owner’s life for the better both emotionally and physically,” said company co-founder and chief operating officer Amanda Howland in a news release.

Watch: The Elle Vet Project

Collaborating with city officials and municipalities, the project hosts a rotating team of compassionate and professional veterinarians to provide free veterinary care to the most vulnerable animals.

By partnering with community-focused sponsors that donate medical supplies, food, and local professional assistance, the project offers services such as vaccines, flea and tick preventatives, deworming, general checkups, and emergency surgeries.

3,000 Pets Helped in 2021

Traveling to homeless communities allows the mobile veterinary relief tour the ability to locate and treat pets that may never have had veterinary care. A complete schedule of dates and locations is available on the nonprofit’s website.

Howland and co-founder and chief executive officer Christian Kjaer developed the project in 2020 as a pilot program in response to COVID-19 and the negative impacts the pandemic had on homeless people and their pets.

More than 1,000 pets received services in 2020 and 3,000 pets benefited last year, a project spokesman said.

“It has been incredible to see the steady growth of ‘The ElleVet Project,’ ” said Kjaer. “It takes an enormous amount of planning, financial support, veterinary professionals, and businesses to pull off such relief efforts and we are excited to see the impact we will make this year in helping thousands of pets.”

Since the ElleVet Project was launched, it has attracted widespread support from Hollywood stars such as Demi Moore, veterinarians, and animal lovers. Donations towards vaccines, medical supplies, food, and emergency surgeries are accepted at this link or on social media at @Ellevetproject on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.