On a warm morning in Woolloomooloo, the HopeStreet pet clinic is bustling. The clinic, run by the University Veterinary Teaching Hospital Sydney in partnership with BaptistCare, hums with activity as pets and their owners wait their turn. Some sit close to their animals, stroking their fur or whispering soothing words, while others speak to the staff and students working at the clinic. For many here, their pets are more than companions—they are family, lifelines, and a source of unconditional love.
One such visitor is Ion, a soft-spoken man who sits beside his dog, Chocky, a nine-year-old Kelpie cross who had a rough start to life. “I rescued her from a farm where she'd been mauled by a pack of dogs,” Ion says. “She almost didn't survive. She had a punctured lung and a broken sternum.”
With Ion’s help, Chocky was able to recover from her injuries, however, that wasn’t the last of her struggles. Chocky went on to develop a rapidly growing and painful tumour on her bottom.
Dr Nicolle Kirkwood, Head of Primary Care at the University Veterinary Teaching Hospital Sydney, explains how Chocky underwent successful surgery to remove the tumour and made a full recovery.
“Through the clinic and then later at the hospital we were able to diagnose the mass as a benign tumour and therefore have a good prognosis. We then used the available funding to pay for its removal.”
Looking at her now, you wouldn’t think Chocky had survived such trauma. A placid dog, Chocky undergoes the checks at the clinic with little complaint.
“She seems very quiet, but when you throw the ball for her, she just comes alive. She's a different dog,” Ion says. “Occasionally I take her to my daughter’s farm down South and she can run around with other dogs. She seems very happy.”
India Newton, HopeStreet’s Community Development Coordinator, shared a heartwarming story about a young family helped by the pet clinic. The family, who had recently welcomed a new baby, were struggling to manage their energetic dog, who had become overly excitable around the newborn.
They couldn’t afford the necessary desexing procedure to address the dog’s behaviour. HopeStreet stepped in, supporting and coordinating the procedure. This intervention allowed the family to keep their beloved pet, providing stability and preserving the bond between them and their dog.
These are just two of the many stories that unfold every month at the HopeStreet clinic, a grassroots initiative supported by the University of Sydney and now bolstered by a donation from the Petstock Foundation.
By partnering with the University of Sydney and the HopeStreet clinic, we’re solving problems big and small while keeping pets and people together.
Jessica Curtis
Head of the Petstock Foundation
The role of philanthropy
The recent donation from the Petstock Foundation will help to cover the cost of treatments that would otherwise be unaffordable to those visiting the HopeStreet clinic. The Foundation’s support ensures pets like Chocky receive the care they need and deserve.
Jessica Curtis, Head of the Petstock Foundation, emphasised the importance of the partnership: “By partnering with the University of Sydney and the HopeStreet clinic, we’re solving problems big and small while keeping pets and people together. This aligns perfectly with our mission to empower a better future for pets and people.”
The funding doesn’t just address immediate needs; it also contributes to the long-term sustainability of the program, allowing it to serve more families and provide more complex care when necessary.
Offering help for a vulnerable community
HopeStreet is located in a neighbourhood with significant levels of marginalisation. “There’s an inequity here,” explains India. “For people living on the margins, vet bills are simply unaffordable. But their animals are their rocks—they’re the ones who keep everything together.”
The monthly pet clinic, staffed by students and veterinarians from the University of Sydney’s School of Veterinary Science, is one of HopeStreet’s most popular programs. “We do more than just provide services,” India says. “We’re about building relationships, capacity, and community. The clinic helps people care for their pets, and in doing so, it helps people feel supported too.”
The clinic helps people care for their pets, and in doing so, it helps people feel supported too.
India Newton
Community Development Coordinator, HopeStreet
Empowering the next generation of vets
For the students who volunteer at HopeStreet, the clinic offers an education that extends far beyond the classroom. “The students run the clinic—managing consultations, medical records, and treatment—all under supervision,” Dr Kirkwood explains. “It’s fast-paced, real-world learning that builds confidence, compassion, and empathy.”
The clinic also exposes students to the concept of a “spectrum of care”—providing solutions tailored to the needs and resources of each client. “This experience broadens their understanding of what veterinary care can look like and the role they can play in supporting both animal and human welfare,” Dr Kirkwood adds.
India, who has worked at HopeStreet for over a year, has witnessed the positive impact of these interactions on the community. “The students are fantastic. They bring such energy and care. They’re not just here to help animals—they’re here to make people feel seen and valued.”
Looking ahead with hope
For Ion and Chocky, for the young family and their excitable dog, and for countless others, the HopeStreet pet clinic is a lifeline. It’s a place where pets and people find healing, care, and compassion. As Jessica Curtis puts it: “We are continually inspired by pets and animals to be better people. This program, and the people who make it possible, allow this to come to life.”
Run by a community of staff, volunteers, clinicians, veterinary nurses and students, HopeStreet is a unique and special place. “It’s one of those places you can’t explain—you have to be here to feel it,” India says. “There’s so much love and generosity in what we do.”