THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

SALEM, Ore. — Tammy Thompson lives in a tarp-covered tent on Salem’s fringe, sharing her “little spot in the woods” with three much-loved dogs.

“They’re my children. They’re everything to me,” said Thompson, 44.

That’s why she was grateful for a local program that provides free exams, vaccinations and medications for the pets of homeless people. The aim is to improve public safety and show compassion for homeless people.

“I think it’s great. I’m really thankful they have this,” Thompson said. “I’ve been asking and praying for something like this to come along.”

Thompson’s dogs — Bubba, Sadie and Shadow — were among more than a dozen animals seen Sunday by veterinarian Mark Stoenner of the Willamette Valley Animal Hospital in Keizer.

The makeshift “clinic” location was a small building near Cascades Gateway Park — a southeast Salem camping area for some homeless people and their pets.

As dogs and cats received health exams, their owners socialized, ate spaghetti and talked about their pets.

These kinds of clinics, often supplemented by barbecues, have occurred monthly in Salem since May.

They are the result of teamwork by the Willamette Valley Animal Hospital, the Marion County animal shelter and Prodigal House Ministries, a nonprofit organization.

Besides the site near Cascades Gateway Park, clinics also have been held at downtown Salem locations and at Wallace Marine Park in West Salem.

Juan Lopez, a program organizer and veterinary dental technician, said the goal is to provide each pet with a general health exam, a complete set of vaccinations, flea control and deworming medications.

Pets also are spayed and neutered.

“They’re currently living in our green spaces, so we have to worry about transmittal of diseases to humans,” Lopez said, adding that regular veterinary care can reduce the risk of pets spreading worms, rabies and infectious viruses.

As it stands, the outreach program is providing ongoing care for about 80 animals owned by homeless people, Lopez said.

Donations pay for the program.

Thompson, who gets by on food stamps and financial support from her mother, said she avoids shelters because they don’t allow pets.

“A lot of people say ‘Get rid of them and go to a shelter,’” she said. “My question to them is, ‘Would you get rid of your children?’”

Chris Simpson, 22, brought his two cats — Midnight and Puffy — to Sunday’s clinic.

He said he rescued Midnight from mistreatment by a previous owner who fed her wine and burned her ears with candle wax.

“I took it and started treating her the way she should be treated,” Simpson said. “I may be young and homeless, but I keep to my responsibilities.”