PROFESSIONAL vets are giving their time to help sick dogs belonging to rough sleepers.

Brighton StreetVet launched in 2017 and since then has treated countless dogs at no cost to the homeless community.

The expert vets work at the Clock Tower’s Sunday soup kitchen and provide everything from health checks to minor surgery.

Dogs that require more advanced treatment, such as X-rays, are invited to join the vets at their clinics at no cost the owners.

Jim Deans runs the Clock Tower Sunday soup kitchen and described the service as “incredible”.

He said: “When you’re on the street you have no friends and no family.

“In some cases, the only person that loves you is your dog so imagine how it feels when they get sick.

“We’ve seen dogs that come here in real distress and they end up bouncing around like any other dog.

“The vets are such an integral part of our work with the community that I have no idea how we would cope without them.”

At the street clinic, dogs are also treated to nutritionally rich food, medication for chronic conditions and are microchipped.

Mr Deans said: “When your dog gets sick, you don’t have to think about it, you just take them to the vet.

“I’m just amazed that these professionals are giving up their time to give this to the homeless community.

The team includes Rebecca Venn, Roz Wright, Tori Campbell-Eldrige and Victoria Bullen among others.

They also run a service in which they visit hostels in the city to treat residents’ dogs and they are hoping to expand to other locations in Brighton and surrounding areas in the next few months.

A spokeswoman from Brighton StreetVet said: “The city of Brighton has really got behind us and the level of public support has been both overwhelming and humbling.

“We have had great support from veterinary practices in the area who have offered surgeries at a reduced cost for StreetVet patients.

“We now also have the support of a specialist cardiologist and an ultrasonographer too.”

StreetVet also runs street clinics in Birmingham, Bristol, Cambridge, Cheltenham and Plymouth.

The StreeVet street clinic runs from noon to 3pm at the Clock Tower in Brighton every Sunday.

For more information about the service, how to volunteer your time or how to donate, head to www.streetvet.co.uk/brighton-streetvet.