Compassion on Four Paws: How St. Francis Vet Care is Transforming Lives Through Accessible Pet Health Services
In a quiet corner of Gainesville, Florida, compassion has a new address.
At 2025 SW 75th St, Suite 20, you’ll find St. Francis Veterinary Care for those in need, a nonprofit clinic on a mission to make veterinary care accessible—no matter the barriers.
Led by Sarah Wingfield, a lifelong animal advocate and community caretaker, St. Francis Vet Care is more than a clinic. It’s a movement. One that recognizes how deeply intertwined our lives are with our pets, and how essential that bond is—especially for those navigating poverty, homelessness, disability, or aging.
“Everyone deserves the chance to care for their companion,” Sarah says. “even when that companion is a pet.”
A Mission Rooted in Equality and Empathy
The mission at St. Francis is simple, yet profound: to provide essential veterinary care to underserved communities through preventative medicine, owner education, and resource access. Their vision places a sharp focus on those who are too often left out of traditional veterinary care models—low-income families, veterans, seniors, people with disabilities, and individuals experiencing homelessness.
“We’re not just here to offer ‘affordable care,’” Sarah explains. “We’re here to offer accessible care—and that’s an important difference.”
From Groomer to Leader: Sarah’s Journey
Sarah’s journey began in 2018, not as a vet or executive, but as a dog groomer volunteering with the original St. Francis clinic. By 2019, she had become a veterinary technician and manager of the downtown location. But in 2020, when the clinic shifted under new management (Remedy) and pivoted toward a broader, affordability-based model, Sarah felt the heart of the mission slipping away.
Determined to realign with the community-first values she held dear, Sarah approached a core group of supporters in 2023 with a bold vision: restart the original St Francis mission, focusing on accessibility. The vote was unanimous. With that green light, Sarah set out to create a new, independent nonprofit, grounded in the original spirit of service.
A Brick-and-Mortar—and a Mobile Vet Clinic
Thanks to local support and persistence, Sarah found the perfect clinic location with the help of Portal Realty. She also launched a mobile vet bus, which travels to areas without local veterinary care to serve people where they are. The bus has become a vital tool not just for treatment, but for visibility, outreach, and fundraising.
“Finding a property, securing funding, outfitting the space—it was a process that felt like slow motion at times,” Sarah says. “But the community never stopped showing up for us.”
Now, the brick-and-mortar clinic operates Mondays and Thursdays from 9 AM – 4 PM, staffed by volunteers and veterinarians with a heart for compassionate care. The mobile vet bus operates every Saturday at different locations of need.
Changing Lives—One Pet at a Time
From vaccines to parasite prevention, every service is delivered with a focus on preventative medicine, keeping pets healthy and avoiding emergency situations. But the support doesn’t stop there.
St. Francis acts as a hub of resources for pet owners, offering information about food assistance, shelter options, healthcare, and more. Sarah and her team believe that helping the pet often starts by helping the person.
Science backs that up: organizations like Grace Marketplace report higher housing success rates for individuals with pets. “Having a pet gives someone something to care about. It adds purpose. It’s healing,” Sarah says.
How You Can Help
This year, St. Francis is participating in The Amazing Give fundraiser on April 24th. Every dollar donated will be matched up to $3,500, with a goal of raising $20,000 to fund essential medical equipment, supplies, and medicine.
Sarah emphasizes the importance of spaying or neutering pets (a requirement for service eligibility) and notes that clients must meet at least one of the following criteria:
- 62 years or older
- U.S. military veteran
- Receiving government disability
- Receiving EBT or WIC
- Currently experiencing homelessness
If you’re unsure if you qualify, reach out at admin@stfrancisvetcare.org—Sarah and her team are always ready to guide you through the process.
Where Compassion Meets Care
At St. Francis Vet Care, compassion has no income requirement. Sarah’s dream is now a living, breathing community resource—one that prioritizes access over profit, dignity over judgment, and love over limitation.
Whether it’s through a wellness check, a stop in the mobile vet clinic, or simply providing a listening ear, Sarah and her team are proving that accessible vet care isn’t just possible—it’s essential.
To support the clinic or volunteer, visit their location at 2025 SW 75th St Suite 20, Gainesville, FL 32607, or follow them online for updates (@StFrancisVetCare)
Because every pet deserves a healthy life—and every person deserves the joy of caring for one.