CNN Hero of the Year Stephen Knight Expands Dogs Matter to Southern California, Partnering with Project Street Vet to Connect Pet Families with Foster Care, Veterinary Care and Recovery Resources
DALLAS, TX & LOS ANGELES, CA (August 2026) – Dogs Matter, the Texas-based nonprofit founded by 2024 CNN Hero of the Year Stephen Knight, today announced the launch of Dogs Matter SoCal, marking the organization’s first expansion outside of Texas. The new Southern California program will bring Dogs Matter’s established model of temporary foster care, recovery coaching, Aftercare, and pet-inclusive treatment support to unhoused pet owners who are ready to begin substance use treatment.
Since 2015, Dogs Matter has worked to ensure that no one has to choose between seeking recovery and keeping the pet they love. Through temporary foster care, recovery coaching, Aftercare, and pet-inclusive treatment options, the organization has helped more than 3,500 pets and their people while achieving a one-year sobriety rate of more than 70% among participating clients.
The first phase of Dogs Matter SoCal will focus on Los Angeles’ Skid Row community, connecting unhoused pet owners with addiction treatment, temporary foster care for their pets, recovery support, and other resources. As a local partner, Project Street Vet will support the initiative by providing veterinary care and helping connect Dogs Matter with pet families who may benefit from its recovery services.
Project Street Vet is a national nonprofit founded by veterinarian and 2023 CNN Hero of the Year Dr. Kwane Stewart that provides free veterinary care and support to pet families experiencing homelessness and housing vulnerability. The organization has deep roots in Southern California and years of experience providing street veterinary care throughout the Los Angeles region.
“Every day on the streets of Skid Row in Los Angeles, people desperately want to rebuild their lives but believe they have to choose between getting help and staying with the one companion who has never abandoned them,” said Stephen Knight, Founder & Executive Director of Dogs Matter. “No one should have to make that choice. Through our partnership with Project Street Vet, we’re removing one of the biggest barriers to recovery by ensuring pets are safe while their owners receive addiction treatment, mental health care, and other critical services. This isn’t a temporary fix. It’s a pathway from homelessness and crisis to recovery, reunification, and lasting stability for both people and the pets they love.”
Project Street Vet has spent years delivering free veterinary care and support directly to pet families experiencing homelessness and housing vulnerability throughout Southern California and across the country. Through this collaboration, veterinary care and recovery services will now work hand in hand.
“For so many of the people we meet on the streets, their pet is family, and that bond can influence every decision they make, including whether they seek help for themselves,” said Dr. Kwane Stewart, Founder of Project Street Vet. “Dogs Matter understands the importance of protecting that bond. By working together, we can help ensure pet families have access to the veterinary care, temporary foster support, and resources they need during a critical time. We’re proud to welcome Dogs Matter to Southern California and connect more families with support that honors both sides of the leash.”
The partnership grew from a connection between Knight and Stewart through the CNN Heroes community, where they recognized a natural alignment between their organizations’ missions. Dogs Matter’s expertise in foster care and recovery support complements Project Street Vet’s work providing veterinary care to pet families experiencing homelessness and housing vulnerability, creating new opportunities to connect Southern California pet families with additional resources.
The Dogs Matter SoCal initiative follows Dogs Matter’s proven three-step approach:
RESCUE: Offers a free, safe and healthy environment for a client’s pets while seeking inpatient treatment.
REHAB: Ensure the welfare of the pet and their owner, reuniting them once the client has successfully completed treatment and is ready to be a healthy and responsible pet owner again.
REUNITE: Provides a 12-month Aftercare Program to ensure clients and their pets remain together in a safe and healthy environment while staying clean and sober. After reuniting, Dogs Matter lends a helping hand with a certified recovery support peer specialist for check-in calls, and visits if necessary.
The initiative also incorporates Dogs Matter’s Companion Recovery model, helping clients access pet-friendly treatment facilities and sober living environments whenever possible, reducing unnecessary separation between people and their pets.
MEDIA OPPORTUNITY: Stephen Knight and Dr. Kwane Stewart will conduct Street Veterinary Work together in Skid Row on Wednesday, August 26, 2026. Members of the press interested in covering the outreach or requesting interviews with Knight or Dr. Stewart are encouraged to contact: AuJeneé Hirsch / (442) 637-2483 / aujenee@projectstreetvet.org
The Southern California expansion was made possible in part through support from PetSmart Charities, whose investment helped launch the initiative alongside a growing network of local recovery providers, animal welfare organizations, and community partners. Dogs Matter hopes the Southern California launch will serve as the first step toward bringing its recovery model to communities nationwide.
About Dogs Matter – Founded in 2015 by Stephen Knight, a substance abuse counselor in recovery, Dogs Matter recognizes that for many struggling with addiction, their pet is their last source of unconditional love and support. By providing temporary foster care, the organization helps individuals focus on their recovery journey with the peace of mind that their beloved companion is safe and well cared for.
About Project Street Vet – Project Street Vet is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit public charity that empowers veterinary teams to deliver professional, non-judgmental medical care & support to pet families experiencing homelessness and housing vulnerability. Our vision is to create a world where veterinary care is accessible to every pet family. “At Project Street Vet, we believe that love has no address and kindness is a superpower. Our mission is simple yet powerful: to provide free, compassionate veterinary care to pet families experiencing homelessness or housing vulnerability, without judgment.”
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