Pittsburgh, PA
Our Pittsburgh team offers free veterinary care for pets of people experiencing homelessness. To donate to their efforts, click here.
Team Leads:
Amy Kalinauskas, DVM
Dr. Amy Kalinauskas is a nonprofit and shelter veterinarian dedicated to expanding access to care and improving animal welfare. She has served as Senior Medical Director at Humane Animal Rescue of Pittsburgh (HARP), overseeing medical programs at one of the region’s largest shelters, and as a Team Lead for the Pittsburgh Street Dog Coalition Team, advancing initiatives that bring care to both housed and unhoused pets. With expertise in surgery, dentistry, and geriatric medicine, she blends clinical skill with innovative leadership to create affordable, community-based models that reduce shelter intake and keep pets with their families. She is also a committed mentor, guiding veterinarians, students, and support staff in developing compassionate, community-driven approaches to practice. Trained at St. George’s University School of Veterinary Medicine in Grenada, Dr. Kalinauskas gained a global perspective that has shaped her extensive international work in underserved regions. Across all of her roles, she combines medical excellence, organizational leadership, and mentorship to strengthen veterinary care systems and build healthier communities where pets and people thrive together.
Ariella Samson, DVM
Dr. Ariella R. Samson is a Pittsburgh-based veterinarian, shelter medicine expert, and public health advocate with over a decade of leadership in animal welfare. She most recently served as Executive Director of Humane Animal Rescue of Pittsburgh (HARP), where she led an $11M organization and launched pioneering programs like the Humane Health Coalition and the M.O.V.E.S. mobile care unit. A national speaker and educator, Dr. Samson is known for integrating veterinary care with human health services to support underserved communities. In addition to her leadership and advocacy, Dr. Samson remains deeply committed to hands-on practice. She continues to provide clinical care and perform a wide range of surgical procedures, from high-quality, high-volume spay/neuter to urgent and complex soft tissue surgeries, ensuring that animals directly benefit from her expertise. This balance of executive leadership and ongoing clinical work keeps her grounded in the daily realities of veterinary medicine while shaping innovative, community-centered models of care. She earned her D.V.M. with honors from the University of Illinois and completed a Specialty Internship in Shelter Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania.
Tim Lydon
Tim Lydon was born and raised in the South Hills of Pittsburgh before attending the University of Mount Union in Alliance, OH. He and his wife, Molly, live in Wexford, PA and run a boarding facility in addition to Harmony Dog Rescue, an organization they founded in 2023. Harmony Dog Rescue serves western PA and provides free emergency boarding and foster care to people experiencing a crisis or temporary hardship. His work in animal welfare led him to realize that he loves helping people solve their problems. He has a passion for direct outreach and meeting people where they are, so he is thrilled to join the Pittsburgh Street Dog Coalition team. Tim and Molly also have three dogs -- Moon, Moses and Franny—who serve as loyal and lovable ambassadors for Harmony Dog Rescue.
Partners & Resources:
Animal Friends
Bridge to the Mountains
Central Outreach
Harmony Dog Rescue
Our Streets Collective
Paws Across Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh Mercy's Operation Safety Net
Pitt School of Public Health
Street Medicine at Pitt
The Office of Community Health and Safety Roots Program
Press:
8.9.23 Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, “Homeless people's pets receive free exams, veterinary care.”
2.9.23 WTAE Channel 4 ABC News, “Helping to heal pets and their human companions”.
1.22.22 SDC YouTube Channel, Click here for a short video celebrating Dr. Tracey Rock, the original trailblazer for our SDC Pittsburgh Team. Dr. Rock received a Circle of Excellence award from Merck Animal Health based on her collaboration with SDC .
Photo Gallery:
