While the cost of vet treatments can be expensive and out of reach for most homeless people, an ACT-based initiative is aiming to provide free vet care for pets owned by some of Canberra's most vulnerable.

Now in its second year, Pets in the Park is a service that runs once a month outside Pilgrim House in Civic, giving free health checks to dogs and cats belonging to homeless people in the capital.

As part of the service, pets are given free vaccinations and worming, as well as checks for lumps or other medical conditions.

Free surgical clinics are also held two to three times per year if a pet needs to be desexed or have dental work.

Founding member and administration manager Heather Bates said the initiative in the capital  followed the success of similar programs in Sydney and Melbourne. "It initially started in Sydney in 2009 when a vet took a fold-out table and an esky full of vaccinations and tablets and worked alongside a food outlet for homeless people," she said.

"We launched our first clinic in Canberra in April 2017 with a small group of people consisting of local vets and vet nurses, and we've expanded to running clinics on the first Sunday of the month."

The service started again last Sunday, with dozens of pets already helped in the short amount of time Pets in the Park has been running.

So far, there have been 66 health checks, five desexings, two lump removals and two dental surgeries.

Mrs Bates said numbers were expected to grow in the coming months as the initiative expands.

"We started with five clients, and our highest number at a session has been 12, so it does vary. But it is growing and we are expecting more," she said.

As well as vet clinics, Pets in the Park also allows homeless people access to an animal hygienist, who provides free pet grooming, as well as free collars, leads, food and blankets. While the service is by referral only, Mrs Bates said the initiative was also available to people with pets who are at risk of being homeless as well.

"There are many people in Canberra who couch surf and are at risk of homelessness," she said.

The founding member said for many homeless people, pets provide comfort and were vital for their mental health.

"Having pets improve their lives because it improves their mental stability due to the human-animal bond," Mrs Bates said. "A pet provides unconditional love and companionship and provides a notion of support that a lot of these people don't receive anywhere else."