A local animal hospital is providing veterinary care for pets of the homeless in Reno. The free clinic is offered several times a year. Today, a few temporary canopies are set up outside the downtown shelters run by Volunteers of America. Under the canopies, Dr. Michelle Brim with VCA Lakeside Animal Hospital is donating her services as she examines cats and dogs.
"Wellness exams, any basic medications, nail trims, if the Doctor if some acupuncture and some chiropractic would be helpful, we will do that", says VCA Lakeside hospital manager Elizabeth Stanton, explaining what is being offered free of charge
Many of the men and women visiting the clinic live on the streets because they do not want to be separated from his or her pet.
Aphyr says her dogs are like children to her; "This is Bear. Bear is my service dog that's in his retirement phase, he's ten years old"
A grant from Pets of the Homeless of Carson City helps cover some of the expenses, but the rest of the costs are donated by VCA Lakeside that has offices in Northwest Reno
Aphyr says she has no way to pay for pet care right now; "Animal care is just as important as human health care and Bear is kinda like my kid"
"And really they should all see Veterinarian just like we try to see our human doctor every year” says Stanton “So, we want them to be well, we don't want to see them suffer and we don't want them to be in pain”
Free pet food was also given away during the clinic.
VCA Lakeside will offer the next free clinic for pet of the homeless in the Fall. You may read more about them, here.
