Low Cost Wellness Clinics 2024 Recap
In 2024, Our Companions Animal Rescue held three Low Cost Veterinary Wellness Clinics for our communities in need. While we always encourage pet guardians to become established with a regular veterinarian, especially for emergencies, our goal is to provide full exams, vaccines and education that many would not be able to receive otherwise. We want them to experience a personal, welcoming service where they can ask questions medical and behavioral questions to vet and OC staff about their pet’s care. We are also able to help with aftercare, such as dentals or bloodwork for further diagnostics.
Our first clinic in April was with Dr. Charity Uman at our Program Center in Manchester. We were able to help ten clients with a total of twelve pets, six dogs and six cats). It was a busy, successful day with many new clients. What is wonderful about our clinics is that the vet is available for questions and discussions that many vaccine clinics are not able to take the time to do. A newly adopted cat from a less than ideal environment came in with some issues, including a severe matt alongside his backside. It was not an easy task, and we were a bit unsure whether medication intervention was needed to remove the matt. However, Dr. Uman and her tech, Hilary got the job done with their patience and gentleness, and were able to help make the cat comfortable again. The person that rescued the cat was in tears as the matt was being removed. She knew removing the matt alleviated a lot of discomfort and pain he was experiencing. She even sent us a thank you card to show her appreciation of the special care we provided.
In October, we wanted to help our community surrounded our Animal Sanctuary so we held it at The Ashford Senior Center with Dr Laurie Brown and her Mobile Animal Clinic of Eastern Connecticut. We helped four cats and five dogs with 75% of the clients coming from the adjacent senior housing units. One client was very grateful as she would trek to Manchester from Mansfield every year to our clinics and the trip was becoming more difficult for her and her two cats.
Our last clinic of the year was in November and held at the Program Center working for the first time with Dr. Weston Brown. It was a very successful day seeing twelve cats and four dogs with most clients being new to our clinic. We were able to help with follow up care with some much-needed dentals and heartworm preventatives. One client has needed some continual help with diagnostics and medications while she gets back on her feet. We have been able to help her with that partly because of the Neighbors in Need gift card drive we held back in 2023.
We want to give a special thank you to all the veterinary and OC staff and volunteers that dedicate their time and expertise to our low cost clinics. Most of these clients at these clinics haven’t been to a vet in a very long time, or have never been to a vet at all. Therefore, we’re so grateful we can service these pets, their health, while also educating the importance of vet care to their owners and creating a nurturing, welcoming environment. Ensuring affordable, accessible veterinary care, we hope these pets and their families live a healthy, happier life together.
And another thank you to our supporters that help fund these clinics so we can continue to provide wellness care at a low cost. You’re not only helping animals in need, but helping animals stay in homes with the people they love, and that are unconditionally loved in return. If you’d like to donate and contribute to our mission, click here!
