A unique clinic operating at Our Place Society in Victoria is offering a vital lifeline to countless pets belonging to the cityB次元官网网址檚 unhoused population.

The unhoused care deeply for their pets and these cute critters are the only thing they have in their entire world, says Megan McCormack, co-director of the Vets For Pets clinic.

Vets for Pets is open on the second Sunday of each month and looks at 30 to 60 animals a day.

The service provided fulfils an essential public health function and allows the unhoused to get simple vet services for their favourite furry friends said Vets For Pets co-director Megan McCormack

B次元官网网址淪ome of these pets live outside and might be exposed to critters that carry rabies,B次元官网网址� she said.

McCormack said their organization cannot sedate animals or perform surgeries at Our Place.

B次元官网网址淲e look after simple vaccines and infections, such as those of the eyes, ears, and skin. Given that we operate outdoors in the shipping and receiving garbage recycling area, we canB次元官网网址檛 do much.B次元官网网址�

The service can only see cats and dogs at the Sunday session. However, it has started a mobile component. It will visit different housing organizations like the Cool-Aid Society and Pacifica Housing.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e seen birds, rats, rabbits, little pocket pets. No amphibians or reptiles yet,B次元官网网址� McCormack said

The mobile service will try to reach Greater Victoria but requires a large amount of volunteers and resources to be able to go and see people.

To access the service at Our Place, McCormack will hold an event on Facebook for people to sign up, but it is mostly word of mouth. At 10 a.m. on the same day as the clinic, people will register for medical care for pets in the courtyard of Our Place.

B次元官网网址淭he clinic starts at 10 and goes to 12, and then we just kind of do a first-come, first-served,B次元官网网址� McCormack said.

The service is volunteer-based, and the only person receiving compensation for their services is the security guard at Our Place.

B次元官网网址淲e can use up to five vets, technicians and assistants per session. We donB次元官网网址檛 always fill all those positions,B次元官网网址� McCormack said.

The service was started in 2008 by one of McCormackB次元官网网址檚 mentors, Jane Vermeulen, who had seen a need for this type of service and started looking after the basic needs of unhouse animals.

McCormack became involved when Vermeulen realized that the need for a service like the one she was producing was much larger than one person could handle.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檇 volunteered as a pre-veterinary student, trying to get into vet school, and I knew her from working at a clinic,B次元官网网址� McCormack said.

They believe the number of animals coming to their services has increased since the beginning as the small service started by her mentor has grown.

B次元官网网址淭he service was small but grew rapidly. I think the need has grown and will continue to grow,B次元官网网址� she said.

McCormack took over from Vermeulen in 2021 and is now looking after the day-to-day running of the service.

The group will raise funds and receive community donations to provide care, as the care they provide is free to the unhoused community.

B次元官网网址淲e have connections to clinics in the community that donate medications and tests,B次元官网网址� McCormack said.

For situations that Vet for Pets Victoria cannot treat, the unhoused and their loved ones may have few options as no low-income vet clinics operate in Greater Victoria.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 really hard. We donB次元官网网址檛 have the facilities to, but we try to point people in the right direction, but thereB次元官网网址檚 no guarantee that theyB次元官网网址檒l get the help.B次元官网网址�

McCormack gets some repeat visitors at the clinic, but these will mostly be older animals who might need palliative care.

B次元官网网址淥ne thing we do not offer is euthanasia. We canB次元官网网址檛 do that at Our Place. IB次元官网网址檓 able to bring some clients to the hospital that I work at to offer compassionate euthanasia.B次元官网网址�

It is very clear, too, McCormack, just how much the unhoused care for the animals that are with them, as most of the time, these cute critters will be the only thing they have in the world.

B次元官网网址淭hose pets will eat before they eat, or they wonB次元官网网址檛 stay in certain housing and prefer to stay on the street if their pets are not welcome like theyB次元官网网址檙e so loved and adored.B次元官网网址�

McCormack said there is such a stigma around unhoused and their animals, but the myth that they do not care about their pets is just not a reality.

B次元官网网址淲orking in at the emergency department, our costs are astronomical: at least $1,000 to do anything. And we regularly see people who have the means to do it but choose not to. Not having the money doesnB次元官网网址檛 equate to not caring or loving your pets,B次元官网网址� McCormack said.

To find out more about the organization, you can visit .

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