With his sunken cheeks and darting, wide eyes, Raymond RamsayB次元官网网址檚 face is evidence of a hard life lived, one that has aged him well beyond his 31 years.

Around him, some of Greater VictoriaB次元官网网址檚 neediest B次元官网网址� the homeless, the working poor and those dependent on disability payments or social assistance B次元官网网址� stream into the courtyard at Our Place in downtown Victoria.

Some have been waiting more than an hour to ensure their pets are examined by a nine-member volunteer team of veterinarians, veterinary nurses and assistants, who set up shop in the courtyard on the second Thursday of every month, from 2 to 4 p.m.

The appointment book at Dr. Jane VermeulenB次元官网网址檚 Philanthropic Vaccine Clinic B次元官网网址� better known as Vets for Pets B次元官网网址� fills up quickly.

During his appointment, Ramsay receives care instructions and a baggy of medicine to treat his neighbourB次元官网网址檚 dogs. Typically, Ramsay brings his beloved cat, Minou, to the clinic, a place he says has made pet ownership more affordable.

He was shocked a few months ago when he was saddled with a $200 bill for a flea treatment at a for-profit clinic.

B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 when I started to come here, because itB次元官网网址檚 free,B次元官网网址� he says.

His disability payments only go so far, and despite the expense that comes with owning an animal, he wonB次元官网网址檛 give up his cat.

Ramsay credits his feline companion for giving him a reason to kick a drug habit, as well as stay out of jail and remain housed for almost two years.

B次元官网网址淲hen weB次元官网网址檙e sitting outside on the sidewalk (panhandling), people are looking at us in different ways, because weB次元官网网址檙e dirty and we dress different. They call us drug addicts,B次元官网网址� says Ramsay, an alcoholic and a recovering heroin addict. B次元官网网址淏ut a dog will not judge you. My cat loves me no matter what. And for a person like me, love means a lot. If you only have hurt and anger in your world, itB次元官网网址檚 not a good world to live in.B次元官网网址�

The accomplishment of being able to feed Minou and keep her healthy makes Ramsay feel B次元官网网址渉appy.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淚t gives me a sense of purpose,B次元官网网址� he says.

Vets for Pets makes that possible.

A veterinary clinic on the run

A team of four volunteers treated just eight pets when Vermeulen opened the clinic in September 2009.

Today, nine volunteers administer vaccines for rabies, kennel cough, distemper and other contagious diseases, as well as flea and worm controls to 60 animals B次元官网网址� mostly dogs, cats, rabbits and rats B次元官网网址� in just two hours.

B次元官网网址淧art of the reason why we do this is it keeps the disease level lower, because these dogs have a lot of contact with other dogs,B次元官网网址� Vermeulen says.

Her team cares for animals in an intense, fast-paced environment in which there is an element of risk; some clients arrive high on drugs, though most are able to function well.

Regardless, Vermeulen says the work is rewarding.

B次元官网网址淲e all feel weB次元官网网址檙e doing something valuable for animals,B次元官网网址� the Esquimalt resident says. B次元官网网址淲e became veterinarians to help animals, and sometimes you kind of forget about that a bit. ItB次元官网网址檚 kind of nice to get back to the basics.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址楾he basicsB次元官网网址� include medicines donated by pharmaceutical companies, and supplies purchased by Vermeulen.

Donated pet food is available outside the cat clinic, which operates out of the no-frills shipping and receiving room at Our Place. Outside, Vermeulen and her volunteers treat their canine patients in a space surrounded by large garbage dumpsters, sheltered by an overhang.

Her team sometimes encounters pets that are in very poor health B次元官网网址� those cases are referred to the B.C. SPCA for follow-up B次元官网网址� but B次元官网网址渘ot as many as people would think,B次元官网网址� she says.

B次元官网网址淪ome of these are the best-kept animals in Victoria. TheyB次元官网网址檙e with their owners all the time.B次元官网网址�

Evidence of the growing need for her clinic is close at hand.

In one corner of the courtyard, a cat dozes on the chest of a young man who is lying on a blanket, surrounded by his few worldly possessions. Nearby, men hover near their overflowing shopping carts, their dogs by their side.

Everywhere, canine critters strain on their leashes in an effort to sniff one another. Barking erupts loudly in one corner. Several nervous lap cats are comforted by their humans.

Some pet owners make the trip each month from as far away as Sooke.

Looking after the owners, not just the pets

Veterinarian Horace Yeung drives in from Duncan to donate his time and expertise.

B次元官网网址淭his is very basic medicine, but the bottom line is we do our best to help the animals,B次元官网网址� says Yeung, who helps out in the cat clinic. B次元官网网址淵es, we do have limited supplies of medications and assistance or diagnostic tests, but we use our knowledge, our judgment to do the best for the patient. ThatB次元官网网址檚 a crucial part of medicine. It doesnB次元官网网址檛 need to be fancy.B次元官网网址�

A man approaches the doctor and, with a mischievous twinkle in his eye, says, B次元官网网址淚 have a guppy who has a drinking problem.B次元官网网址�

Yeung laughs. B次元官网网址淚 donB次元官网网址檛 know if I can help you too much.B次元官网网址�

His work at the clinic is about much more than caring for his four-legged patients.

B次元官网网址淚n a setting like this or a small-animal clinic, you often have two patients: the owner and the animal.B次元官网网址�

Monthly visits to the clinic are a highlight for regulars Mary-Lee Cunningham and Chris McMenamie.

Both say the free service is the reason why many impoverished people are able to keep the pets that give meaning to their lives.

B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 lots of times we want something that we canB次元官网网址檛 afford,B次元官网网址� says McMenamie, his cat, Loki, perched on his shoulder. B次元官网网址淟oki is a part of my life and I donB次元官网网址檛 want to get rid of him for anything. I would gladly do without to make sure he has the food that he needs.B次元官网网址�

CunninghamB次元官网网址檚 cats Storm and Tigger are like family, providing her with the unconditional love she went without while struggling with addiction and living for almost a decade on VictoriaB次元官网网址檚 streets. Her life turned around two years ago.

B次元官网网址淭heyB次元官网网址檝e kept me grounded, kept me home, gave me something to look forward to B次元官网网址� a start, because IB次元官网网址檇 lost my family for some time,B次元官网网址� she says.

Vets for Pets is her ticket to responsible pet ownership.

B次元官网网址淭hese people actually take their time out to come and help us that canB次元官网网址檛 afford to get these shots B次元官网网址� I mean, some of these shots are $150,B次元官网网址� Cunningham says. B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 just no way I could afford it.B次元官网网址�

Meanwhile, things are looking up for Ramsay and Minou. They will soon move to a better place on Store Street.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 one bedroom, $375 (a month) and theyB次元官网网址檒l allow my cat,B次元官网网址� Ramsay says proudly. He plans to add a second feline to his family once he settles in.

Finding a place that welcomes pets was just as important, he says, as getting out of the B次元官网网址渃rack shackB次元官网网址� apartment building where he currently lives in Victoria.

B次元官网网址淧eople are not going to get rid of their pets,B次元官网网址� Vermeulen says. B次元官网网址淧eople say, B次元官网网址榃ell, they shouldnB次元官网网址檛 have a pet if they canB次元官网网址檛 afford it.B次元官网网址� ItB次元官网网址檚 not going to happen. ItB次元官网网址檚 companionship.

B次元官网网址淣ow we can at least make sure the pets are healthy and the diseases are under control,B次元官网网址� she says, before launching herself back onto the front lines of providing care not only to needy pets, but also for the most grateful of pet owners.

B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 why we do this.B次元官网网址�

emccracken@vicnews.com

How to help

B次元官网网址� Vets for Pets needs to purchase or receive a donated hand-held otoscope for ear examinations.

Veterinarian Jane VermeulenB次元官网网址檚 wish list also includes pet food, antibiotics, parasite controls, thermometers, office supplies, syringes and monetary donations.

B次元官网网址� For details or to donate, email victoriavetsforpets@gmail.com