Pictured is the League for Animal Welfare’s new mobile veterinary clinic, which was purchased earlier this year as part of the league’s new community outreach program.

Pictured is the League for Animal Welfare’s new mobile veterinary clinic, which was purchased earlier this year as part of the league’s new community outreach program.
By Megan Alley
Sun staff

The League for Animal Welfare’s new mobile veterinary clinic is helping treat homeless animals throughout the county.

The fully equipped mobile clinic, which is 26 feet long, was purchased earlier this year as part of the league’s new community outreach program.

Currently, the mobile clinic is staffed by a veterinarian, registered veterinary technician and veterinary assistant, and is being used to provide on-site veterinary care for the league’s resident dogs and cats, thus eliminating the need for transport to a local vet and reducing both costs and stress on the animals, according to a press release.

The league, which operates greater Cincinnati’s first and largest no-kill animal shelter, can house up to 40 dogs and 100 cats, according to Marilyn Goodrich, executive director.

“We do a full medical exam, provide vaccines and spay or neuter all the animals that come in; we try to take care of everything upfront,” Goodrich explained.

While details are still being finalized, the league is also working with Clermont to the Rescue Humane Society to provide similar on-site services for the humane society’s resident dogs and cats.

“They would come here to do spays and neuters, and we wouldn’t have to transport the animals, which would save time and money in transportation,” Eva Devon, president of the humane society said. “And the dogs and cats wouldn’t be moved all around, which would allow them to relax after surgery.”

She added, “The whole program would be very convenient and very helpful.”

The league purchased the pre-owned mobile clinic for $150,000 from a veterinarian in Battle Creek, Michigan. A recent $200,000 grant from The Joanie Bernard Foundation and a $100,000 donation from a private donor helped pay for the mobile unit, supplies and staffing.

Looking ahead to this fall, the league plans to further develop its community outreach program and schedule mobile clinic visits to outlying communities in Brown and Adams counties and Bracken County in Kentucky, that lack access to veterinary care.

The clinics will provide low-cost veterinary exams, shots, flea/tick and other preventative medications, as well as dentals and x-rays as needed for dogs and cats in these communities, according to a press release.

The Bernard grant also will fund vouchers for free cat spay/neuters, while a grant from the Waddell Family Foundation will subsidize vaccines for dogs.

“We will be able to take dedicated veterinary care outwards of 40 miles from our facility and offer affordable pet care, including preventative and spay and neuter, to those who may not have the resources available otherwise,” Goodrich said.

She added, “This outreach program will allow people who love their pets and want to care for them to provide medical care that keeps the pets in their homes; we don’t want people to have to give up their pets because they can’t afford to care for them.”

Animals in rural county shelters also will be examined and spayed or neutered during these visits, with shelter animals being treated in the morning and community clinics being held in the afternoon, according to a press release.

“The general population is impacted with the spays and neuters because it means that less stray animals will be wandering around,” Goodrich said. “It’s helping to control animal population.”

For more information about the League for Animal Welfare, visit their website at lfaw.org.