Free clinic aims to keep street pets healthy

Amanda Farrell, Times Colonist
Published: Tuesday, June 13, 2006

Dr. Kam Brar inspects six tiny kittens on a makeshift examining table made of a sheet of stainless steel placed on top of a freezer. The five-week-old fluffballs are too young to get vaccinated, but Arar checks their vital signs and deems them to be healthy.

The kittens are just a few of the animals Brar sees during Monday's Street Clinic for Street Pets at Our Place on Johnson Street. Outside of the temporary examination room, at least a dozen more pet owners are waiting for free veterinary services, including vaccinations, flea and worm treatments, and appointments for spaying and neutering.

The clinic is funded by the Greater Victoria Animals' Crusaders. While the organization has been assisting low-income pet owners with veterinary costs for over 30 years, this is the first time they have put on a free clinic aimed at street pets.

"The idea of doing something to provide assistance to street [animals] like this has been talked about for years," said Rick Sargent, a member of the group.

"[It's] an opportunity to provide some simple services that they would never get that your dog or cat would get as a matter of routine."

Brar was happy to volunteer his time for the clinic after being approached by Greater Victoria Animals' Crusaders.

"This was something which was very much in my mind," he said. "We [just] didn't know how to do it."

While the kittens finish up their exam, Sonya Rhodes makes an appointment for their mother, a petite tabby named Minion, to get spayed. It's Minion's second litter this year, said Rhodes, and she took the day off work in order to bring the cats to the clinic. The cats belong to her son Ken, who can't afford to get Minion spayed, an operation which can cost almost $200.

"He makes close to minimum wage and pays $600 a month in rent," she said.

Snoopy, a six-year-old Australian Red Heeler, is another animal who visited the clinic. Her owner, Drew Curry, saw an ad in the paper and cut it out to remind himself to come.

"I'm on disability and can't afford regular veterinary care unfortunately," said Curry, who adopted Snoopy from the SPCA two years ago.

Curry and Snoopy live in a van and are no strangers to tight finances. When the crunch is on, Snoopy always comes first.

"I'll do without before she does without," Curry said.

Many low-income or homeless people have pets, said Curry. He thinks it's because many of those who are on the streets with mental or physical disabilities can have trouble relating to other people and an animal provides much needed companionship. "They're a living, breathing thing. It's the difference between being alone and being lonely."

The Greater Victoria Animals' Crusaders also have clinics planned for July and August.

The SPCA also offers some relief for pet owners struggling with vet bills. Last month, the SPCA announced the Ginger Project, an initiative providing $50,000 per year over six years to help spay or neuter cats belonging to low-income residents. The amount of assistance cat owners will receive depends on their income, said Victoria SPCA manager Penny Stone.