community
Charity Sees The Need, Not The Cause.
words and pictures by Anna Cooke
Every Tuesday and Thursday, like clockwork, the line forms outside a building located in an industrial area of Tampa. Many have come on foot, some on bikes. Each person is holding a pet. A few of the animals, mostly cats and dogs, are ill or injured, requir- ing immediate attention. Others are there for a much-needed rou- tine check-up, a spay/neuter procedure, heartworm medication or some pet food. Vets 4 Pets (as in vet-
erinarians) is serving a part of the community most of us don't notice as we zip around in our cars going to work, shopping, keeping appointments. These people, waiting outside Vets 4 Pets until the clinic opens for the day's business, are the area's poor. Some are homeless, living out of their cars. Others are retired veterans or senior citizens on fixed incomes. A few have had a temporary setback - loss of work, home foreclo- sure. Each one clearly loves and cares for the pet they are bringing to the clinic for medical attention. The cat or dog, to many of these folks, is their only companion. “She’s everything I live for,” said one of the clinic’s clients the day we visited. The clinic is located inside an older strip center that is almost
vacant of other tenants. Inside, the clinic looks like a M.A.S.H. unit with a small staff and three volunteers doing big things, serving a community clearly in need. Outside, you won’t find any late model cars in the parking lot. This is an area that most of us would never travel. Why would we? There’s nothing there for us to purchase, see or do. And yet, the line that forms each Tuesday and Thursday out- side that clinic represents a segment of the population that is in each and every community. The Vets 4 Pets project is a show of humanity we all need to be reminded of throughout the year. Owned and operated by the Hillsborough Animal Health
Foundation and its member veterinary hospitals, the non-profit 501(c)3 charitable clinic offers Gold Standard Care to pets at blue light specials. The care, compassion and respect shown to the clinic’s clientele never seems to wane throughout the busy day - from the receptionist to the doctor on duty to the vet techs and volunteers. They’re averaging around 10 surgeries a day and have about 20 walk-ins in addition to the appointments. No one is ever turned away for lack of money. Other low cost clinics in the community, set up to help those who cannot afford veterinary care
74 THE NEW BARKER
for their pets, have referred people to Vets 4 Pets. At the moment, Shaun and Tanner, his Poodle, are homeless.
He tells the staff that he once lived in a country club neighbor- hood outside of New York City. Then he started taking drugs and “screwed up my life.” He moved to Florida for a change. Tanner is his only companion. “He does not judge me. He is always happy to see me. I would do anything for him,” said Shaun. While Shaun is working, Tanner stays in a boarding facility. “For a few hours every day, Tanner gets to live with air conditioning and have a nice time,” said Shaun, whose paycheck goes mostly towards the care of his dog, including food. I ask myself, how does one ever get ahead with a situation like that? A Publix employee
Vets 4 Pets, Tampa. Dr. O during surgery. Gizmo, Dr. O’s dog comes to the clinic with her.
found a puppy on the side of the road coming home from work one evening. The dog was emaciated and obviously not doing well. The woman posted a plea for help on social media. “One of our volunteers saw the post, made the connection and told her to bring the puppy to Vets 4 Pets,” said Karen Hubby, the clinic’s Outreach Coordinator. Once the puppy was sta-
bilized by Vets 4 Pets and their veterinary partners, the woman ended up adopting the dog. Then, there was Robin. Homeless, she became a Downtown
Tampa fixture, pulling around her senior Bassett Hound, Nicky, in a little red wagon. After earning Robin’s trust, Karen managed to bring them to the clinic to have the dog examined. “We gave Nicky a thorough examination, put him on heartworm medica- tion and gave Robin a supply of pet food,” said Karen. Robin could not believe the kindness that had been offered her at no cost, whatsoever.
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