The Best Treatment Is Time and
Respect.Continued from previous page. “These folks generally want to share their stories,” said
Chris. “Recently, a gentleman brought his dog Sophie, a Chihuahua, in for an exam. He has no family. His only income is Social Security. He’s living in a steel container with no electricity or water. He wants to find a home but won’t go anywhere without Sophie at his side. That makes his search for a place he can afford even harder.”
sixties. After suffering a family tragedy years ago, he has strug- gled with depression and despair. Raggs, a 14-year-old Terrier, has been his trusted and constant companion. “Ralph is a regu- lar, faithfully picking up medications for Raggs, even though he has to walk from where he lives near I-75,” said Chris. “He complains of going to bed hungry. He has no one but Raggs and told me, if his dog goes in the morning, he will be gone by night.”
Another gentleman who arrives with his dog becomes
teary-eyed when his number comes up for his appointment and his name is called — Mr. Valentine? “No one has ever called me ‘Mr.’ before,” he said. The Clinic provides the simplest, most basic care for pets,
yet it’s clear their owners are very grateful. “It’s amazing to experience how turning our attention to someone’s beloved dog or cat, and our ears to their owner, connects us and lifts all of our spirits. Simple human acts somehow fill big holes,” said Chris. “The homeless are not faceless,” said Dale. “They’re people.
Those who say that the poor should not own pets should rethink that statement, because that could be the only thing that gives them joy and love. Besides, if these animals are healthier, the downtown environment is healthier.” Volunteers learn about the people behind those faces. “It
has exceeded all of our expectations,” Chris told us. “Getting to know people in these really difficult situations and seeing the responsibility they take for the care of their animals, it’s clear the majority are incredibly responsible pet owners. It’s been one of the most satisfying volunteer things I have ever done.”
Home is wherever my dog is. Ralph and Raggs. Both Chris and Dale agree, “It’s great that city leaders and
many concerned residents are dedicating more attention to affordable housing. Based on what we hear from the people we see, we know there is a desperate need as rents rise and options dwindle. Yet, we’ve also learned that the need goes beyond housing and even beyond other challenges like lack of trans- portation, food and jobs.” The talk around the clinic on the morning of our visit was
about Dignity Village, a place on the other side of town where about 250 homeless people live in tents. An outbreak of parvo had been reported, and immediate plans were underway to treat the pets and decontaminate the area. “There is nothing digni- fied about that place,” Dale remarked. Many of the clinic’s clients are estranged from their families
or have no families. They sorely lack love and companionship. “Their pet is often their only friend and their only anchor to normality,” said Dale. Chris talks about another gentleman, Ralph, who is in his
28 THE NEW BARKER
Dr. Dale Kaplan-Stein and Christine Ackerman Machen. Dale sees the satisfaction the clients receive as well.
“Animals give us unconditional love,” she says. “As long as they have food and shelter – they don’t care if it’s a cardboard box or the Taj Mahal. They make us better people.” “The vision of our clinic is not just to take care of residents
of Gainesville, but to help teach the veterinary community throughout our country, and hopefully the world, that you can have clinics like this,” said Chris. “This new building will make us sustainable. It will be here for years and years.”
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www.TheNewBarker.com
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