‘They are a miracle’: Homeless and low-income pet owners get access to free Nanaimo vet clinic

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In a dark bedroom where Tina Dodd spends most of her time due to severe illness, her 15-year-old dog, Zorro, keeps her company.

“I can’t imagine not having him,” said Dodd.

The Nanaimo woman says some days, feeding her aging dog and taking him outside are the only reasons she gets out of bed.

Living in poverty, sharing her rented suite with two seniors who had nowhere to turn, she has nothing left for the vet care that Zorro needs.

So a generous group of Nanaimo veterinarians are banding together to help the many needy people, like Dodd, and their pets.

“They are a miracle. They keep families together,” said Dodd.

“It’s awesome. We’ve been doing it for three years now. It’s only seen growth,” said Dr. Courtenay Large, a Veterinarian volunteering with Helping Paws Nanaimo Community Animal Clinic.

Every month, Helping Paws, holds a mobile clinic at Nanaimo’s St. Peter’s Church, and too sick to bring him herself, Dodd’s friend brought Zorro in for a check-up.

“Without him, she’d be alone. He’s what’s keeping her alive,” said Ron Leonard, a longtime friend of Dodd’s.

“The vets are all volunteering, a lot of the products have been donated and you know the pets can get some medical care and examined. So we know if there’s some upcoming problems. Because it doesn’t matter where you are financially, your pets are very important to you,” said Dr. Ken Langelier, a Veterinarian volunteering with Helping Paws.

“People that are truly homeless or in low-income housing, they will feed their dog or their cat before they feed themselves and so being able to help them out with preventative care and flea medication,” said Dr. Large.

“Homeless people come here for their flea treatments, vaccine updates and they walk for miles. They push the dogs in the little carts and they are here like clockwork,” said Leon Davis of BC SPCA.

Thursday, vets saw 56 pets in 2 hours and Zorro got the medical care he needs, so he can keep taking care of Tina Dodd.

The next clinic is scheduled for June 23.

Skye RyanSkye Ryan

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