London vet clinic offers reduced rates for low-income pet owners

A veterinary clinic in eastLondon, Ont., is offering services like vaccinations, spay and neuteringto low-income catownerswho may struggle to afford animalcare.

Along with pets, The East Village Animal Hospital (EVAH), 1777 Dundas Street, treatsferal cats and stray cats. They charge anywhere between $60-$100 per visit, depending on the animal's age and health.

The clinic's executive director, Laurie Ristmae,told CBC'sLondon Morning that they are seeing a large number of catson a drop-offbasis and through volunteers helping trap feral cats.

"We do 25 to 35surgeries a day," she said. "These can be the lower-income public, and we have a day every weekthat is a drop-off dayfor cats and traps without an appointment."

'It's simply not humane to kill thousands of cats'

To treat outdoorcats, the clinic uses the Trap, Neuter, Returnprocess, wherecats are humanely trapped andbrought to the clinic to bespayed orneutered, vaccinated, and ear-tippedfor others to recognize that they are sterilized.

Ristmae highlights the importance of neutering and vaccinating outdoorcats instead of using methods like poisoning or euthanizing them. She believes "it's simply not humane to kill thousands of cats" to prevent overpopulation.

"We would rather try and look after catsin a humane manner," she added. "When they're fixed, they're also not spreading disease, not fighting as much, andsticking closer to their colonies ... so they're not hunting to survive."

The clinic also works with rural property owners who have large populations of stray and barn cats. Ristmae points out that outdoor cats do a service in helping the ecosystem out as well.

"These can be generations of cats who are assisting us in a waybykeeping the rodent population under controland are part of our healthsystem out there," she said.

Every loving pet owner really needs accessible vetcare

EVAHworks as a non-profit clinic to help support pet owners, Ristmae wants to make sure that money isn't a factor in pets not receiving the appropriate care that they deserve.

"Every loving pet owner really needs accessible veterinary care, and just because you don't have the same amount in your wallet as someone else doesn't mean you should be denied the right to accessible care,"

To qualify for EVAH's services,clients are usually referred to them from community agencies such as women's shelters, community housing, and they need to show that they've qualified as low-income orare receivingsocial assistance.

Understanding the importance of pet care

Statistics from London Animal Care Centre, show that in the past six months, cat adoptions have nearly doubled. Almost 50cats have been adopted in September,alone.Ristmaeand her team want to ensure that clients know what measures are needed to keep petshealthy.

Although her staff of twelve doctors, is very busy--sometimes working over time, Ristmae says the gratitude of their clients keeps them motivated. "Overall, they're just thankful," she added.

EVAH also runs a mobile service that travels to Northern Ontario,havea second location in Kitchener, andwill be expanding into Hamiltonearly next year.