Pet wellness clinic offered to low-income families
Families living on tight budgets may have one less thing to worry about this weekend: pet care.
The city of Aurora is teaming with the National Animal Welfare Society to offer a low-cost wellness clinic for pets.
Walk-ins will be taken from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday at the city's Animal Control and Care Facility, 600 S. River St.
Vet technicians from the National Animal Welfare Society will be on site to provide dogs and cats exams, rabies shots, vaccinations and other services at lower costs.
The two-day event is aimed at low-income families and intended to promote proper veterinary care, organizers say.
Organizers hope to see between 200 and 300 pets, she said.
"What we hope is that more animals will have that care with us," said Kathi Daniels, executive clinic director for the National Animal Welfare Society.
The vets will do initial exams and treat conditions like eye and ear infections, she said.
"For a lot of the animals, it's the only time they'll see a vet," she said.
Services include rabies shots, micro-chipping, heartworm testing and prevention, flea treatments and nail trimming.
Making sure pets are up to date on vaccinations helps prevent the spread of diseases, said Linda Nass, the city's animal control manager.
"By vaccinating your animal, you are not only protecting your pet's health but your family's health as well," she said.
The nonprofit National Animal Welfare Society's first clinic will open in Mokena at the end of November. The agency's ultimate goal is to open clinics in every state targeting high-risk and low-income areas.
The Aurora visit is part of an outreach program where the group's vets travel to various sites to provide care.
The National Animal Welfare Society, currently based in Chicago, also urges families to spay or neuter their pets.
Doing so reduces the animal's risk for cancer, saves on vet bills and reduces aggression, among other benefits, leaders say.
For information or a full list of services and prices, visit fvawl.org/events/2007/WellnessClinic/wellness_11-10-07.htm.
If you go
What: Wellness clinic for dogs and cats
Where: City of Aurora Animal Control, 600 S. River St.
When: Walk-ins taken 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday
Cost: Varies depending on services
Info: fvawl.org/events/2007/WellnessClinic/wellness_11-10-07.htm