Pets in Need Get Help Indeed
RAPS and partners mobilize to provide vet care in the Downtown Eastside.
Pets who don’t always get the veterinary care they need got checkups, vaccinations and some routine care they needed, thanks to a “pop-up” vet clinic RAPS Animal Hospital put on recently in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside.
A total of 135 animals – including 45 cats and 90 dogs – were assisted during the clinic, which was made possible through the support of Vancity Community Foundation and the Leo and Frances Longo Fund for Charity to Animals. RAPS worked with Watari Counselling & Support Services, which operates regularly on the DTES, to deliver the pop-up clinic on December 17, 2023.
“The clinic focused on examinations, vaccinations, and flea and parasite treatments, as well as other routine procedures such as ear-flushing,” says Eyal Lichtmann, CEO of RAPS. “The response far surpassed what we had anticipated, and was greater than what we experienced in the past.”
Demand was so great, in fact, that there were people and animals who weren’t able to see the veterinarians during the December event. These clients are now on a waitlist to receive additional help through the RAPS Animal Hospital, and Watari continues to receive inquiries from more of their clients about additional support, says Lichtmann.
Additional support for this clinic provided by Anipet Animal Supplies, Boehringer Ingelheim and Dechra Veterinary Products.
Everything RAPS accomplishes is with the extraordinary support of Applewood Auto Group, our most outstanding community partner. Applewood has provided RAPS – free of charge! – with the space housing the RAPS Animal Hospital and the RAPS administrative offices. On top of that, they have given RAPS the vehicle that is to serve as our Urgent Transport Unit – and have donated a brand new Nissan Rogue Platinum that you can win!
“We also hope to be able to obtain additional donated vaccinations, treatments and supplies so that we can offer follow-up booster shots and treatments to those who have already received assistance, as well as helping even more animals as time goes on,” he said.
