Free pet clinic builds on Health Wagon human health model

WISE — With the success of the Health Wagon's free summer clinics for 27 years, a companion veterinary care clinic is building on four years of growing demand.The Move Mountains Medical veterinary clinic at the Shelcy Mullins Fairgrounds in Wise saw four-legged patients from across Southwest Virginia, East Tennessee and eastern Kentucky — the same geographic ranges being served at the same time by Health Wagon volunteers a few miles away Friday.Delilah McFadden with the Virginia Department of Health and Abingdon veterinarian Dr. John Roberts, coordinators for the weekend free clinic, worked with veterinarians from the immediate area and volunteers from Michigan, Virginia Tech and the Wise County Humane Society to get pets their needed vaccines.Roberts said Friday's drive-thru model — not the same as the human clinic a few miles away — helps pet owners keep their furry family members in a comfortable and controllable situation as veterinarians and assistants gave rabies, distemper and parvo shots to hundreds of dogs and cats.McFadden, who has worked with the M7 pet clinic since it started four years ago, said healthcare is expensive for humans and animals and the M7 clinic helps ease that cost in a vital and required area for pet owners.Rabies shots are also good health practice for pets and humans alike, McFadden said, since the viral disease is effectively 100% fatal for animals and people.Trimming a pet's claws can be difficult for many pet owners, and groomer Kaylan Laws was handling everything from Pomeranians to bull terriers.Dr. Laura Hungerford, professor at Virginia Tech's Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, brought a team of vets and students to help with vaccinations and consultations."We've also got a whole group from Michigan including Saginaw Valley State University," said Hungerford. "If you think about it, most families in the area have pets and that makes them multi-species families. If you're going to serve the whole family but say, 'not these animals,' you're putting a burden on the whole family."Hungerford also praised Laws."People have said if a giant tiger was running wild through here, Kaylan could stop it and cut its nails," Hungerford said with a laugh.The Wise County Animal Shelter and animal control have helped get out the word about the clinic, Hungerford said.Coeburn veterinarian Dr. Cody Lawson and his veterinary technicians had plenty to do Friday."There were people lined up all the way out to the parking lot when we got here this morning," said Lawson, "and it's been a pretty good turnout and consistent for several hours. We're really pleased seeing people get out and get the care their pets need."Pets coming through the clinic fit the description of veterinarian James Herriot's book, "All Creatures Great and Small," Lawson said."We had a trailer of three Great Pyrenees come through," said Lawson, "and everybody thought it was going to be goats or something. They were good patients, calm as could be."Lawson then switched to smaller patients — a couple of Jack Russell terriers.After getting their pets vaccinated, owners could get information from the Wise County Humane Society on low-cost spay-neuter services for cats and dogs in the area. Society Coordinator Julia Winston said owners should consider spaying and neutering pets because of growing unwanted pet populations."It's expensive," said Winston, "and there are options to ease that cost," Winston said."A course of rabies, distemper and parvo shots can cost over $100," Roberts said. This is a wonderful thing because we're helping reach underserved animals. We're really filling a need. Whether you're lower of higher income, you can have your pets vaccinated for free.""The Health Wagon does a great job," said Roberts. "There's a ton of good people providing good quality care and they spend a lot of time organizing this."The pet clinic continues Saturday, 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. at the Shelcy Mullins Fairgrounds in Wise.