Dozens of pets received free veterinary care Tuesday through Remote Area Medical.
RAM usually offers free medical, dental and vision services for patients, but they also help their furry friends.
Tuesday morning they were lined up, barking and wagging, waiting to be checked in.
“This is Max. He’s our first family dog. We have a 10-year-old and a 6-year-old, and they wanted a dog so we got one finally,” said Tiffany Teaster who drove to Chilhowee Park in Knoxville from Sevierville for the pet clinic.
The free vet care came courtesy of RAM, Young-Williams Animal Center and the Humane Society of the Tennessee Valley.
“Their pets are part of their family, and for those family members it’s difficult when you can’t afford dental, vision or medical care for the human members of your family to be able to do that, to be able to provide spay/neuter, vaccines and microchips,” said Amanda Weber, RAM Community Veterinary Specialist.
They signed up all of the pets a couple weeks ago at the RAM medical clinic when people showed up for that, and they signed up more than 100 pets to receive veterinary services all the way through March.
“Mama Cat was a stray and she’s had two litters of kittens in my garage and I can’t get rid of them so I figure getting them fixed it may be easier to get rid of them,” Teaster said.
It is a big help for a lot of people.
“I got her fixed through Pets Without Parents in Sevierville and it was $35, but if you add $35 times five more it’s just very unaffordable for someone,” Teaster said.
It is also a good way to keep all the furry friends healthy.
“Not only does spay/neuter help reduce overpopulation, it also helps prevent reproductive cancers,” Weber said. “Rabies vaccines are required. It’s also important to protect the animal, and the distemper vaccine and bordetella help to prevent diseases that can be fatal for animals.”
RAM has been offering veterinary services for more than 30 years and has served more than 67 thousand animals in that time.
You must have already been pre-registered to take part in the free veterinary care.
https://www.wate.com/news/local-news/ram-provides-free-veterinary-care-for-dozens-of-pets/971737751
