The Windsor/Essex County Humane Society will host its first mobile veterinary clinic with the Windsor Essex Community Housing Corporation on Monday.
The clinic is part of a year-long pilot program that will include up to 12 visits to community housing facilities throughout Windsor and Essex County.
"We're going to where the residents are. Transportation is another barrier, besides finances for people to access vet care so we're going right into the communities that need the help the most," said Lynette Bain, Executive Director of the Windsor/Essex County Humane Society.
The clinic will provide a brief examination, microchips, core vaccines for cats and dogs, flea and worm treatments and referrals for subsidised spay and neuter services.
The partnership between the humane society and the community housing corporation was born out of an outbreak of canine parvovirus last year. The two groups identified a need for improved services for the people in community housing.
"This will help to prevent diseases like that in the future that can be easily prevented by vaccines and identifying early on if there's some concerns," said Bain. "Giving some education too for how people can properly set up a relationship with a veterinarian, how they can access affordable care and provide their pet with the best chance at a long and healthy life."
The clinics will be funded in part through a grant from the Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
"We want to get as many residents and their furry friends available and get the treatment, preventative or otherwise, that dogs and cats can receive now. We're really excited about this," said Fabio Costante, CEO of the Windsor Essex Community Housing Corporation.
