Weekly Roundup

​Improvements & Developments

• Our last clinic was at Ballard Food bank where 29 animals received care!  Great job team! 
  Clients: 24
  Animals that Received Care: 29
  Exams: 29
  Vaccinations: 16
  Neuters: 3
• Our foster puppies are ready to move into their adoptive homes, I can't believe they are already 8 weeks old! The SVO foster program has proven successful in supporting clients so they can focus on their needs, while knowing thier dog or cat are in a safe place.  However, we still need foster homes, if you know of someone who would be interested in caring for an animal temporarily, please reach out to our foster care coordinator at foster@seattlevet.org. In the meantime, we've also been in contact with The Goochy Project. This organization offers a similar mission, offering foster homes for people in crisis.  They work specifically with people who are hospitalized, and communicate closely with the client's case management.  They do not take in pets for a housing crisis, so we will be working closely with them with clients that fit in their program, and use our foster program more specifically for folks in transition.             
• SVO's outreach has grown significantly and we often receive requests to set up at different organizations, even ones outside the Seattle area.  We have coordinated outreach with Compass Health in Everett, and are starting a 4-month pilot to get a feel for the need in this community.  This will involve reaching out to other organizations within Snohomish County to spread the word about our outreach.  If you work closely with any organizations in the Everett area, please let me know! 
• Our human health program is continuing to work at encampments in downtown Seattle.  They hike into areas carrying large backpacks with supplies for humans and their pets. The veterinary team has medications to treat pets with common problems like skin or ear issues, along with vaccines and microchips.  The human team brings supplies for blood pressure checks, wound care and over the counter medications.  They are focusing on acute needs and how to best address them. This small group is learning a lot about necessary supplies (tarps currently needed) when going into encampments, as well as learning how to access human prescription medications for the folks they meet.  Referrals to other providers is an option for issues that cannot be treated out in the field.  They are also adapting to being functional in unpredictable weather!  The team is excited about meeting people's pets, allowing houseless folks in the encampments to let down their guard, and be more open to receiving health care for themselves.  

Final Thought:

We piloted our Pet Emergency Fund this week with an established client of SVO who had an emergency with her dog Sookie. This project is being built by our three board members, Debbie, Melanie and Craig.  It is still under development, but looking to launch in our second quarter.  The goal is to establish a program for SVO with parameters, process and funding in place which supports clients experiencing non-elective, medical emergencies with their pets.  

After getting little Sookie into a clinic this Saturday, the client sent me a message expressing her heart felt appreciation.  "I'm so happy, and Sookie is too! Thank you for going above and beyond to help the furry half of my soul. I'm grateful the cost was less, so the funds can help even more people and their pets!"  

We hope to build relationships with local veterinary hospitals that will accept our designated voucher for care, and offer medical support at a discounted or volunteer rate. If this is something your clinic would like to get involved with, please reach out to programs@seattlevet.org.

In closing, we have so much to share this week!  Thank you for taking the time to read the newsletter and stay up to date on how we are trying to improve access to veterinary care for the houseless people in our community.  This weekly newsletter often reaches out for ways you can get involved to help, thank you for your shared passion and being an integral part of the team!

Have a wonderful week!

Rachele