There is Blue, the six-month-old pittie who urgently needed care after she was attacked by a dog and sustained life-threatening injuries, including a broken jaw. Her mom wouldn’t give up on her. There is Milo, the 11-year-old Chihuahua mix who was struggling with a tumor and hernia. Or Lady, a sweet five-year-old girl who was happily adopted by family members after her guardian could no longer care for her, but stopped playing and developed a large mass on her abdomen. Or worried-looking Beegee, a 12-year-old dog with big brown eyes, diagnosed with pyometra and mammary tumors. In every case, despite out-of-reach veterinary costs, their guardians were determined to find a way to get their pets the care they needed.
They’re far from alone. Rising costs and a nationwide veterinary shortage mean guardians and shelters alike are increasingly unable to get or provide emergency or even routine vet care for animals. Newsweek recently reported that 43% of pet guardians polled were very or fairly concerned about their ability to financially support their pet. In many cases, guardians face two heart-wrenching choices: euthanize to end suffering, or surrender their pet to a shelter for treatment.
But thanks to collaborative community efforts, that’s starting to change. Through California for All Animals grant funding and a partnership with Vets in Vans, Oakland Animal Services connected the families of Blue, Milo, Lady, Beegee and dozens of others with the essential veterinary care they needed to thrive—and stay—together.
- 112 dogs and 40 cats received care, including dental procedures, mass removals, or treatment for fractures, ears, skin, parvovirus, or panleukopenia.
- 98 cats, 83 dogs, and 775 community cats were spayed or neutered.
- 956 animals received microchips and vaccinations.
“We saw again and again the lengths people are willing to go to get their animals the care they need,” the Oakland Animal Services team reported. “Similarly, we see that the desire for people to get their animals spayed/neutered far outpaces our ability to provide the service.”
From an equity and public health standpoint, accessible vet care for all means healthier animals, healthier people and stronger communities. Everyone benefits.
Watch Milo’s story and others at the Vets in Vans Instagram page. (Note that some videos show injuries and/or surgeries.)
“The response we get from people receiving the services is immense gratitude. For staff and volunteers, it’s incredibly uplifting to be able to support people in this way.”
Partnerships and programs like this keep pets out of shelters and with their families, reducing shelter crowding that drives unnecessary euthanasia. From an equity and public health standpoint, accessible vet care for all means healthier animals, healthier people and stronger communities. Everyone benefits. For shelters, the challenge is finding funding outside of grants to sustain these benefits.
Since 2020, the Oakland city budget has been cut each fiscal year, resulting in an over 30% reduction from the 2019 baseline budget. With the city facing another massive deficit, Oakland Animal Services is now confronting the likelihood of additional significant cuts.
California for All Animals has awarded Oakland Animal Services a total of $495,000 in support of free and low-cost spay/neuter, veterinary care, and essential staffing. Our focus continues to be on uniting non-profit, government, and community interests to build a stronger animal care ecosystem for all Californians.
Learn about five actions you, your community group, business, shelter, organization, or community can take to keep and bring pets and people together.
