In the News

The move

 

Pro-Bone-O held its first clinic in the Community Veterinary Clinic building on June 26, 2011. We're certain that our clients and our volunteers will be as pleased as we are to have all of our records and supplies in one place and to have not one, but two, exam rooms! We thank everyone who has worked long and hard to give this former modular classroom a new life as a veterinary clinic.

And, of course, we can't let the opportunity pass to thank St. Vinny's for giving us a "home" for the past several years to do what we do. Words aren't enough to express our gratitude and appreciation for the space, the support, the staff, the encouragement ....well, you get the idea. So, a most special, heartfelt thanks to everyone at St. Vinny's from all of us at Pro-Bone-O.

Pro-Bone-O will continue to provide services to our target population - pets of people who are homeless - from 9:30 am to 1:30 pm on the 2nd and 4th Sundays of most months. When the Community Veterinary Center opens, it will serve both low- and no- income people.

Groundbreaking

(click on the image to make it larger)

December 13, 2009 was a great day for a ground-breaking celebration. Pro-Bone-O and the Community Veterinary Center are collaborating to bring both our dreams to fruition - a permanent clinic eventually providing full-time comprehensive veterinary care to pets of no-and low-income families in Lane County.

It's anticipated that sometime during 2010, Pro-Bone-O will move to the renovated modular unit donated by the Creswell School District on the land provided by St. Vincent de Paul. We will continue to hold our twice-monthly clinics serving the pets of people who are homeless. When CVC has funds available to add staff and supplies, it will open to the wider community of no- and low-income people.

Free and Low Cost Pet Care for Struggling Families

Heather Hintze, KMTR News, (published January 31, 2010)

EUGENE, Ore.--  After a decade of hauling veterinary supplies back and forth to clinics at Saint Vincent de Paul's Service Station to help the pets of low-or no-income people, Pro Bone-o will soon have a permanent clinic. "There's really nothing like this that exists now and it's really the hole in the safety net that holds our social services together in this community and we're hoping to fill that as soon as we're up and running," said the Community Vet Center board member, Diana Huntington.

On Sunday morning, crews moved a portable classroom--donated by the Creswell School District--onto the land donated by Saint Vincent de Paul.

The Community Vet Center will provide a variety of services for pets of people who live below the poverty line. "The wonderful thing about this is no animal in Lane County will have to suffer parasites, disease, injury, unwanted litters due to an inability to pay," said Pro Bone-o President, Anne Baden. "It's a big step to help our neighbors take care of their family members who just happen to be dogs and cats," adds Huntington.

For the past ten year, staff have been commuting back and forth to their clinics the second and fourth Sunday of every month. "Right now, all of our clinic supplies fit in the back of someone's car and when we have a clinic, we drive the supplies there, unload it, set everything up, and then when it's over, take them back to where they're stored, which is a barn somewhere and now we'll be able to have everything on site," said Baden.

The new facility will also allow staff to perform surgeries, which they can't do at their current set up at the Service Station. Staff say the next step is to get utilities hooked up and the inside remodeled. The clinic should be up and running by this summer.

Poor pets may get a paw up

Anne Williams, Register Guard (Published December 14, 2009)

The hubbub of Pro-Bone-O’s crowded, twice-monthly free veterinary clinic provided a compelling backdrop to a groundbreaking celebration Sunday for what advocates hope will become the area’s — and possibly Oregon’s — first full-time, full-service medical clinic for pets whose owners are homeless or living in poverty.  Read full article here.

Clinic Provides Free Care for Homeless Pets

Laura Rillos, KVAL News (Published March 17, 2009)

EUGENE, Ore. -- Looking into a plastic cat carrier, Bruce Scott smiles.

A petite tabby cat named Top Cat, or T.C., peers back out at him.

"I'm by myself, this kitty keeps me company and everything," Scott said affectionately."He's my friend."

Scott, a disabled Marine Corps veteran, is grateful for the company T.C. provides him. In return, he gives the cats food, shelter and lots of love but can't mange much else.

"I'm on a set income but I can feed him okay," said Scott. "I feed him, I can afford that, but I couldn't afford him getting fixed."

So Scott brought his cat T.C. to Pro-Bone-O, a vet clinic for pets of homeless people.

Pro-Bone-O has provided free care for 10 years. The clinic defines someone as homeless if they live in a motel, hotel, campground, car or trailer park. Scott fits the latter description.

Now, as many Lane County residents find themselves unemployed, Pro-Bone-O's services are in high demand.

Pro-Bone-O's clinics are held on the second and fourth Sundays of each month at the St. Vincent de Paul Service Station on Highway 99.

Pet owners, animals in tow, lined up outside early in the morning. Once inside, they have a chance to see a veterinary student or a veterinarian.

About 65 percent of the pets receive vaccinations at their visits, according to Anne Baden, with Pro-Bone-O. Nearly all animals receive flea medicine, she said.

"It's something everyone who's ever loved an animal tries to help with any way they can," said Baden, of the Pro-Bone-O volunteers.

In an e-mail after KVAL's visit to the clinic, she wrote "Just after you left a woman brought in a beagle who was having trouble delivering puppies. We converted part of the laundry/operating room into a delivery area and we all got to witness the birth of two beautiful little puppies. We were all thankful to be there to help."
Baden estimates they've treated around 7,000 animals over the past decade.

"A lot of people think people who are low income or homeless should not have animals if they can't take care of them," said Baden. "I can understand that because it is a responsibility. But a lot of people have come to this situation after they've had these animals. They aren't going to let these animals go, they're part of their families now."

Pets also act as protection and are a source of comfort and happiness, she added.

Happiness is exactly what his cat, T.C. provides Scott. He picked up a voucher for T.C. to be neutered for free. The cat also got a rabies vaccine.

"It means a lot to me," said Scott.

The organization is currently searching for a new place to store supplies and records when the clinic is not in session.