The Fredericksburg SPCA has been without a Veterinarian-in-Charge (VIC) for the past month, which presents real challenges in a shelter environment that previously had a fully operational clinic for its animals. We knew we would be limiting intake and operations, something we do not take lightly, as every animal we turn away has a grave impact on municipal shelters that do not have the luxury of adjusting their capacity of care.
With a new practice manager leading the Fred SPCA Locke Community Medical Center, Brittany (LVT) has been working tirelessly to care for our shelter pets, using her expertise and collaborating with veterinary partners throughout the community. We expect to share an update with the community in the coming weeks. In the meantime, the veterinary community has been incredibly supportive, and we want to bark their praises from the rooftops!
In February, we had four dogs in our care in urgent need of life-saving heartworm treatment, and we were racing against the clock. When we reached out for help administering the first of two critical immiticide injections, Lakewood Animal Hospital stepped up without hesitation. Heartworm treatment is a precise and time-sensitive process, requiring two consecutive days of injections following a 30-day course of doxycycline.
Shortly after we transferred in Mr. Rogers, our animal care staff knew something was off. Brittany hit the pavement and connected with Compassion Veterinary Center to get diagnostics and a plan in place. Their rapid response and ongoing support have been invaluable. From Dr. Proietti personally discussing treatment options to owner Maddie checking in on him after hours, their team has shown incredible dedication.
Sadly, Mr. Rogers was diagnosed with IMHA (Immune-Mediated Hemolytic Anemia), a serious autoimmune disease that destroys red blood cells. His presentation of IMHA may have an underlying cause, so his prognosis is heavily guarded at this time. Dr. Moffit of Confederate Ridge Animal Hospital stopped by and by and provided additional consultation for his complex case.
Our little blind buddy Dash was being overlooked in our busy kennels. He went into foster care for a short shelter sleepover, and his foster mom couldn’t help but fall in love with his gentle nature. Even after he returned to the shelter, he never left her heart. She saw our post about a new mobile veterinarian in town, AuraVet, who had not only sponsored Dash’s adoption fee and gifted his future family a certificate, but also sponsored a Halo harness to help him safely navigate his world. With that support in place, she knew Dash could thrive in her home, and she made his home official. Thank you, AuraVet, for helping create this family!
There are partnerships that make the work lighter. And then there are partnerships that make the hard parts possible. We could not do this work without the support of these teams and our community!
