Russ and Erika at the counter at the Timberlake Outreach Center of Open Door Mission - ready for patients!
Earlier this year I was asked to help lead the Omaha chapter of The Street Dog Coalition. This time the timing was perfect, and I said YES.
Blue and me at our old Street Dogs stomping grounds - Barkin’ on Sunshine grooming salon.
On the third Sunday of every month, a group of volunteers meets at Open Door Mission’s Timberlake Outreach Center from 9-11 am to provide wellness care to dogs and cats of clients without permanent housing or in unstable housing situations.
Providing veterinary care gives these families One Less Thing to try to fit into a tight budget and gives their pets the medical attention they may otherwise not be able to receive including spay and neuter surgery vouchers.
This Doodle did not want to leave, so her family waited while she hung out with us!
I love this group and our local team and the clients and patients so much.
Cutest carrier and cutest face!
If you know families who could use help with veterinary wellness care, please send them our way.
This should maybe be its own post - this sweet Rottie was microchipped at our clinic. Several months later he was STOLEN and recovered by the police in an unrelated bust. Mom could prove he was hers by his microchip! Now they are reunited and doing so well <3 First photo at microchip visit - second photo with Russ, third photo just because I love both of their happy faces!
No appointments are needed, and no income verification is required. Just stop in and let us help your pets. They just need a leash or carrier and a cute face - 100% compliance so far on the cute faces. Amazing! What are the odds??
I could have saved the leash if I hadn’t taken the photo - no regrets! And thankfully “All Pets Matter” food pantry was ready with a new leash! They are for families who cannot afford them, not so much families whose vet lets their leashes get chomped for a cute photo…but…regardless I am thankful for this group that we partner with! And this great dog. And photo :)
I have been with this group from the beginning when one of my favorite veterinarians and one of my favorite people, Dr. Backlund, started our Omaha chapter in 2017. He asked me to take over when he retired, but at the time I was not ready. I am now ready. Like mostly ready.
Nevermind wellness care, I heard there were treats?
Honestly, I am mostly ready because this is such a wonderful and hard working team. This is such a solid group of compassionate veterinary team members and other volunteers from our community. And I am not being thrown in on my own. Julia - who is already leading us like a champ - and Dr. Gray and I are undertaking this as a leadership team.
Julia with the leash chewing Bull Terrier as a pup! I love this dog so much! And also Julia.
The dogs are amazing. Cats too I hear - though they are seen on the other side of the room because of my annoying cat allergies. Stormy’s Mom and the team keep me safe - she reminds people not to kill her vet!
Another dog who did NOT want to leave! So Dad sat under the counter with her till she was ready. Maybe my favorite Street Dogs photo over the years. Well, it’s a several way tie. Still.
Russ and Blue assist - I love this time with them - along with one of my favorite drug reps, a great Open Door Mission volunteer and amazing veterinary teams and veterinary students and other pet lovers from across our city and beyond. I love it so much.
This dog went right to fight or flight till Blue snuggled him. Then all was well - just a tiny bit scary.
If you like pets (and cookies) we would love to have you join us.
Of course I will sit up this high for an exam if there are snacks!
Here’s to the next great chapter of helping the pets of some of our citizens most in need of compassion and a helping hand. Please remember that we also have cookies.
Contessa with a sweet kitten and, as always, great hair and a cute jacket.
Street Dogs clients, I have loved meeting you all and getting to know you and your dogs over the years. And I have loved getting to know you Amazing Street Dogs team - you are the best, and I can’t wait to see What’s Next.
Dunno what’s next around the corner - but worth checking out!