- May 16, 2024
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Veterinarian technician, Joelene Osterhout weighs a cat as part of the wellness check visit at FHS. Photo Jacque Estes
Amber and Harmony are only at the Flagler Humane Society for a wellness check, not to be given up for adoption. Photo Jacque Estes
Dr. Andrea James and vet tech Joelene Osterhout remove a cat from it's carrier for a wellness visit at the Flagler Humane Society. Photo Jacque Estes
The last thing Flagler Humane Society Director Amy Carotenuto wants to do is put an animal up for adoption, because the owner couldn't afford basic care.
“We were getting a lot of calls from people who couldn’t afford a veterinarian, and were turning in their animals, or scheduling euthanasia appointments,” she said.
While they don’t have the equipment to provide care for animals that require surgery or dental care, they are able to treat minor conditions, like ear infections, before they become major problems.
“Typically we get older patients that haven’t seen a vet in a long time,” Dr. Andrea James, the FHS veterinarian said. “Other than that – puppies.”
“They are at a loss, and we are sort of their last resort.” FHS veterinarian, Dr. Andrea James.
The only requirement for treatment -- the animal must have a current rabies vaccine. If they don’t have one coming into their appointment, they will have been given one before they leave.
Appointments are required for the Wednesday and every other Saturday wellness clinics. James said she is currently seeing about 100 animals a month.
On this Wednesday two cats, Amber and Harmony, peer out of an airline pet carrier. They aren’t being surrendered , their owner, Jeniffer Suozzo, wouldn’t do that.
“They are here for their wellness checks,” Suozzo, a regular at the shelter clinics, said. “I care for the cats from my house in Bunnell to the old hospital. I work at Burger King and I do what I have to do to get them care.”
Suozzo’s charges are both spayed, but that’s not a deal breaker for getting an appointment. Although the shelter obviously promotes spaying and neutering, keeping the animals in their homes is first priority.
“They don’t have to be spayed or neutered, but we will be recommending it,” James said. "It's much healthier for the animal."
Visits are also a good time for pets to be microchipped. Microchips are inserted, much like a vaccine, and the $25 fee includes registering the chip.
The shelter, which has always had vaccination clinics, began offering the wellness clinics on Sept. 1 from 3 to 5 p.m. on Wednesdays. In February they will be expanding wellness clinic hours to 1 to 5 p.m. on Wednesdays and 11 a.m. to 1 pm. on the first and third Saturday of the month.
The vaccination clinics, also on the first and third Saturdays, will be offered from 1 to 3 p.m. The vaccination clinic is a walk-in clinic and does not require an appointment.
“A lot of the things we see have been put off, skin conditions and the hematomas behind the ears, and allergies,” James said. “They are at a loss, and we are sort of their last resort.”
Joelene Osterhout vet tech
