SPCA donates 500 microchips to free vet clinic in Nanaimo
A free animal wellness clinic that helps homeless and low-income pet owners in Nanaimo receive veterinary care for free is celebrating its third anniversary with a gift of 500 microchips from the BC SPCA.
The free vet clinic called Helping Paws is a volunteer-based program made up of local veterinarians, animal technicians and reception staff who give pet owners basic care for their furry loved-ones.
The once-a-month clinic provides examinations, vaccinations, flea and tick medications, deworming and treatment for some simple medical conditions.
“The last two years with COVID has been hard on veterinary staff," says Dr. Courtenay Large, founder of Helping Paws. "There has been shortages, everybody is overworked, but doing something like this really brings back the joy of why you got into the profession in the first place."
“Every single vet that I have met in Nanaimo, animal care and welfare is their primary reason for being and it shows that they’re here wanting to help those people who can’t access regular vet care,” says Leon Davis, BC SPCA's senior manager for the Island and Coastal region.
The BC Pet Registry, which is run by the BC SPCA, has supplied the clinic with 500 microchips that will supply all the pets they see this year with one.
“A microchip is permanent. It never goes away. It can always be scanned. It can always be read,” says Large.
“It’s number one way that we find animals get home, (it's) animals that have microchips,” adds Davis.
The Helping Paws clinic is held once a month at St. Peter’s Church on Machleary Street in Nanaimo.
More information about the clinic including dates and times can be found on its Facebook page.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
NDP motion regarding Palestinian statehood passes after major Liberal alterations
A motion from the federal New Democrats initially calling on Canada to recognize the 'State of Palestine' passed amid widespread acrimony on Monday, after the Liberals drastically altered its wording to see the government simply work towards that aim as part of a two-state solution.
'He didn't want to die': Family of Calgary man killed in standoff speaks out
Family of a Calgary man killed after a 30-hour standoff with police last week are speaking out, sharing details of the tense and heart-wrenching experience.
Toronto family doctor who called patient's body 'perfect' suspended for 3 months: tribunal
A family doctor in Toronto has been suspended for three months after a disciplinary tribunal found that he failed to follow proper protocols while examining a patient's breasts and made inappropriate comments about her body.
Ohio mom who left toddler alone 10 days when she went on vacation pleads guilty to aggravated murder
An Ohio mother whose 16-month-old daughter died after being left home alone in a playpen for 10 days last summer while she went on vacation was sentenced Monday to life in prison with no chance of parole.
Retired teacher pleads guilty to paying for sex with 15-year-old in Collingwood, Ont.
In a Barrie courtroom on Monday, a retired high school teacher from the Niagara Region pleaded guilty to sexual touching and obtaining sexual services from a 15-year-old boy in Collingwood in 2021.
Hertz CEO out following electric car 'horror show'
The company, which announced in January it was selling 20,000 of the electric vehicles in its fleet, or about a third of the EVs it owned, is now replacing the CEO who helped build up that fleet, giving it the company’s fifth boss in just four years.
5 charged in Calgary kidnappings that targeted women
Calgary police have charged five men in a pair of kidnappings last year that targeted innocent victims.
Demand soars for solar eclipse glasses in Canada. Are they worth buying?
The demand for total solar eclipse glasses used to safely view the rare celestial event has been ramping up as sellers, along with astronomy and eye-care experts in Canada, warn that viewing the eclipse with the naked eye is dangerous.
Canadian commander of volunteer fighter group dies in Ukraine
A Canadian-born commander of the so-called Norman Brigade, a volunteer fighting group in Ukraine, has died.