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Daisy’s Story

Posted on by Claire LeFew

Daisy’s story has an incredibly happy ending, and that’s why we love telling it. But Daisy’s story is also a powerful reminder of why we’re building our new affordable veterinary clinic. Because Daisy’s story is not unique.

Daisy came to us after her family visited a veterinary office but couldn’t afford the treatment she desperately needed. She was extremely lethargic, experiencing gastrointestinal distress, and refusing food and water.

Our team quickly discovered that Daisy had swallowed foreign objects that were lodged in her stomach and wrapped around her intestines. She needed emergency surgery.

After the complicated, invasive procedure, Daisy received around-the-clock care from our Medical Team, including medication, fluids, and careful monitoring. She also spent nights at Animal Emergency and Critical Care for additional monitoring.

Her recovery wasn’t easy or guaranteed. But after several days of hospitalization, Daisy was finally ready to go home.

Healthy. Happy. And reunited with her family.

Too many loving pet parents face impossible choices when an unexpected veterinary bill costs thousands of dollars. Since 2020, the cost of owning a pet has skyrocketed, even as pets remain an essential part of our families and our lives.

That’s why we’re building the Margaret Belcher Osteen Regional Veterinary Clinic for Affordable Care, so families have options when their pets need medical care, including more affordable services, payment plans, and flexible solutions.

We’ve reached an incredible $5 million toward our $7.5 million goal, but we still need to raise $2.5 million to make this dream a reality.

Help us create more happy endings like Daisy’s.

Give today and make the difference in keeping pets and people together.

We Were Adopted! August 17th – August 23rd.

Posted on by Sydnee Tran

Those little legs took him all the way home!

Little man is Rubi, and he was brought to us about a month ago, quite chubby and in need of a dental. We got him on a special diet, sent him over to our clinic to get his teeth cleaned up, and now he’s on his way home with a new sibling who will definitely get him whipped into shape!

Rudi is now in a home and loved and we are so grateful to his new owners who are dedicated to keeping Rudi happy and healthy! Thank you Bank of the James for being this month’s banner sponsor.

Pets adopted this week!

Cats adopted:

Affinity, Anna, Asteria, Audrey, Beetle, Big Ang, Boots, Brian Wilson, Brine, Casino, Cherax, Comma, Dasani, Debo, Dennis Wilson, Ditto, Dooley, Dreamer, Eric, Fiji, Flurry, Geralt, Hollin, Hurricane, Ihop, Jamie, Lace, Leo, Little Debbie, Lovers, Macy, Meadow, Michael, Mississippi, Mudbug, Munchkin, Oatmeal, Octavia, Odyssey, Oracle, Orpha, Piplup, Posie, Quintin B. Squintin, Racer, Rainbow, Raine, Relish, Rumpleteazer, Saul Silva, Shy, Sunfyre, Tennessee, Tom Thumb, Twizzler, Typhoon, Vermithor, Vesta, Wabi, Willow, Wishley, World.

Dogs adopted:

Aerith, Colin, Constanza, Cyrus, Dexter, Emma, Gunther, Marcel, Mitchell, Monica, Muriel, Rex, Ross, Rudi, Skye, Storm, Tracker, Travis, Tribbiani, Ursula, Wren.

Celebrating Raising $5 Million for the Future of Affordable Vet Care in our Region

Posted on by Claire LeFew

We have officially reached $5 million toward our new Margaret Terrell Belcher Osteen Regional Veterinary Clinic!

That is $5 million invested by people who believe access to veterinary care shouldn’t depend on a family’s bank account and that no one should have to choose between putting food on the table and getting their pet the care they need.

But we still have work to do.

Our campaign goal is $7.5 million, leaving $2.5 million to raise. Right now, your gift can go twice as far through a generous matching opportunity. Your $25 becomes $50, your $100 becomes $200, and every gift brings us closer to opening this lifesaving clinic.

And construction is moving quickly!

The 12,000-square-foot clinic is taking shape. Inside will be exam rooms, two surgery suites with six total surgery tables, and an end-of-life comfort room where families can say goodbye to beloved pets with privacy, dignity, and compassion.

When the clinic opens in early 2027, it will provide affordable wellness and sick-pet care, soft-tissue surgery, and high-quality, high-volume spay/neuter services.

Pets are family, and this clinic is about keeping families together.

When veterinary care becomes unaffordable, families can face heartbreaking choices, including surrendering a beloved pet or euthanasia simply because they cannot afford treatment. This clinic will help prevent those outcomes by making veterinary care more accessible, keeping pets healthy and at home, and strengthening animal welfare throughout our region.

Demand for spay/neuter services is already high, with appointments consistently booked 3–6 months out at our current Evington clinic. The new facility will allow us to dramatically increase our capacity and better address pet overpopulation.

It will also transform medical care for shelter pets. Our current medical space is extremely limited, with lifesaving surgeries sometimes performed in an 8×8-foot room. Many shelter pets need procedures such as dental surgery, amputations, or eye enucleations, while limited isolation space can make managing contagious diseases challenging. The new clinic will provide the space and resources needed to treat these animals and give them a second chance.

This clinic is an investment in pets, families, and our entire community.

Please consider doubling your donation today through the matching opportunity.

There are also multiple naming opportunities available. Honor yourself, your business, a beloved pet, or someone special by naming part of this lifesaving facility.

Visit our Capital Campaign webpage to donate and for information on naming opportunities.

We Were Adopted! August 10th – August 16th.

Posted on by Sydnee Tran

Our favorite long stays Tadpole & Bobby went home!

Your favorite long-time porch room resident, Tadpole was posted on social media a week ago after she was made Pet of the Month! Tadpole is the very last of her litter to be adopted. You may remember Puppy, Piglet, and Chick, who were all also in the shelter for over a year. Now the whole family has finally found their perfect placements, and Tadpole even took home a friend. Bobby was recently placed in the Porch Room after graduating from socialization foster, but still being a bit shy. They became friends right away, and now they have both gone home together!

Thank you so much to their adopter for giving these two a chance and finally giving them a loving home after waiting such a long time.

Pets adopted this week!

Cats adopted:

Audi, Baked Potato, Battlecry, Beauregard, Bennu, Bobby, Broccoli, Bubba Gump, Buchanan, Butter Bean, Caleb, Cameron Diaz, Colby Jack, Dimorphos, Finn, Fudge Round, Haumea, Keekers, Kevin, Kimchi, Koko, Kyle, Las Vegas, Mollymauk, Possum, Ritchie, Rum Tum Tugger, Soprano, Sun, Tadpole, Templeton, Tonkotsu, Wedge, Wild Blackberry, Wood, Zara.

Dogs adopted:

Captain America, Caspian, Joey, Mars, Minty, Mochi, Pip, Pongo, Sissy, Wybie

We Were Adopted! Aug 3rd – Aug 9th.

Posted on by Sydnee Tran

Surviving Panleukopenia!!

In mid-July, a little kitten was found on the side of the road by some good Samaritans after their trip to McDonald’s. This little kitten was so small and hungry that, on the car ride over to LHS, he chowed down on their McDonald’s French fries, thus leading them to name him Agent Fry. We kept the name, of course! Our medical team was already keeping a very close eye on him to make sure he was eating and staying hydrated. So a few days later when he began having diarrhea and his appetite was decreasing, they didn’t wait to run tests. He tested positive for Panleukopenia. Luckily, because our medical team caught his diagnosis so early, they were able to begin treatment right away, Agent Fry’s treatment was quick and he was able to avoid many of the severe symptoms that usually come with this devastating virus.

After his treatment he was posted on social media and went on TV to show off his progress! After his LHOV segment a loving family came in to take him home for good! Thank you so much to his adopters for taking this trooper home and Bank of the James for being this month’s sponsors!

Pets adopted this week!

Cats adopted:

Agent Fry, Ava, Bitty, Bolognese, Bookman, Bowie, Bowtie, Bucatini, Cheddar, Clarke, Dawn, Dunkin, Eenie, Fettuccine, George, Golden Angel, Ham, Hanen, Hermit, Honey, Honeydew, Itty, Jelly Cat, Lemon, Lime, Macy Gray, Magic, Malibu, Mars, Miso, Nora, Oceania, Otter, Pegasus, Pisces, Psyche, Rain, Rainbow, Raven, Rowan, Sassy Girl, Skunk, Snapdragon, Suki, Sylvester, Tina Spay, Zucchini.

Dogs adopted:

Bentley, Buck, Chloe, KC, Meeka, Mr. Boombastic, Ruby, Spot, Tafia, Trouble, Wisp.