The grand opening of Options Veterinary Care will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 2. The Reno clinic is at 4690 Longley Lane, Suite 1. Given pandemic restrictions, the grand opening activities will be hosted virtually – the public can receive Zoom video instructions by signing up at optionsveterinarycare.org/event-signup. Options, a program of Humane Network, is the region’s first nonprofit veterinary clinic for the public. It focuses on those who cannot otherwise afford care for their pets.
“Pets often suffer when their people cannot afford treatment,” says Denise Stevens, clinic director of Options Veterinary Care. “By opening this nonprofit clinic, we are able to provide veterinary care so that families can keep pets and don’t have to make the heartbreaking decision to surrender them to a shelter or to euthanize a pet with treatable conditions because they cannot afford care.”
The need in Washoe County and surrounding areas is great. A 2018 survey conducted by Wakefield Research showed that:
More than 50% of Nevadans say they have not taken their pet to a vet because they cannot afford it.
62% report having had difficulty paying for needed veterinary care.
In its first year of operations, Options expects to serve more than 15,000 pets, including 5,000 owned by seniors who are often on fixed incomes. The clinic will provide veterinary services such as wellness checks, vaccinations, X-rays, diagnostics, surgery, dental work and spay/neuter. Options also provides spay/neuter surgeries for nonprofit rescue groups and community cats including those in nearby rural counties that have limited veterinary access.
The clinic opening realizes a long-time dream of Stevens and Options medical director, Diana Lucree, DVM. “The goal is to make sure animals receive needed care even when their person cannot afford standard fees,” Lucree says. “We hope to be a resource to other veterinary clinics in town, as well as for agencies serving seniors and veterans.”
The clinic’s leadership team includes Bonney Brown, former CEO of Nevada Humane Society, and Diane Blankenburg, former community programs director for Nevada Humane Society.
More information on the nonprofit clinic is available at optionsveterinarycare.org.