Accessible Care, Healthier Pets

FAITHFUL FRIENDS ANIMAL SOCIETY EXPANDS COMMUNITY VETERINARY CARE SERVICES TO KEEP PETS HAPPY AND HEALTHY

BY SHANNON O’NEILL

Animal shelters in Delaware have a long history of rescuing and caring for animals in need. A vital part of this service is providing veterinary care to ensure animals stay healthy until they are adopted. However, once a pet is adopted, the responsibility of finding affordable, quality veterinary care falls to the pet owner. This is often a challenge, and as a result, animals can suffer. Without affordable veterinary care, pets may be medically neglected, euthanized for treatable illnesses, abandoned, or surrendered to a shelter.

Faithful Friends Animal Society (FFAS) is working to break this cycle by offering low-cost, quality veterinary care to animals in the community.

“During difficult economic times, we’ve seen drastic increases in animals needing medical care,” explains FFAS Executive Director Jane Pierantozzi. “Most owners are heartbroken to part with their pets due to the lack of accessible and affordable veterinary care. By making veterinary services accessible to all pet owners, we can improve the health of individual animals and foster a more compassionate community.”

Faithful Friends re-opened its community veterinary clinic and expanded its services after moving into a new, purpose-built shelter in 2023. With two full-time veterinarians and a part-time volunteer veterinarian, FFAS now provides veterinary services five days a week at the Sharon Struthers Animal and Adoption Center in New Castle.

In addition to pet wellness visits, basic sick care, and spay and neuter surgeries, the community clinic now offers dental care, bloodwork, ultrasound diagnostics, and other critical procedures. The FFAS clinic also handles certain emergency surgeries upon referral from private local hospitals. There are no income restrictions for pet owners.

The community veterinary program serves two goals: it helps pet owners access low-cost care to keep their pets healthy, and it generates revenue to support the high cost of providing quality care to the more than 400 animals in shelter care each day.

“We are a safety net for animals who have nowhere to go when their families cannot keep them or when they have been abandoned or neglected. However, we are also dedicated to keeping pets with those who love them,” Pierantozzi explains. “Our veterinary care program supports this goal and helps us provide care for our shelter animals.”

Along with success come challenges. Increasing demand for veterinary services puts funding and space pressure on FFAS.

“We are committed to fighting through,” Pierantozzi says. “Donations, grants, and corporate sponsorships will help sustain and expand the program. As the veterinary program continues to grow, so will the benefits—and pets in our community will continue to receive the care they deserve.”

Shannon O’Neill is the director of development and public relations at Faithful Friends Animal Society. To learn more, visit faithfulfriends.us or call 302-427-8514.