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SALT LAKE CITY — Pets are important members of the family but their care can often exceed our budgets. It is even harder for those on a fixed income. That is why a local veterinarian stepped up to provide free vaccinations for animals whose owners have struggled to find a place to call home.
Therese Kruger found it hard to keep going four years ago. She'd been on the streets for months … helpless and hopeless. Then she moved into Palmer Court and adopted Joker, a female labrador-blue heeler.
"She's made me feel happy. She gets me up in the morning," Kruger said.
When Kruger moved into Palmer Court she "was depressed and stuff a lot and she (Joker) became my companion animal. And she's changed my whole life."
Palmer Court has changed many lives since it opened in 2009. The apartments have helped hundreds of chronically homeless move from the streets to a permanent residence. And for many, companion animals are part of that transition.
Kelli Bowers is the director of supportive services at Palmer Court.
"These companion animals just supply unconditional love that folks don't maybe receive from other individuals," Bowers said.
These companion animals just supply unconditional love that folks don't maybe receive from other individuals.
–Kelli Bowers, Palmer Court director of supportive services
Mark Madsen, a veterinarian at Sandy's Willow Creek Pet Center agrees. He offers life-saving health care to animals every day as a veterinarian. Last fall, he was dealing with a serious outbreak of parvo.
"We were treating an enormous number of parvo cases, which is a virus that kills dogs," Madsen said.
That is when Madsen heard some of the companion animals at Palmer Court were in danger of contracting the virus. He went to work setting up a free vaccination clinic at the apartments. Parvo is highly contagious but easily preventable with shots. Willow Creek Pet Center generously agreed to donate dozens of vaccines for the clinic.
"In vaccinated pets, we almost never end up treating this virus," Madsen said.
During the clinic this past Saturday, Madsen and his assistant vaccinated 37 cats and dogs. Joker got updated rabies and parvo vaccines. However, 21 of the 37 animals had never had a shot. The vaccinations could very well save their lives.
"It was a need we saw in the community and it was easy to fill it," Madsen said.
Filling it was important because the gap that would be left at Palmer Court by the loss of a pet would be almost impossible to close. Aaron Crim has had his Carolina dog, Rose, for the past two years. She got her shots on Saturday because she needs to be healthy so Crim can lead a better life.
"These animals always give them (the residents) that support, that cuddle, the love that animals give us," Bowers said.
The free clinic also gave Madsen and his volunteers a sense of satisfaction.
"It increases their (the animals') quality of life and keeps them as healthy as we can," Madsen said.
With the many challenges Palmer Court residents face, animal lovers like Madsen don't want one more to be the loss of a beloved cat or dog.
"My ultimate hope would be that with doing this one time," Madsen said. "We can open the doors to a long-term relationship there and maybe provide a little bit deeper care for some of those animals."
Video Contributor: Andrew Wittenberg
