By Kellie Tickner, Orchard Hills Veterinary Hospital Administrator
SINCE January 2023, the team at Orchard Hills Veterinary Hospital have joined forces with the RSPCA Outreach team and travelled across various regions of New South Wales. A joint collaboration between RSPCA NSW, Orchard Hills Veterinary Hospital, Vets beyond Borders, Animal Rescue Cooperative, Petbarn Foundation and various councils, we are able to provide essential services for pet owners in need.
Over the past eight months the team has managed to provide over 405 free health checks and vaccinations to more than 477 residents in seven different communities, including Tamworth, Tenterfield, Dubbo, Orange, Riverwood, Chifley and Warwick Farm. Microchipping and subsidised desexing programs in various locations have also been provided as well as behaviour and training advice, pet food and free parasite prevention.
Resources are freely available to help educate owners on how they can best care for their pets. Healthy Pet days such as these are not solely dedicated to offering preventative health services. Our aim is to create a lasting impact, ensuring the long-term welfare of both pets and their owners.
The rising cost of living is putting a significant strain on everyone’s budget, forcing people to make difficult choices between meeting their own basic needs and providing proper care for their beloved pets. RSPCA NSW stands proud as an organisation that can offer vital programs like these that can help bridge this gap and Orchard Hills Veterinary Hospital are pleased to be able to work side-by-side with them.
By actively listening and engaging with every pet owner, we gain valuable insights that allow us to assist those in need in our communities. Working in the community, our hearts swell with gratitude for the opportunity to make a positive difference in the lives of both animals and their dedicated owners. The bond between humans and their pets is a powerful one, and being able to ensure this bond remains strong brings us immense enjoyment and pride.
We are grateful to all involved, especially local residents for fostering a brighter, healthier future for their pets.
Stay tuned for our next destination across NSW to ‘make a difference – one community at a time’.
