Many animals that come to a shelter need some type of medical treatment before they can find forever homes. Joint Animal Services (JAS) was formed in 1976 and never had the space or resources to have on site veterinary services. Now, thanks to grants and community support, they just opened their own surgical suite, allowing them to perform basic veterinary care on site, including spay and neuter surgeries. Having these capabilities will greatly reduce animal wait times before being eligible for adoption.
“In 2019, the ASPCA’s Northern Tier Shelter Initiative and U.C. Davis Koret Shelter Medicine Program both performed shelter audits of our facility to help improve our flow of animals and capacity for care,” shares Sarah Hock, executive director of Joint Animal Services. “Both organizations sighted a lack of in-house veterinary care as the main barrier in terms of flow and length of stay. Animals were sitting for an extra one to three weeks before they could have surgery. During the pandemic, those wait times more than doubled. If we wanted to save more lives by getting animals altered and out the door quicker to their adoptive families, this was an imperative change.”
Raising Funds for Veterinary Services at Joint Animal Services
In order to build the surgical suite – a 12-foot by 42-foot modular building with room for a treatment area and surgery suite – they needed to raise $195,000.
“A large portion of the cost was paid for through generous grants,” shares Hock. They received a $39,100grant from the ASPCA to purchase all their surgical equipment. A $65,000 grant from the Doliciani–Halloran Foundation allowed them to purchase dental equipment surgical supplies. It also helped with renovations including getting utilities to the building, installing surgical lights, and plumbing for a wet table.
The most important aspect of the new surgical suite is being able to perform their own spay and neuters – a must for all intake animals before they can be adopted. They will also perform minor dentistry.
Volunteers Save Lives at Joint Animal Services
Thanks to generous donations and grants, JAS performed their first surgery on Friday, June 16. A veterinarian and a licensed veterinary technician (LVT) are contracted to work at JAS, performing surgeries and medical exams until they find a full-time shelter veterinarian and LVT – sound like a job for you? You can apply for their shelter veterinarian and LVT positions here.
“We have several volunteers who were former LVTs and veterinary assistants that have stepped up to help in the clinic. They assist before, and on surgery days prepping animals, helping with recovery after surgery, and cleaning/sterilizing surgical instruments,” shares Hock. “Our shelter has 22 employees most of whom are either out in the field as animal control officers or working hands-on with the animals, cleaning kennels, doing adoptions, and intaking over 2,600 animals from the public. We would not be able to do what we do without volunteers!”
Do you have a heart for animals and want to give back to your community? JAS needs volunteers with OR without veterinary or medical experience. Volunteers with veterinary or medical experience can help on surgery days, but they have lots of opportunities for those without experience, as well. JAS volunteers help by fostering animals not ready for adoption, transporting animals to rescue partners, working events, entering information into the database, and more!
Volunteers and Community Come Together to Rescue 159 Cats in Thurston County
The passion Joint Animal Services volunteers – and our community – have for helping animals was loud and proud in April 2023. JAS was called in to help with a hoarding situation involving 159 cats at one home and the outpouring of support was phenomenal!
“On April 26 our Animal Control Officers rescued 159 cats from a hoarding situation in Unincorporated Thurston County,” shares Hock. “We found the cats in a ‘bleak’ environment with little food or water. Garbage and feces littered the home, and the carpets were soaked with urine. The smell of ammonia was so strong that we all had to wear respirators to go into the house, for safety.”
Hock says there were cats everywhere – including in the house, under the house and even in the ducts! Luckily, most of the cats were in good condition, aside from being underweight and dehydrated.
“The JAS team really showed their determination that week, we were already over capacity at 115 animals before the cats were brought in,” she continues. “Within a week, almost all the cats were either placed into foster, transferred to rescue partners, or ready to be placed up for adoption.”
The greater community stepped up quickly, too. JAS received close to $25,000 in monetary and gift card donations; 500 pounds of cat litter from Mud Bay; and over 100 bags of kitten food and 60 bags of adult cat food from the Thurston County Humane Society.
“We had a full two weeks of receiving packages after packages from our Amazon wish list, shipments from Petco, and PetSmart,” Hock shares. “The community and beyond purchased kitten food, formula, treats, anything and everything, and had it sent directly to our doorstep. We were and are overwhelmed with a sense of gratitude for the amount of support we received. This community has stepped up and shown us time and time again how much they support their local animal shelter.”
To learn more about how you can help, visit the Joint Animal Services website. And of course, adopting of one of their adorable tenants is one of the best ways to help!
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