“Free” Wellness Clinic for your Pets
The Humane Society of St. Thomas (HSSTT) is offering a FREE Disaster Planning and Pet Wellness clinic to the public.
Sunday November 17, 9am-4:00pm Montessori School (East End) under the solar awning. Parking is available.
Please bring your dog or cat in a carrier or on a leash, for their safety and the safety of others at the clinic.
The first 125 pets at the clinic will receive, free of charge, a rabies vaccine and tag, microchip, free spay/neuter surgery vouchers, flea and tick prevention, personalized engraved ID tag, collar, and leash. The Humane Society will also provide handouts on disaster planning with pets, the value of spaying and neutering your animals, and prevention of heartworm. The heartworm parasite is transmitted to your pet by a mosquito bite—and we all know mosquitos are a lot more abundant after a rainy storm. Heartworm, left untreated, is fatal to pets.
The “Leave No Pet Behind” clinic is funded by a generous grant to the HSSTT from the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW). IFAW is committed to keeping families and pets together during and after natural disasters. They provided needed assistance and supplies to the Humane Society of St. Thomas after Hurricanes Irma and Maria and helped organize transport of shelter animals to stateside rescues. This year, they asked to partner with the HSSTT on ways to help the community before a hurricane hits. The first Disaster Planning for Pet Wellness community clinics were held in September 2019 and served over 170 pets and their families.
“After Hurricanes Irmaria, many pets got separated from their families, and had no identification on them. Also, people that tried to leave island with their pets found it very difficult to get the required rabies vaccine and health certificates, because vet offices ran out of vaccines and nothing could be shipped in. This “FREE ” community clinic is our way of trying to make it a little easier for families with pets to prepare.” The free microchip and engraved ID tag for each pet means that pets can be reunited with their owner without even coming to the shelter. A microchip is a tiny transmitter that is inserted under the skin, and a unique number is recorded when a special handheld scanner is waved over it. The animal will also get a microchip tag for their collar so that the number can also be read directly and connect the finder to the owner’s contact information online.
Rabies vaccines are not yet required in the USVI, but they are required for all animals traveling out of the territory. Many VI vets are now recommending rabies vaccines for all pets, as the virus is present in nearby Puerto Rico and could easily be carried to the USVI.
For more information about the Humane Society of St. Thomas, please visit: www.hsstt.com or contact Donna Nemeth, Director of Operations (340-514-4019)
About International Fund for Animal Welfare
The International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) is one of the largest animal welfare and conservation charities in the world. The organization works to rescue individual animals, safeguard populations, preserve habitat, and advocate for greater protections using creative problem solving.
For more information about IFAW, please visit www.ifaw.org or contact Shannon Walajtys, Director, Disaster Response & Risk Reduction (swalajtys@ifaw.org)
Since 1957, the Humane Society of St. Thomas has been sheltering abandoned animals, fighting cruelty and neglect and working to create an environment of respect, responsibility and compassion for all animals throughout the territory.
Our functional campus sits on 4.7 acres and consists of five major buildings. We are an open admission shelter, meaning that our doors are always open for any animal that we can legally accept. The Humane Society of St. Thomas is a 501c3 non-profit organization. We are the only animal shelter serving the residents of St. Thomas, and other than a small contract with the government of the Virgin Islands we are dependent entirely upon donations and the good will of the community.
Humane Society of St. Thomas is a Non-Profit Organization
Over 2000 animals pass through our shelter each year. We strive to provide the highest quality care to each and every visiting animal. Your membership and support are essential to our ability to continuously meet the demand of maintaining this campus. Whether volunteering your time or contributing funds, every person can make a real difference.
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