Non-Profit Veterinary Clinics: Where Low Cost Meets High Quality

Written by Expert Contributor Dr. Sarah Alexander, DVM, of The Spayed Club Clinic

They are easy to miss, easy to walk by, and even easier to drive by. Their buildings may be non-descript brick, an old converted house, or tucked into a corner of a warehouse. They may be found at the end of a row of storefronts or standing alone in an industrial park. Their signs may plainly state their existence without fancy lettering or gold numbers. The emphasis is not on how good they look but more on the goods they provide. The outside of low-cost veterinary clinics can be misleading and conceal what lies on the inside.

Low-cost veterinary clinics often get a bad rap simply because our culture usually equates how good something is with how much it costs. While it is true that the components of veterinary care are expensive (i.e., staff salaries, pharmaceutical supplies, tools, and equipment), low-cost clinics know how to make wise decisions and foster good relationships.

• Low-cost clinics are often non-profits supported by donors and grants. These are the lifeblood and crucial avenues of revenue for low-cost clinics as the treatment fees generally charged are insufficient to make ends meet. Thanks to generous donors as well as corporate and private grants, low-cost clinics are enabled to serve underserved communities of pet owners.

• Pharmaceutical companies often charge low-cost clinics lower prices – or even provide free supplies - to help support the mission of these clinics. With the help of for-profit corporations willing to “give back,” low-cost clinics are able to provide new, effective medications and treatments.

As in most service-providing operations, a low-cost veterinary clinic becomes high-quality by the leadership and values of those in charge. To ensure the highest-quality medicine is practiced, a low-cost clinic possesses:

• Comprehensive protocols that advance positive outcomes; e.g., pre-operative exams and use of pain medications

• Well thought-out procedures that optimize efficiency with patient care in mind

• Prioritization of equipment purchases that ensure the best care is given; e.g., vital signs monitors

• An acceptance of the clinic’s limits; i.e., knowing who to treat and who to refer to a full-service or emergency animal hospital

Low-cost veterinary clinics, with high standards for the quality of medicine they practice, fulfill a tremendous and much-needed service in the care and treatment of companion pets. This is especially true for pets owned by people with limited income. Furthermore, low-cost clinics play an integral role in helping control the overpopulation of homeless cats in the community. When low-cost equates to high-quality in veterinary clinics, everyone wins!

Dr. Sarah Alexander, DVM, of The Spayed Club Clinic

Affordable, High-Quality Veterinary Care

The Spayed Club is a 501(c)3 non-profit charity organization whose Mission is to eliminate unnecessary dog and cat euthanasia through affordable veterinary care and spay/neuter surgeries.

Veterinary Examination for Dog or Cat: $35. See our website for a list of services and transparent pricing.

484-540-8436

800 Chester Pike, Sharon Hill (conveniently located 9 short miles from Marple)

www.TheSpayedClubClinic.org