$135K donation supports access to care in 'veterinary desert'November 10, 2022Pets residing in one of America's "veterinary deserts" are set to have improved access to care, thanks to an industry donation. The Wisconsin Companion Animal Resources, Education, and Social Services (WisCARES) has received two grants totaling $135,000 from PetSmart Charities. The funding will support the program's continued mission of providing low-cost veterinary care to pet owners experiencing homelessness and financial difficulty in South Madison, Wisc. "By creating better access to veterinary medical care, we are keeping pets and families together, so they don't have to surrender or euthanize their animals for otherwise treatable things," says WisCARES' cofounder, Ruthanne Chun, DVM, DACVIM (oncology), a clinical professor of oncology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison (UW-Madison) School of Veterinary Medicine. Founded in 2014, WisCARES is located in a "veterinary desert" (i.e. a neighborhood without clinics and pet care resources). The program, which is a collaboration of the UW-Madison schools of veterinary medicine, social work, and pharmacy, offers subsidized veterinary care, access to social workers, and a pantry of pet food and supplies, courtesy of donations. The PetSmart funding includes a $10,000 grant to help cover WisCARES' operational expenses, along with a $125,000 grant in support of its Keeping Friends and …
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