Pet owners in the Sault Ste. Marie area will soon have the opportunity to update their furry companions’ vaccinations as a mobile veterinary team from the North Bay and District Humane Society travels there next week. The initiative aims to address what organizers describe as a significant shortage of veterinary services in northern Ontario communities. The mobile clinic will operate from June 23 to 25, offering wellness checks and vaccine appointments for pets in need. This marks an expansion of the humane society’s successful outreach program, which has previously partnered with municipalities and First Nation reserves – including West Nipissing, Mattawa and Dokis First Nation. North faces veterinary care challenges Liam Cullin, the executive director of the North Bay and District Humane Society, told CTV News the motivation behind bringing the mobile clinic to Sault Ste. Marie. “The farther north you go in Ontario, it’s similar to human medicine, the harder it is to get care,” he said. Cullin added that this challenge applies to both humans and pets. Veterinary access Cullin pointed out a surprising disparity in veterinary availability between the two cities. He said that despite North Bay having a smaller population, there are actually more veterinarians in that area when compared to the Sault. “My observation is that some people there actually go over the border to Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan to get access to veterinary care there just because of cost but also access to services,” he said. Service details The mobile clinic will provide core vaccines – including Rabies, DA2PP for dogs and FVRCP for cats, as well as Bordetella for dogs. Additional services will include microchipping and vaccine boosters. For pets just beginning their vaccination schedule, the appointment cost is set at $155. For pets with an existing vaccination program seeking annual shots, the fee is $145. Limited Spots Cullin said that the mobile service serves a specific purpose in the broader veterinary care landscape. “This is really just a more of a measure to alleviate some of the backlog,” he said. The humane society has confirmed that this is not a partnership with the Sault Ste. Marie Humane Society. “We’ve got everything that we need in terms of the doctor, in terms of the license,” Cullin said, confirming the North Bay organization’s capacity to operate independently. The director also said the expansion was driven by past successes. “Based on the success of those, we decided to just kind of expand our reach,” he said. Cullin said the limited spots over the three days are expected to fill up quickly. Pet owners interested in securing an appointment for their dog or cat can book online by visiting fixmypet.ca.
