Best Friends Animal Society Launches Free Mobile Veterinary Clinic to Support North Carolina Communities Impacted by Hurricane Helene
As Florida assesses the damage caused by Hurricane Milton, many communities in North Carolina, Georgia, and Tennessee are still reeling from the devastation of Hurricane Helene. To continue supporting the people and pets impacted by Helene, Best Friends Animal Society, a leading national animal welfare organization working to end the killing of dogs and cats in America’s shelters, will launch The Hurricane Helene Relief Clinic, a free mobile vet, in Western North Carolina this Sunday, October 13. Best Friends will offer free vaccinations, basic wellness care, routine injury care, and medications for dogs and cats in parts of the state where veterinary centers and shelters are still closed or working at limited capacity.
The Best Friends mobile vet clinic will operate from Sunday, October 13 – Friday, November 15. During that time, the clinic will take turns popping up at least two days a week at Heart of the Foothills Animal Rescue in Rutherford County and two days a week at Yancey County Humane Society in Yancey County. Below are the pop-up locations, along with the first week’s schedule:
Heart of the Foothills Animal Rescue in Rutherford County
Address: 380 US-221, Rutherfordton, NC 28139
Starting Dates: October 13, 14, 18 (subject to change)
Time: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. (subject to change)
Yancey County Humane Society in Yancey County
Address: 211 Kind Hearts Wy, Burnsville, NC 28714
Starting Dates: October 15, 16, 19 (subject to change)
Time: 10:30 a.m. - 4 p.m. (subject to change)
The schedule will be subject to change based on community needs, so all are encouraged to visit the shelters’ Facebook pages listed above to verify prior to arrival. Pets will be treated on a first come, first served basis; no appointments are required.
Donated by Providence Animal Center and Fido Fixers, the Best Friends mobile Hurricane Helene Relief Clinic is currently making its way from Pennsylvania to North Carolina, helmed by a group of volunteer veterinarians from the Massachusetts SPCA. Once in North Carolina, MSPCA vets, in collaboration with local veterinary staff coordinated by Brother Wolf, will get the clinic up and running for its first day of service.
The Best Friends mobile vet clinic is being funded by Best Friends’ dedicated fundraiser, along with donations from the Massachusetts SPCA Disaster Relief Fund.