News
Walking the Walk, and Talking the Talk. Indigent Animals and a Safe Harbor.
October 07, 2008, 8:50AM MT
By Stacy Rogers
The word indigent is not a commonly used word in the vocabulary of many. Some may even question what the definition of the word is. Dr.
The word indigent is not a commonly used word in the vocabulary of many. Some may even question what the definition of the word is. Dr. Peter Veling, DVM, knows very well what the definition of the word is.
Since Dr. Veling began his practice 20 years ago, he has worked with indigent animals whenever possible, and has promoted the adoption of these animals as pets for many families in the Indianapolis area. He stated his feelings that, as a veterinarian, “one should walk the walk, and talk the talk”, when it comes to animal care. He was also very quick to point out that this is also echoed by his entire staff. “It is a total team effort”, commented Dr. Veling.
Dr. Veling’s clinic, Caring Hands Pet Hospital (formerly named Geist Animal Care) on the Northeast Side of Indianapolis, continues to dedicate themselves to providing the best quality of life not only for their client’s pets, but to other animals in need when possible. While they are not an organization that specializes in animal rescue, or looks to have people lining up at their door with strays, this is done more as a service to the well being of the animals first and foremost. Most of this dedication is done at Dr. Veling’s personal expense, both monetarily, and in his time. It is noted, however, that a modest, and as I have expressed to them, sometimes conspicuous jar is in their reception area for any donations for the indigent animals that pass through their door from time to time for care and feeding.
When I asked Dr. Veling if there was perhaps one of these animals that stood out as being special, there was a pause. Last winter in particular posed a personal situation to him. A call came into his clinic, reporting a stray cat that was injured, and if anyone from the clinic could come pick it up. A staff member contacted Dr. Veling about the situation, who was at home at the time.
“While I was at home one evening, I got a call from my staff about a cat that had its leg hurt, and was in pretty bad shape”, he said. His staff asked if they could do anything to help. He went on to say that it was a young cat, was under a mobile home, and that one of its legs was, for all intents and purposes, dangling. This is how he was presented with the condition when he came in to examine it. In a situation like this, the veterinarian has to grapple with the decision of how the quality of life for the animal will be affected, and if it can survive. He comments that it was largely because of the dedication, concern, and pleas from his staff that helped lead him to the decision to work to save the animal.
The leg would need to be amputated for this cat to survive. It was about this same time that Dr. Veling’s cat of 15 years had just passed away. Fate would have it that the now 3 legged cat that presented himself to him and his staff that day now graces Dr. Veling’s home as an able and content 2 year old named Gilmore, as in Happy Gilmore.
There are many ways we can all do our part to help, as Dr. Veling and his staff exemplify.
Donations to an injured animal fund or volunteerism at a local animal rescue or shelter is one way. Or, adopting that pet with special needs is another way. Click on the following link to see a list of animal shelters and rescue organizations near you.
http://muttcats.com/shelters/indiana.htm
We all have to walk the walk, and talk the talk.
You are also welcome to take a moment to see what animals Dr. Veling and his staff at Caring Hands Pet Hospital have available for adoption by going to the following link. Your own Gilmore awaits you.
http://www.caringhands.vetsuite.com/Templates/ContentPages/Clinic_Info/AdoptionGalleryContent.aspx