Launched on Monday 12th May, the initiative is aimed at people who want to care for their pets but find it difficult to access traditional vet services due to cost. The service is open to anyone who is finding basic care cost-prohibitive. The RSPCA Coventry & District has purposefully ensured that no means-testing or eligibility criteria are required in order to vaccinate as many pets as possible.
“We know there are people - and animals - falling through the cracks — those who don’t qualify for support from charities like the PDSA, but still can’t afford vet fees,” said Lorraine Bryan, Centre Manager at RSPCA Coventry. “This service is designed to help them and their pets stay happy and healthy.”
The vaccination clinic will be held at the RSPCA Coventry & District and will offer affordable vaccinations and basic health advice to the community. The service is not in competition with local vets or the PDSA, instead it has been designed to complement existing support options and services. And the hope is that the vaccination clinic will help the 25% of pet owners across the UK who have delayed or avoided veterinary treatment due to cost.
This launch will also benefit the animals in the centre’s care, who will now receive further vet treatment on-site. The RSPCA Coventry & District has been running a limited vet service for their own dogs and cats as well as local animal welfare charities since 2023. This launch to the public will enable the centre to increase services for the animals waiting to be rehomed. It will further reduce the travel time to Birmingham for vet needs, increasing the welfare of the cats and dogs at the centre.
Additionally, the public launch will benefit other local animal welfare charities with Coventry Cats Protection already receiving neutering services for their cats. This extends the existing provision at the RSPCA Coventry & District vet clinic and will help Coventry Cats Protection neuter feral cats and reduce the cat crisis in the region.
Future plans include a roll-out of neutering services and other vet care that the centre aims to reduce the 11% abandonment rate of cats in the West Midlands by reducing the amount of kittens.
“This service isn’t in competition with local vets, our aim is to fill a vital gap for those affected by rising costs” added Michaela Hatton RVN, Veterinary Nurse. “This is for cats and dogs who otherwise might not receive vaccinations to keep them healthy.”
The vaccination clinic will be held at the RSPCA Coventry & District Centre every Monday and Thursday from the 12th May (excluding bank holidays). For any pet owner struggling to cover vaccination costs, they can book a slot at the clinic by emailing [email protected]. To support those struggling to vaccinate their pets, individuals can donate £20 at https://rspca-coventry-and-district-donate-a-vaccination.raiselysite.com/ which will cover the cost of the vaccination as well as the operational costs for the centre.
