In the Wake of a Natural Disaster, Pets Matter Too
Pets can bring their owners immeasurable comfort and joy, especially during times of stress, which is exactly why veterinarian Dr. Melissa Harrer, of the Animal Clinic of Council Bluffs, and Council Bluffs Corps officer Major Donna Miller decided to offer a free pet clinic for those affected by the March and April flooding.
“When someone has less than an hour to evacuate from their home, they don’t think about grabbing the dog’s heartworm medicine,” said Major Donna. “This was a good way for us to help people keep their pets healthy. Plus, most of the people who came to the Corps for the pet clinic also needed flood clean-up supplies, so it was a win-win.”
The pet clinic was held April 9 and 12 at the Council Bluffs Corps. Approximately 30 dogs and 10 cats received free care and checkups, including heartworm and flea and tick prevention, feline leukemia tests and vaccinations.
Tiffany Michel, of Pacific Junction, Iowa, visited the free pet clinic with her four-year-old Rottweiler, Quest. Michel and her boyfriend were forced to flee their home when the Missouri River flooded its banks in March. “We had no time to grab our belongings, no warning,” she said. “The water just came up and destroyed our home.”
Along with Quest, Michel also had five horses and two barn kittens at her property. “Thankfully we were able to get all the animals evacuated to safety,” she said.
Quest got a checkup at the free clinic, along with a supply of heartworm and flea and tick medicine. “I love that The Salvation Army is doing this for folks like us,” Michel said. “Any expense we can save as we try to rebuild our lives is very beneficial and we are so grateful. The Salvation Army has been a great resource for us.”
“A lot of the people who came in were farmers and they had three or four big dogs each,” said Major Donna. “Keeping their animals healthy is an expense that many can’t afford right now as they focus on cleaning up and rebuilding.”
Michel and her boyfriend are among those who plan to rebuild. The couple lived about a mile west from a levee, close to the Missouri River. “We were able to see the damage to our home recently, and the clean-up process will take some time, but we are definitely going to rebuild,” she said. “This is our home, we love it here, and we don’t plan on moving anywhere else.”
Major Donna said it felt good to provide an additional service that people needed. Plus, she added, the pet clinic offered some levity during a stressful period. “There’s nothing like having 15 German shepherds in the building at the same time,” she said, laughing. “Truly though, we didn’t think twice about it. We were glad to do it.”