By Laura Michell
An animal hospital offering subsidised veterinary care, a cattery, rehoming services and community workshops will soon open in Craigieburn.
Second Chance Animal Rescue has built the Grasslands Avenue hospital to meet increasing demand for its services. Until now, the group has been based in Campbellfield.
Founder Marisa Debattista said demand in the area for rescue and rehoming services – as well as discounted vet care – had snowballed in recent years.
“Our Campbellfield shelter opened four years ago and we outgrew it within four months,” she said. “[The animal hospital] is a dream we have had for a long time.”
The hospital will have a vet service that will be open to the public and will also run a cattery, a respite program to care for pets of people experiencing family violence, puppy school, education workshops and kitten meditation sessions.
Ms Debattista said helping people to be responsible pet owners was one of Second Chance Animal Rescue’s main aims.
“There are a lot of people in the area that love their pets, but don’t have the financial means to desex them or feed them, so we offer a free or heavily discounted service,” she said.
“We are contacted on a daily basis by people who need help. The new premises means we can offer more help to more people.”
The hospital was built with the help of a $200,000 grant from the state government’s Pick My Project program, as well as $40,000 from PETstock Assist.
Dulux donated paint and sent volunteers to the hospital last week to decorate.
It is hoped the animal hospital will be open by October.
