Maxxine came into the Santa Fe shelter with a broken femur and a broken spirit that almost required amputation. Community donations helped to pay for her surgery and rehabilitation and now she will go on to live a full life. Courtesy photo

Vet staff help an adorable puppy. Courtesy photo

COMMUNITY News:

All veterinarians and their staff work hard, but those that tend our furry friends at animal shelters have boundless compassion that some may never know and others could never comprehend. The Santa Fe Animal Shelter’s Animal Hospital is a full-service facility with two clinics (internal and external), both have staff beyond compare.

The shelter clinic deals with daily situations like assessing the general health of a variety of animals, estimate the age of surrendered pets 9sometimes left in the middle of the night, and intake dogs about to give birth and then care for the entire litter.

Then consider the spay and neuter aspect, addressing health history needs from heartworm to diabetes and the occasional anxiety medications. They stay on top of a variety of viruses that can run rampant in kennels and suffer like their patients when one has parvo, an intestinal virus that can be fatal, especially if puppies and dogs aren’t properly vaccinated in time.

However, some days they deal with cases of hit and run by vehicles, with animals left on the roadside. On occasion dogs have come in with gunshot wounds that need strategic, urgent care plans. Once the wounds are stabilized, the real love begins with also healing of the heart and mind, thereby treating the whole dog.

Jon the Social Media Coordinator for Santa Fe Animal Shelter sees something new veterinary care crew every day. “They love animals more than anyone I know, even though it’s not a contest… they win,” Jon said. “One time, I witnessed a vet tech carry a timid new mama dog who was larger than her all the way across campus so she wouldn’t have to walk herself.”

Our goal is to celebrate Veterinary Appreciation Day along with https://vetappreciationday.trupanion.com/ who started the day in 2015 to celebrate everyone on the vet staff from the person that answers the phone to the people in the exam room. We hope you help celebrate your local veterinary team members and help us salute the incredible clinic staff at the Santa Fe Animal Shelter.

Those in caring professions sometimes feel they must hide their own feelings. Those professionals equally need support and understanding for work that can be extremely demanding, often in the blink of an eye. So, if you know someone that works in such a high paced practice, give them a call or drop them a note to show your gratitude.

Abbey Willison is the organization’s New Hope Foster Coordinator. All staff can see what the sheer volume of work is done by the Vets, Vet Techs and Vet Assistants and how they maintain balance. “The amount of fecal testing, ringworm baths they give, vaccines they draw, hotdogs they cut for medicine, vaccine appointments they update, fearful animals they have to handle, surgeries they help prepare for, questions they answer, and PPE gear they go through….the list goes on!”

While kitten and puppy season is more than underway, the shelter can go from a regular population to over-whelming in short order. When a regional emergency hits, like a fire or flood, relocation of their furry residents can add to the fold. Last summer, the shelter was at maximum capacity with additional kennels being constructed inside the SFAS office spaces and some dogs housed in offices during the day.

Abbey remembers how one day while trying to contain her feelings, a small incident allowed a breach. “I remember standing in the clinic trying to hold back my tears and I said, ‘it feels like the shelter is going to implode,’” said Willson. “It felt true at the time with everything going on though, and as busy as the clinic staff were, they each took time to console me. Laura gave me a hug, Regina told me, “We’ll get through it together.” Amber checked in on me later on and Arianna said, “it’ll be okay.” Everyone inspired me to push through.”

Indeed, the Santa Fe Animal Shelter Veterinary team come together to serve the animals for Santa Fe and the region. This week the team comes together to celebrate June 18, Veterinary Appreciation Day. Their veterinarians and their incredible staff, along with a variety of staff and with help from donations and volunteers, work every day to save animals in a variety of ways. Sometimes they even perform a few miracles along the way. The shelter currently has 240 animals on campus with 125 in foster homes awaiting their forever family. Visit them on-line at www.sfhumanesociety.org to learn more.