{"id":12169,"date":"2025-04-08T11:40:54","date_gmt":"2025-04-08T16:40:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.wisconsin.edu\/all-in-wisconsin-new\/?post_type=campus_story&p=12169"},"modified":"2025-04-08T11:42:01","modified_gmt":"2025-04-08T16:42:01","slug":"for-the-love-of-a-pet","status":"publish","type":"campus_story","link":"https:\/\/www.wisconsin.edu\/all-in-wisconsin\/story\/for-the-love-of-a-pet\/","title":{"rendered":"For the Love of a Pet"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Photo<\/a>
A pooch named Tugz waits patiently while staff discuss his case. Because of WisCARES, clients like Tugz’s owner can afford to treat their treasured companions. Photo by Bryce Richter\/UW-Madison<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

A UW veterinary clinic provides affordable care for owners experiencing hardship<\/h2>\n
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One thing you notice about\u00a0WisCARES<\/a>\u00a0is the kindness. It\u2019s a place where happiness abounds, even among some of life\u2019s most unhappy\u00a0circumstances.<\/p>\n

In a sparkling-clean silver cage, a black kitty rears up like a tiny lion, front paws in the air, jostling a shiny pink ball that a student just selected for her. A few feet away, a wiggly gray puppy tosses an oversized toy and smooshes it until it squeaks.<\/p>\n

Through a door and down the hall, the owners of these and other animals wait patiently in exam rooms. As they pass the time, many concerns \u2014 not limited to their pet\u2019s health \u2014 might weigh on their minds. At this veterinary clinic, those facing tough challenges seek care for their treasured companions.<\/p>\n

Wisconsin Companion Animal Resources, Education, and Social Services, or WisCARES for short, provides veterinary medical care, housing support and advocacy, and other social services to Dane County pet owners experiencing homelessness, housing instability, or financial hardship.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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\"A<\/a><\/p>\n

WisCARES veterinary assistant Madison Edens \u201924 examines Yoki, the program\u2019s resident cat.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201cWisCARES serves people who would not be able to seek care for their pets,\u201d says Lyn Empey DVM\u201998, a veterinarian with the clinic. \u201cSeeing how much [WisCARES clients] love their pets and would do for their pets, then being able to provide services for them and seeing them be so incredibly grateful \u2014 there\u2019s nothing better than that.\u201d<\/p>\n

The program is led by the\u00a0UW School of Veterinary Medicine<\/a>, with support from the\u00a0Schools of Social Work<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Pharmacy<\/a>. Its mission has four parts. The clinic works to keep pets with their families and empowers people to care for the animals through free or low-cost veterinary medicine. The team helps clients gain access to housing, social support services, and human health care. Student training is constant, preparing well-rounded veterinarians and other health professionals. And because the same societal challenges occur nationwide, WisCARES shares what it learns and models what is possible.<\/p>\n

The team says a \u201cone health\u201d approach \u2014 connecting the dots between people, animals, and their environment \u2014 guides its work. It\u2019s veterinary medicine with the utmost compassion for people, too.<\/p>\n

Pets and Poverty<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Based in south Madison, WisCARES is taking a local approach to a problem that is national in scope.<\/p>\n

Within Dane County, one-third of households can\u2019t afford basic needs. That number grows to 41 percent nationally.<\/p>\n

About two-thirds of U.S. households have a pet, a segment that varies only slightly based on socioeconomic status.<\/p>\n

In a recent national poll, the Humane Society found that 43 percent of pet owners couldn\u2019t pay for their pets\u2019 needs at some point due to financial reasons. Moreover, the organization estimates that 20 million pets in the U.S. live in poverty with their families, and 70 percent of those animals have never seen a vet.<\/p>\n

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\"Three<\/p>\n

Kristin Baert DVMx\u201925, veterinarian Kelly Schultz, and certified veterinary technician Haidi Rodriguez (right) assess Foxxy, a Bichon Fris\u00e9 mix, for leg injuries.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\u201cThere is a huge group of people who simply cannot afford to go to a regular veterinary clinic,\u201d says Empey.<\/p>\n

Ruthanne Chun \u201987, DVM\u201991, a veterinary oncologist and the program\u2019s director, knows what you might be thinking.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you don\u2019t have the money to take care of an animal, you shouldn\u2019t have it.\u00a0<\/em>We hear that a lot,\u201d she says. \u201cWell, if I don\u2019t have $10,000 to put my animal through a chemotherapy protocol, should I not have that animal? That\u2019s crazy, right? So, where\u2019s the cutoff when you make that kind of a statement?\u201d<\/p>\n

WisCARES encourages a more compassionate approach that acknowledges the causes of poverty, the\u00a0downstream impacts of financial hardship, and the immense benefits that pets and people gain from life together.<\/p>\n

\u201cAny client who comes in, that human\u2013animal bond, that connection, is so real and so beneficial,\u201d says Liddy Alvarez, a primary care veterinarian who directs the program\u2019s curriculum.<\/p>\n

Willow Williams \u201921, DVMx\u201925, now in her fourth year as a veterinary medical student, has worked at the clinic since 2019. The core of its mission, she says, is making sure that \u201cwe are able to support both animals and humans. WisCARES and other places that provide access to care are allowing people to stay with their pets, and that is invaluable.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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So Few Options<\/strong><\/h2>\n

To qualify for WisCARES services, clients share proof that they have low income or are experiencing homelessness. About 10 percent of\u00a0current clients are without housing. Many also face transportation, disability, and language barriers to care.<\/p>\n

Clinic staff do what they can to reduce clients\u2019 obstacles, providing cab service, Spanish translation, or accommodations for people with limited mobility \u2014 \u201clittle things to help when the physical task of treating their animal is difficult,\u201d explains Kelly Schultz \u201905, MS\u201911, DVM\u201915, WisCARES\u2019s medical director and lead clinical instructor. \u201cI hope the pet owners feel cared for and seen, because a lot of our clients move through the world in a way that is uncaring and invisible. \u2026 I want them to feel like any other pet owner.\u201d<\/p>\n

WisCARES was founded as a student initiative (see sidebar). The School of Veterinary Medicine adopted and expanded the program in 2013, starting humbly through street outreach. Next, it hosted two-hour veterinary clinics at the Tenant Resource Center and Salvation Army twice a month. Then came a physical space \u2014 a donated Quonset hut \u2014 where for several years they built their client base by word of mouth.<\/p>\n

In 2018, the clinic relocated to a newly renovated facility. Its footprint grew dramatically, as did its services. It added surgery, dentistry, an X-ray machine, and in-house lab testing. It also expanded its hours to Monday through Friday and hired additional staff. Then the economic crisis of the COVID-19 pandemic brought an influx of new clients.<\/p>\n

On the heels of its 10th anniversary, the team sees more need than ever.<\/p>\n

\u201cA lot of people call us every day, and we can\u2019t see a lot of them. That can be tough,\u201d Schultz says. \u201cWe would like to increase our capacity. There are so few options if you can\u2019t afford veterinary care.\u201d<\/p>\n

WisCARES is an early adopter of serving vulnerable communities within veterinary medicine.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs an interprofessional program that has a brick-and-mortar clinic open five days a week, we\u2019re one of the first and only clinics leading that charge,\u201d Schultz says. The team shares its experiences and knowledge nationally\u00a0through presentations, publications, advisory panels, and more.<\/p>\n

An<\/strong>\u00a0Absolute<\/strong>\u00a0Blessing<\/strong><\/h2>\n

On average, WisCARES sees 80 to 100 pets per week. Appointments range from wellness exams and vaccines to disease management or dental work.<\/p>\n

Sarah Laverty has used the clinic three times, most recently visiting with her 11-year-old cat,\u00a0Princess. The onset of a chronic illness of her own in 2017 changed Laverty\u2019s life course.<\/p>\n

\u201cI had worked a job for 19 years, made a good income, and then suddenly I\u2019m disabled,\u201d she says. \u201cMy income is not what it used to be.\u201d<\/p>\n

The clinic has \u201cbeen an absolute blessing\u201d to Laverty and her two cats, who she says mean the world to her. \u201cEverybody\u2019s so friendly and really engaged in the care of the pets.\u201d<\/p>\n

Elisa Rosas and her blue heeler, Rexy, have been clients of the clinic for about four years. \u201cEverybody\u2019s\u00a0very nice. This place is great,\u201d Rosas says while petting Rexy\u2019s head after his checkup and nail trim.<\/p>\n

Rexy is 14 years old and blind but still sets his inner clock to a daily walk with Rosas. \u201cHe\u2019s waiting for me. We have a certain time, around three o\u2019clock. So he\u2019s ready,\u201d she says. \u201cHe\u2019s a good boy.\u201d<\/p>\n

Besides veterinary care, WisCARES provides clients with pet supplies. Toys, collars, leashes, pet food, crates of all sizes, beds, and practically anything else one might need for a pet are organized tidily from floor to ceiling in a warehouse space at the back of the clinic. Stacks of dog and cat food sit on rows of shelves nearby. Puppy and kitty packs are in another set of bins containing essential supplies for new animal family members. Donations make it all possible.<\/p>\n

Social<\/strong>\u00a0Supports<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Sometimes, by caring for pets, WisCARES helps people care for themselves.<\/p>\n

Their pet fostering program allows clients\u2019 dogs and cats to stay for up to three months in a volunteer foster home. This temporary care helps pet owners find housing or emergency shelter, access health care, seek mental health services, or enter treatment programs \u2014 options that can otherwise be out of reach for people with pets who lack housing or social support.<\/p>\n

In 2023, the organization fostered 43 animals. Among them was a cat belonging to a man who required open-heart surgery but refused the procedure until he was sure his cat would be well cared for.<\/p>\n

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\"A<\/p>\n

Veterinary assistants Kiera Christensen x\u201925 (left) and Edens work with Dart, a Great Dane mix, prior to administering vaccines. For the past 10 years, donations have boosted WisCARES\u2019s ability to provide no- and low-cost care and allowed the program to expand its services.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Earlier this year, a local organization that assists individuals facing domestic violence approached WisCARES. \u201cThey came to us for help because they have a lot of clients who are fleeing domestic abuse situations and have pets,\u201d says Schultz.<\/p>\n

The support organization now covers the cost of a package of veterinary care at the clinic for pet owners trying to leave an abusive partner. This includes an exam, core vaccines, and other essentials that a landlord might ask to see \u2014 so the animal is ready to move once the owner is.<\/p>\n

Real-World<\/strong>\u00a0Experience<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Veterinary medical students get critical training at WisCARES through hands-on care and client interactions. \u201cThere is so much the students gain and learn through experiencing even just briefly the lives of the clients they\u2019re working with,\u201d Alvarez says.<\/p>\n

About 70 veterinary medical students\u00a0train in the clinic annually in groups of three to five for two weeks at a time. Students manage all cases, communicating with clients, examining patients, and providing care to the animals in coordination with veterinarians and technicians.<\/p>\n

Others train at the clinic, too. Pharmacy students fill prescriptions and stock medications. And social-work students help identify social service resources and counsel clients. \u201cA lot of times, our clients are not treated well in the world,\u201d says Jennifer Wheeler Brooks, the organization\u2019s director of social work and outreach. \u201cThey come here, and they\u2019re treated well.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Veterinary-degree seniors Baert and Abigail Martinson \u201921 prepare Princess for surgery.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Student trainings cover topics ranging from poverty, homelessness, and the social determinants of health to ways of approaching client conversations with empathy and an open mind. How to help people keep their pets as healthy as possible within a budget is a significant point of emphasis.<\/p>\n

\u201cEvery client that comes in, we teach the students to work with them where they are,\u201d explains Alvarez. In recent years, veterinary medical schools have prioritized training graduates for a full spectrum of care or a broad range of diagnosis and treatment options from state-of-the-art to more conservative. Again, the UW and WisCARES are at the forefront. Alvarez says a spectrum of care has been a central focus of their curriculum \u201cin an organic, natural way\u201d for a decade.<\/p>\n

\u201cNot every client is going to be able to do the most advanced and amazing things, and that\u2019s okay,\u201d she says. \u201cSo, let\u2019s figure out how to treat the patient in front of you.\u201d<\/p>\n

Understanding<\/strong>\u00a0and<\/strong>\u00a0Openness<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Maura Enright DVM\u201924 began working at WisCARES as an undergraduate who hoped to attend vet school \u2014 a dream that culminated with her graduation in May. Her time at the clinic made her aware of the challenges facing many pet owners.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s been so transformative in how I view the veterinary field,\u201d she says. Her mindset as she enters her career: \u201cHow can we support this patient and the owner, regardless of what they can bring to the table that day?\u201d<\/p>\n

Alvarez wants students to leave with an understanding that veterinary medicine isn\u2019t solely about working at an upscale clinic where clients can pay full price when they walk in the door. \u201cThere\u2019s more to veterinary medicine than that, and there\u2019s more to society, people, and pets than that,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n

The team finds purpose in WisCARES\u2019s dual approach of veterinary medicine and social justice, helping to change the trajectory daily for pets and people. Teaching students adds extra inspiration, and Schultz sees potential for long-term impact. \u201cI like to think that I\u2019m making a\u00a0difference every day and that because we have the students with us, maybe four decades from now, a past student will think about WisCARES and make a different medical decision.\u201d<\/p>\n

What kind of decision would that be? \u201cA kinder, more thoughtful decision,\u201d she says.\u00a0\u2022<\/strong><\/p>\n

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WisCARES<\/strong>\u00a0Started<\/strong>\u00a0with<\/strong>\u00a0Students<\/strong><\/h2>\n

As a veterinary student at UW\u2013Madison, Katie Kuehl DVM\u201912 knew she wanted to help vulnerable pet owners.<\/p>\n

At the time, there was a pervasive attitude in the medical field that considered pets unsafe for people who were immunocompromised. But a lecture by Professor Chris Olsen opened Kuehl\u2019s eyes to ways to make pet ownership safer for these patients.<\/p>\n

Along with fellow student William Gilles DVM\u201913, she was inspired to approach the AIDS Network of South-Central Wisconsin to provide training for AIDS Network clients and case managers about safe pet care.<\/p>\n

They named their venture WisCARES. Following graduation, Gilles served for several years as director of WisCARES, helping to build the program in its broader iteration as a School of Veterinary Medicine initiative.<\/p>\n

In 2017, Kuehl joined the Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine to lead the university\u2019s Shelter Medicine program and help found the\u00a0One Health Clinic<\/a>, where she serves as veterinary director. The clinic provides human and animal health care side by side in a shelter for people and their pets experiencing homelessness.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you think about folks who are houseless,\u201d she says, \u201cthey have this animal that\u2019s literally their best friend and support. Maybe the dog is the reason they get up in the morning and even try, because they want to be able to care for their special friend. Being able to receive care for their animal can make such a huge impact for their own well-being.\u201d<\/p>\n

Kuehl was in close contact with WisCARES during the One Health Clinic\u2019s creation and as she incorporated student training. Their paths continue to intersect as collaborators on veterinary continuing education around access to care.<\/p>\n

She\u2019s grateful for ongoing connections with UW\u2013Madison mentors and peers and aims to embody the same compassion and drive she experienced at her alma mater.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt goes full circle,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n

\u2014 M. L.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Written by Meghan Lepisto | Photos by Bryce Richter<\/p>\n

Link to original story: https:\/\/onwisconsin.uwalumni.com\/for-the-love-of-a-pet\/<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A UW veterinary clinic provides affordable care for owners experiencing hardship One thing you notice about\u00a0WisCARES\u00a0is the kindness. It\u2019s a place where happiness abounds, even among some of life\u2019s most unhappy\u00a0circumstances. In a sparkling-clean silver cage, a black kitty rears up like a tiny lion, front paws in the air, jostling a shiny pink ball […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":12178,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","institution":[103],"story_category":[],"class_list":["post-12169","campus_story","type-campus_story","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","institution-uw-madison"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wisconsin.edu\/all-in-wisconsin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/campus_story\/12169","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wisconsin.edu\/all-in-wisconsin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/campus_story"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wisconsin.edu\/all-in-wisconsin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/campus_story"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wisconsin.edu\/all-in-wisconsin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wisconsin.edu\/all-in-wisconsin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=12169"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wisconsin.edu\/all-in-wisconsin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/12178"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wisconsin.edu\/all-in-wisconsin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=12169"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"institution","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wisconsin.edu\/all-in-wisconsin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/institution?post=12169"},{"taxonomy":"story_category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wisconsin.edu\/all-in-wisconsin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/story_category?post=12169"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}