Meet the Tiny Vet Clinic caring for the pets of Canberra’s most vulnerable
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“While it’s a positive thing that pets are treated like members of the family, there can be a mismatch between what people can afford and what they desire.”
Australia has one of the highest rates of pet ownership in the world—and while we love our smaller family members (according to a 2022 national survey by Animal Medicines Australia, Australians are estimated to be spending over $33 billion annually to keep our pets fed, happy, and healthy), it’s getting tougher to give our furry friends all the love and care that we want to.
In fact, 68% of pet owners have considered not going to the vet when needed, in part due to the cost. And with the cost-of-living crisis continuing to worsen, more Australian pets are unable to be seen by a vet—even for general checkups.
Let me introduce you to ACT Pet Crisis Support, their mobile Tiny Vet Clinic, and the brilliance behind their genuine care and love for the pets of Canberra.
Since 2019, the ACT Pet Crisis Support (APCS) has been providing financial support to disadvantaged pet owners in the Canberra region who have no other options to cover an unexpected, urgent veterinary bill. Dr Eloise Bright, a local vet, had seen the effects of being unable to afford vet care on family pets, and – after learning about Pet Medical Crisis in Victoria—was inspired to start a similar charity in Canberra.
“What would often happen is that they would ring around and when they said they had no money, they would just not be able to get an appointment,” she says.
The APCS is dedicated to reducing the rates of pets being euthanised due to lack of funds, and in March this year, they were able to launch their mobile Tiny Vet Clinic. Believed to be the first of its kind in Australia, the mobile vet clinic allows the APCS to offer general veterinary services to Canberran pet owners who otherwise would be unable to access vet care. The ACPS initially received a grant from Petstock Funds to set up the mobile clinic and purchase its equipment – but now, they run entirely on donations and the hard work of their volunteers.
“I would ultimately love to receive a grant big enough to support us to actually pay wages for a vet and a nurse to run regular vet clinics,” says Eloise.
“I would also love to set up a mobile clinic or bricks and mortar practice big enough to do surgery, so we could desex pets, do dentistry and other surgeries.”
Offering everything from health checks to vaccinations, treating skin irritations and ear infections, and even helping to manage chronic conditions when owners can’t afford long term treatment, the clinic asks—where possible—that pet owners simply cover the cost of any medication and give a small donation to continue their work.
Eloise has seen a lot of growth since the Tiny Vet Clinic’s launch in March. The clinic has recently seen a large increase in inquiries about their services, and Eloise puts it down to a combination of rising living costs, and better awareness of the charity.
“It is wonderful to see pets who have never seen a vet before,” she says
According to Eloise, the support that the Tiny Vet Clinic is receiving in the Canberra community is two-fold—Canberra vets have also been very supportive of the Tiny Vet Clinic, happy to have another option for those who can’t afford regular vet fees (rather than having to turn them away). And as Eloise explains, the cost of veterinary care has been rising as technology advances and the standard of care for animals increases.
“Hopefully there will be increased levels of pet insurance uptake in the community, so that cost of care becomes less of a barrier for people.”
She also says that there is an issue with a shortage of vets and nurses, particularly in rural areas and even in Canberra. Veterinary clinics really struggle to find and keep vets – with high levels of burnout in the profession, and high suicide rates. This staffing shortage makes both working in a veterinary clinic and trying to get seen by a vet, incredibly stressful for vets and owners.
“I don’t know what the solution to that is, but be kind to vets, they are human and the dialogue about how vets only care about money and are expensive does not help! I don’t try to negotiate the cost of my dental care, medical or car care, but people tend to try to make vets feel guilty for charging for services,” Eloise says.
This is where the support that having the Tiny Vet Clinic is truly shining in the community – creating an option for pet owners who would normally not be able to afford the care they desire for their animals, and allowing Canberra vets the ability to offer an alternative so that no pet gets left behind.
Without the work that the ACPS and the Tiny Vet Clinic do, Eloise believes that there would be more surrenders to rescue groups and shelters, and more—and we’re already seeing an alarming increase in voluntary surrenders, so much so that most shelters and rescue organisations are regularly at capacity.
“There really are no other options for pet owners that have no money.”
The volunteers at the Tiny Vet Clinic are incredible, devoting their time and resources to ensure the pets of Canberra are all able to receive the care they deserve. Their genuine love for what they do is visible in every interaction with the people and the pets they see (the team has even cared for a chicken) but they can’t do this alone. As the Tiny Vet Clinic gets busier, more pets have to be turned away—and with Eloise already volunteering all of her time to the ACPS and the clinic, there are several ways for Canberrans to offer their support.
But for now, she encourages Canberrans to donate, follow the ACT Pet Crisis Support on social media, or support a fundraiser. The ACPS and Tiny Vet Clinic are also always looking for volunteers.
Dr Eloise and her team of volunteers at the ACT Pet Crisis Support do what they do because they love animals—and know that Canberrans adore their pets.
“I love seeing the pet-owner bond, this is particularly valuable for those people who are lonely, live alone and have health concerns of their own. When they talk about their pets they just light up.”
If you or someone you know could use the help of the ACT Pet Crisis Support, or the Tiny Vet Clinic, all the details and forms you need to have to access their support are here.
Want to be involved in another way? Entry and voting on the Canberra Paws 2024 Pet Calendar Contest is still open until Sunday 13 August. Run by Ina J Photography (a huge animal lover!), the annual fundraiser is in its third year. All you need to do is enter your favourite picture of your pet to try and win one of 13 spots in the calendar, vote for the pets you think look the cutest, or pre-order your copy of the calendar— all proceeds go to the ACPS so they can continue to support the beloved pets of Canberra.
Plus, all winners of the photo contest will also receive a photography session with Ina J Photography—who is renowned for her ability to capture pets’ personalities in exquisite detail.
