Community Service

Community participation has always been and continues to be very important to VSH.

VSH feels strongly that the partnerships they nurture with various organizations in the community is an extension of their mission to treat and care for animals who are in need of specialized and emergency care.

Below are some of the ways in which VSH gives back to the community:

SPCA of Wake County Partnership

VSH and the SPCA of Wake County have teamed up to provide diagnosis and specialty treatment for dogs and cats with curable conditions that might impede their adoption at the SPCA Curtis Dail Pet Adoption Center. This partnership benefits both organizations and ultimately provides better lives for animals.

The benefits of this partnership include:

Raising awareness of the need to find homes for animals that would make loving pets
Raising awareness of the specialty treatments provided by VSH
Saving the lives of animals deemed "unadoptable" because of illness or injury
Allowing the staff at both VSH and the SPCA to participate in a positive experience that has a good outcome for all involved

For more information about the SPCA of Wake County please visit www.spcawake.org

Happy Endings - A complex surgery for a special-needs kitten - The Eyes Don’t Lie

The cat formerly known as "Burger" was adopted and her new owners love her so much that they have renamed her "Anna Faith". She is happy and healthy at her new home and obviously enjoys a good windowsill.

A (Highly Trained) Guardian Angel for Ellery - VSH brings specialized services to the SPCA

Cutting Edge Surgery Saves SPCA Dog

North Carolina Zoo Partnership

VSH typically works with cats and dogs but occasionally the hospital’s specialty services are needed to assist with animals that you don’t generally find as pets.

VSH created a partnership with the North Carolina Zoo to assist with specialty surgeries and procedures for zoo animals. Over the last few years, Dr. Gary Spodnick, Chief of Surgery at VSH, has worked with elephants, gorillas, a trumpeter hornbill, polar bear, warthog, lion, impala and an African goat. He works closely with the zoo veterinarians to discuss procedures and schedule surgeries. Some of the procedures and surgeries have been performed at the zoo while others have taken place at VSH’s Cary hospital.

The partnership raises awareness of both parties involved while also helping animals in need. Plus, not all veterinarians get the chance to work up close and personal with an elephant. For more information about the North Carolina Zoo, please visit http://www.nczoo.org

Paws4Ever Partnership

VSH and Paws4Ever (formerly the Animal Protection Society of Orange County) have joined forces to help diagnose and treat animals with illnesses or injuries that prevent them from being adopted.

VSH provides specialty medical care to animals at Paws4Ever once deemed unadoptable so they can heal, mend and ultimately be placed in a new home. The benefits to this partnership are similar to the ones mentioned above with the SPCA partnership.

Overall, VSH and Paws4Ever are able to assist animals who need a little extra medical care so they can get a second chance at finding a loving home.

For more information about Paws4Ever, please visit http://www.paws4ever.org

Rocco, A Special Dog Gets Special Care

Pandita's Journey

Cary Police K9 Program

VSH donated $5,000 worth of emergency and specialty veterinary services for the Town of Cary’s regional K9 officer program. The K9 program encompasses Cary, Apex, Morrisville and Holly Springs. Cary Police use their K9 teams to track lost persons or fleeing suspects, search for discarded/ hidden evidence or contraband, detect illegal drugs, search buildings and help protect officers.

Cary now has two K9 teams. The first team came on board in 2005 and consists of Master Officer Jeremy Burgin and Czech Republic-born German shepherd Max. The second team was introduced in 2008 and is made up of Officer Seth Everett and German shepherd Axle.

For more information about the Cary K9 program, please visit http://www.townofcary.org/depts/pddept/k9/k9.htm

Ashley’s Angel Fund

Ashley’s Angel Fund is a nonprofit organization that provides monetary assistance for veterinary care for dogs with life-threatening conditions in the Triangle and various surrounding counties. The Zach Memorial is also administered through Ashley’s Angel Fund and provides monetary assistance to dogs in North Carolina who have cancer. Ashley was a patient at VSH for several years and had great impact on the staff at the hospital. The staff now honors both Ashley and Zach by submitting current VSH patients for monetary assistance. Because of Ashley, Zach and VSH, other dogs are able to afford specialized care and treatment.

For more information about the Ashley and Zach funds, please visit www.ashleyfund.org