Every day, GMHS provides life-saving, transformative care to homeless pets, including veterinary care.
Because of you, our friends and supporters, GMHS is able to provide the veterinary care necessary to treat illnesses and injuries, provide routine veterinary care and position pets for lives of health and happiness with their new families.
Each pet the GMHS team cares for receives a comprehensive physical examination at intake, and our medical team establishes a health/treatment plan and puts it into action. Vaccines are administered, and pets are altered at GMHS’ Fixin’ to Save Spay & Neuter Clinic.
All dogs are tested for heartworm disease and all cats tested for FeLV/FIV. Each pet is dewormed and given monthly flea/tick treatment. They are also microchipped prior to adoption so if they ever become lost, they may be happily reunited with their family.
The region has a high rate of heartworm disease in dogs, which can be avoided simply by giving a monthly preventative prescribed by a veterinarian. However, treating heartworm disease is incredibly expensive and can cost as much as $1,000 per dog. Due to a lack of resources, some shelters may be faced with euthanizing heartworm-positive dogs or choosing to forgo testing them prior to adoption for fear of the results.
These dogs receive a second chance at GMHS, as we regularly transfer in heartworm-positive dogs from shelters throughout the region. Through GMHS’ Help for Hearts program, all heartworm-positive dogs are treated and go on to lead happy, healthy lives with their forever families.
Many pets enter the shelter with pre-existing skin issues. This is usually caused by a flea infestation from a lack of preventative given. The GMHS medical team provides the flea/tick prevention needed upon arrival to our shelter and schedules it to be given every 30 days while in our care. Pets also enjoy a one-on-one spa time with our volunteer groomer. This includes baths with special shampoos tailored to each skin type, nail trims and any grooming necessary. These baths help our pets to feel and look their best while preparing for their new family.
Every year, GMHS sees pets with a variety of medical issues. Some pets suffer from entropion, a condition in which the eyelid turns inward and eyelashes and skin rub against the eye surface, which is corrected surgically.
Other pets may have a hernia, which can be corrected at the time of spay/neuter surgery. Many senior pets who come into our care require dental care such as extractions. GMHS also sees conditions such as broken bones, malignant masses, upper respiratory infections, panleukopenia and pyometra.
GMHS remains committed to providing the best care possible for all of the homeless pets who look to us to be their voice and save their lives. Saving lives is expensive, and the estimated cost of the medicine and medical supplies needed to do so in 2022 is $150,000.
With the number of homeless pets cared for by GMHS doubled since 2020, the need is greater than ever. We invite you to join those with a heart for homeless pets in making a donation that will fund the purchase of medicine and medical supplies, ensuring pets in need receive the second chance they deserve to enjoy the comfort, love and security of a forever home.
Every day at GMHS, homeless pets live because you give, and 92 cents of every dollar donated goes directly to providing shelter and care for homeless animals. Each gift made—tax-deductible, of course—has life-saving power, and we appreciate your commitment to saving and transforming the lives of homeless pets.
Donations can be made on the web at gmhumanesociety.org/donate or by mail at P.O. Box 385, Gloucester, Va. 23061. Thank you for ensuring our GMHS and our community remain a beacon of hope and safe harbor.