By Corvo Rohwer, Puyallup Tribal News
Bundled-up puppies and kittens braved the cool morning air as the Pierce County Humane Society cut the ribbon on its new mobile veterinary unit on April 21.
S.P.O.T. stands for spay/neuter, preventative medicine, outreach and transport services. The primary use of the mobile unit will include targeted trap-neuter-return programs for community cats along with spay/neuter surgeries for pets, but will also be utilized for mobile adoption events.
Chief Executive Officer Leslie Dalzell said this mobile unit will allow the Humane Society to expand into the wider community to service animals that may not have access to traditional medical services.
“Beyond the acronym, S.P.O.T. represents something even more powerful: a commitment to equity, access and compassionate care,” Dalzell said. “This is more than just equipment on wheels, it is a tool for community connection. It’s about showing up for the people and the pets who need us most in the places they call home and breaking down the barrier of transportation.”
The 26-foot vehicle was funded through generous donations from the community, with Puyallup Tribal Council and the Tribe’s Charity Trust Board issuing a $30,000 matching donation toward the goal in 2024.
After stepping inside, a small preparation station can be found at the front of the mobile clinic complete with a sterilization autoclave and other surgical equipment. Lining the walls of the interior are an array of kennels that can house approximately 17 animals at a time for pre-surgery holding, recovery or adoption staging. The full surgery suite is located at the rear of the vehicle, where a group of kittens were brought in to receive their vaccines and take the honors of being the first patients in the S.P.O.T. vehicle.
City of Tacoma Council Member John Hines was also present during the celebration and expressed his support for the Humane Society’s mission to expand its services in a way that reaches people in new ways.
“We have so many people in this community that desperately need care for their animals, who need spay and neuter opportunities for their animals and they can’t get here to the vet. … Meeting people where they are, meeting people’s pets where they are really is a critical service,” Hines said.
The mobility of the vet unit will allow the Humane Society to meet the growing demand for veterinary services in underserved neighborhoods and the wider community as a whole, and will also be utilized during the Humane Society monthly Vaccine and Wellness Clinics.
For more information regarding upcoming programs or opportunities involving S.P.O.T., look out for updates on the Humane Society for Tacoma & Pierce County social channels.
