I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: Everyone caring for a companion animal should be able to obtain the resources they want and need for their animal’s health and well-being. A lack of access to pet resources does not mean someone shouldn’t experience the joy and love the bond with a pet can bring. And yet, in the U.S., at least 20 million pets live in homes experiencing poverty or in underserved areas where resources are limited or essentially nonexistent. This is why I view access to care as one of the defining animal welfare issue of our time.
A videographer recently traveled with the Rural Area Veterinary Services program to South Dakota to document the profound impact that bringing essential veterinary resources to underserved communities can have on the lives of people and their animals.