YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio - More than three hundred pet owners are thankful for a team effort that helped them save money and take care of pets who are considered part of the family.

 

Taking care of furry friends can get expensive. Across the country and here in our region rescue shelters are overflowing as more owners surrender their dogs and cats. 

 

The sustained inflation has made the cost of gas, groceries, clothing, and daily living increase and has been having a negative impact on people and families.

 

So a clinic to help families afford vaccines is growing in popularity each year. The thanks to the agencies that partner to put this affordable clinic on are also growing. 

 

Buster's Brigade, The Marjorie Hartman Family Foundation, and the YSU Pre-Vet Student program partnered to provide vaccinations and clinical tests for dogs and cats at a minimum cost to pet parents.

 

Lisa tells us by bringing Zeus and Luna here she can save around $300 dollars and make sure her pets are vaccinated and healthy.

 

"Going to the Vet for one dog is $125 to $200 for each dog, so that's $400, and when you have two dogs that's a lot of money, so this helps a ton!" Lisa Scheidegger said.

 

The clinic also provided an opportunity for YSU pre-veterinary students with the Pre-Vet Society, Eastern Gateway Community College Vet Tech students, and Mahoning Career Tech high school students to get hands-on learning experience under the supervision of a veterinarian.

 

"All of these groups are learning how to handle the animals, how to draw blood, how to give a vaccination, how to do a good examination as well as for me, the most important is how to give to the community, how to be of service to others," the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine and Advisor for the YSU Pre-Vet Society

Dr. Tina Costarella said. 

 

The Marjorie Hartman Foundation provided funding to pay for the vaccines.

 

Buster's Brigade helps to coordinate and facilitate the clinic. The non-profit is based out of Cortland and this is the 4th year for this event.

 

"There were a lot of rescues but there was no one to help families keep pets at home, so that was our goal, to help families. We provide financial aid for surgeries," Treasurer of Buster's Brigade Donna Sekman said. 

 

To apply for financial aid for medical treatments, preventative care, or food supply assistance. If you need help to rehome your pet or want to donate money to the non-profit or find out about volunteer opportunities check out Buster's Brigade on Facebook, Instagram or you can go to the organization's website.

www.bustersbrigade.org