The seventh location of Austin-based Emancipet, a low-cost veterinary clinic, hosted a grand opening Jan. 10. State and local leaders praised the organization's efforts to make veterinary care accessible to low-income Austinites.
The new facility at 1030 Norwood Park Blvd., Ste. 316, Austin, will serve as a testing ground for expanded services such as dental care, minor surgery, X-ray imaging and more, CEO Amy Mills said.
Emancipet, which has locations throughout Texas and a recently opened Philadelphia clinic, helped 100,000 pets receive preventative care such as vaccines, microchips and wellness exams in 2017, according to a news release. Wellness exams are $5 and vaccinations are $15 each.
Following the merger of Emancipet and Animal Trustees of Austin in 2016, Mills said the two organizations wanted to find a way to combine their resources for more service while maintaining low costs.
“People were coming back to us and saying but what do I do if my dog is sick or my cat got hit by a car? The thought of getting them there but then having to turn them away was just too heartbreaking for us,” Mills said.
State Rep. Celia Israel, D-50, attended the ribbon cutting ceremony with her partner Celinda Garza and their dog Kia Marie.
“With the opening of its newest clinic, this vital community effort is sure to continue enhancing the quality of life for area pets and their owners alike,” Israel said.
Austin Mayor Adler said Emancipet's mission reflected the dynamic he sees in Austin.
“It’s about music, it’s about Barton Springs, it's about being a welcoming city but it is also about being a place where pets, animals and families are a priority,” Adler said. “It’s about the pride in the dog parks we have and the animals you meet on the trails."
Mills said she hopes the North Austin clinic's expanded resources will give more families help their pets at a low cost.
“This is a space where families might walk in feeling like they don't have enough money to take care of their pet and they will walk out with hope and they will walk out with the best medical care that they can get anywhere,” Mills said.
