TROY — The Miami County Commissioners honored the Troy Animal Hospital and Bird Clinic on Monday.
The hospital opened 45 years ago and has been providing free care to the animals of the Miami County Animal Shelter.
That help has aided the shelter in its efforts keep its population down and adoptions up.
“Our goal was if they’re healthy and happy they’re way more adoptable and people are going to be more willing so we’ve been providing the care just because we really want to see these pets get back into great homes,” Kay LeVan, the practice manager at the Troy Animal Hospital and Bird Clinic.
Rob Craft started managing the animal shelter in May but even in his short time on the job has become familiar with the significance the hospital plays in helping the shelter.
“We couldn’t do it without them,” Craft said. “I really feel that way. I’ve talked with some wardens from other counties and probably the thing that they struggle with the most is the vet bills the cost of bringing their animals to the vet. It can be quite substantial.”
Without that free care there’s a chance that some of the animals they’ve cared for would’ve had to have been put down instead of adopted. The shelter tries to not go beyond 29 dogs because that’s the number of kennels with inside and outside access however they can go beyond that. As of late June they were back to that capacity again. However having the resource of the hospital has been significant in helping to get the animals adopted.
“They have come so far at the shelter here in Miami County with their adoption rates,” LeVan said. “They’ve established some great relationships with some of the local rescues, they’ve got some fosters in place.”
Monday the county commissioners presented the award recognizing the work that Dr. Lonnie Davie and LeVan have done over the years.
“It’s a really big surprise,” LeVan said. “Taking care of the animals out there is something we’ve been doing for a number of years just truly because we really wanted to. The fact that the county thought it was worthy of acknowledgment means a lot.”
LeVan said they get to see around half of the animals that they treat for the shelter come back later.
“Sometimes they were our clients anyway and they’re going to come back anyhow,” LeVan said. “Sometimes they just come to say we wanted you guys to see how they’re doing today and that’s wonderful to see the other side of it.”
The Troy Animal Hospital is on call 24/7 to be able to provide emergency care for any of the animals at the shelter.
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