Critical Care Team/Blood Bank
Our Critical Care Team/Blood Bank has saved the lives of numerous pets from our practice as well as other area practices. When asked to help save a patient’s life by supplying whole blood from Toledo’s only blood bank, SylvaniaVet comes to the rescue. Because we have blood available, we are happy to help animals in need.
“Expert” Information
Dr. Bob answers questions posed by readers of intoledomagazine.com and also writes a monthly electronic newsletter, the Monthly FYI, which is sent to anyone registered on our website. Occasionally, he is asked to fill in as an expert on TV 13’s noon “Ask the Expert” segment.
Our staff frequently hosts high school and college students interested in veterinary medicine as a career. We have young guests visit for a few hours on a one-time basis as well as regular weekly attendance for a semester or the year. We also have doctors and staff speak at career day events at local schools. We are always willing to help in this area.
Feral Cat Spay/Neuter Program
This program is available to anyone who would like to control the stray cat population in their neighborhood. The fee charged represents a much greater than 50% discount off our regular fees. Once a stray cat is captured, we will test it for Felv/Fiv, give it a rabies vaccination, a worming shot, spay or neuter it and then notch its ear to show it has already been fixed. It is then returned to its territory. This neuter-release program has proven to be an effective method of decreasing the size of feral cat populations around the country. A recent study funded by the Morris Animal Foundation supports the effectiveness of this program.
Humane Organization Support
SylvaniaVET works with several local animal rescue and humane organizations. In addition to providing care for their animals, SylvaniaVET holds “Adopt-a-thons.” This increases the chances of rescue and humane organizations finding good loving homes for their animals. For information on upcoming adopt-a-thons visit our Upcoming Events page.
K-9 Cops
Our doctors provide routine and medical-surgical care for a number of government agencies. We care for dogs from the Ohio State Highway Patrol, the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation and the Federal Air Marshal. One of the reasons that these valuable canine officers come to SylvaniaVet is our 24/7 care and emergency service. All of these departments need to know that their dogs’ doctor is available whenever an emergency should occur.
Not only do we provide care, we have developed and maintained emergency first aid kits for the officers’ cars. We have also provided the handlers with instruction on how to use the emergency kit. If a K-9 officer is hurt, their human companion can get an I.V. started, or even intubate to open an airway with the kit.
Keep Lucas County Beautiful
Keep Lucas County Beautiful/Adopt-a-Road is a great program designed to involve the community in helping to keep our roadsides litter free. SylvaniaVET is responsible for 2.5 miles of Main St./ Holland-Sylvania from our old hospital south to Central Ave. Several times a year a group of SylvaniaVET staff members gather to pick up trash along our section of road. If you would like to help on our next pick-up just call the office and leave your name at the front desk.
Memories Live On Animal Foundation
Memories Live On Animal Foundation is a non-profit organization of SylvaniaVET. Money raised by the foundation is used to fund many worthwhile causes.
- An annual $2,500 scholarship is awarded to a NW Ohio OSU veterinary student.
- Resources are made available for assisting sick or injured strays or pets of needy families.
- Donations are made to humane organizations to support their work to care for homeless or unwanted dogs and cats.
For more information about the foundation, visit our Memories Live On page.
Blood drives
At least twice each year we sponsor a human blood drive with the Red Cross. The Red Cross sets up in the Learning Center on a Saturday and collects between 20-25 units of whole blood from employees and clients.
Metropark Programs
If you frequent Wildwood Metropark, you may be familiar with the running water drinking fountain for dogs, located in the courtyard of the Visitor Center. Several years ago we donated this fountain so that dogs, accompanying their owners on walks, would not dehydrate or overheat. There is also a fountain on the University Trail at Richards Rd. funded by SylvaniaVET. We also started the metropark pooper-scooper stations many years ago at Wildwood Metropark. The success of this program saved Wildwood as a dog friendly park. The local veterinary association has taken over sponsorship of the scooper stations at all area metroparks. Mutt Mitts are now being used at selected metroparks pooper-scooper stations. The Mutt Mitt is unique in that the plastic is biodegradable. Poop pick-ups are now simple. It is sanitary for you and does not leave plastic bags of dog poop in the landfill for hundreds of years. SylvaniaVET has also funded scooper stations at the Sylvania Historical Village and Harroun Park along Ten Mile Creek.
Organizations Support
We have a community meeting room available for any local animal related or charitable organization at no charge. The space is large enough to easily accommodate 30 people. You are welcome to bring food, drink and a speaker.
- We will happily provide a tour of the hospital.
- We can provide a guest speaker for group/organization events upon request.
- We will provide prizes for any charitable organization fundraiser.
Pet Loss Support
The Pet Loss Support Group began in 1998 to help people cope with the loss of an animal friend. The group is facilitated by a trained and compassionate grief counselor. The group meets once a month at Christ Presbyterian Church. For more information about the group and pet memorials visit our Pet Loss Support page.
Veterinary Medical Assistance Team
Dr. Jennifer Tate is a member of the National Veterinary Medical Assistance Team (VMAT) controlled in North Carolina. Her training involved several aspects of crisis and disaster management. She is called to assist in times of regional or national disaster or possible severe agricultural crises. She is also working with local officials to develop a disaster response program for NW Ohio. Dr. Jen was asked to become involved in the organization of the disaster management programs for the entire state. Through her volunteer work on the national VMAT team, Dr. Jen has learned much about the complexities of providing basic care to areas affected by natural or man-made disasters.
Dr. Jen and several staff members are also members of a regional disaster response team, DART. They have assisted animals affected by flooding and pets displaced by apartment or house fires. Dr Jen’s reputation on the local and state level is top notch.
For more information about VMAT visit www.vmat.org
