Community Outreach

In the Fall of 2016 we started the Jarrettsville Vet Pet Food Pantry.  Most of us take for granted the ability to purchase a bag of dog or cat food when we have run out, in fact in many homes we purchase a bag as we are running low so we don’t run out and some of us even have our pet food on autoship. If we found ourselves in a position of financial hardship many of us would choose to feed our pets before we feed ourselves….but what if you had to choose between feeding your children and feeding your pet? It is estimated that in 2015 12.7% of US households were food insecure. What does this equate to? 17.5 million households. We tend to forget that although we live in a nice area there are those in our community who are not immune from these statistics. We wanted to do something to help in our community. We assist both those individuals who reach out in need of assistance and also deliver a sizable monthly donation to the Food Ministry Program at Bel Air United Methodist Church thanks to generous donations from our clients and supporters.

We accept new, unopened bags of dry dog and cat food, canned dog and cat food, dog treats and cat litter.  Items can be dropped off during normal business hours in our lobby.

For ease of donating we have an Amazon Wishlist (click here to visit link)

We started assembling cat shelters for feral cats and outdoor cats in our community in the Fall of 2016.  We were inspired by the designs published on the Alley Cat Allies website. The project was a huge success with clients donating the vast majority of the supplies needed and donating their time to help assemble the shelters.  We were able to provide the shelters for a minimal donation to our Good Samaritan Fund to help cover the cost of the supplies we purchased.  Due to its success this became an annual project with us setting an annual goal of 50 assembled shelters.

JVC established our Celebration of Life / Pet Grief & Loss Peer Support Group to help support the pet parents in our community who are grieving the loss of a beloved animal companion.  The group meets on the second Monday of every month from 6 – 8 pm, at our beautiful Clinic House (right next door to our main clinic) at 3959 Norrisville Rd in Jarrettsville. Light refreshments will be available.

Please note that this is a peer support group and *not* a therapy group. We will gather to support one another as we share love and memories, laughter and tears for our pets who have passed on. We invite you to bring photos and mementos of your pet so you can celebrate the life you shared together.

The depth of grief that many of us feel over the loss of a pet is sometimes difficult to share with others, for fear that no one will really understand. We want to provide an emotionally safe, comfortable space where anyone can share their honest feelings about the loss of a beloved pet, without the worry of being judged or misunderstood.

The group is free to attend, though if you’d like to make a contribution to our Good Sam Fund in honor of the group, we’d be most grateful – though it isn’t necessary.

All are welcome – you do not have to be a JVC client to attend.

If you have any questions about the group, please reach out to Jennifer Taylor, our practice manager, at 410-692-6171.  You can find the monthly meeting schedule on our Facebook page. 

When the weather is extremely hot or extremely cold, Jarrettsville Vet Center offers FREE boarding at our kennels.  If your pet lives outside and you can’t bring them inside during extreme weather, or you don’t have air conditioning or heating in your home, you can bring your pet to JVC where we provide temperature-controlled kennels for their comfort and safety.

In households with a history of domestic abuse, pets can be a complicating factor. Not only are pets likely to be the target of abuse, but people who are the victims of abuse often refuse to seek shelter for fear of abandoning their pets.

The statistics are grim: Seventy-one percent of pet-owning women who go to abuse shelters reported that their abuser had injured, maimed, threatened or killed pets, according to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence. And as many as 40 percent of abused women stayed in an abusive home because they refused to leave their pets behind.

What would you do? Would you leave a relationship without your kids? Your pets? Where would you go if you couldn’t take them?

Jarrettsville Vet is a safe harbor. It is a place we built to save the little pieces of a life in progress. For anyone out there fearing for their own life, their dependents safety, and the terrible turmoil of not knowing where to go, or who to reach out to, we are here for you if your pet needs safe keeping while you seek shelter. We will also assist in finding a safe place for the rest of your family.