Help wanted: Lyndhurst animal shelter in desperate need of vet, owners group needs assistance

LYNDHURST – Shenandoah Valley’s Animal Services Center has been without a vet for months, and now its executive board is asking for the public's help to find one.

At the board's last meeting, Augusta County's Administrator Tim Fitzgerald announced that the board's request for proposal (RFP) for a vet went live April 11. The RFP closed May 4 and the county did not receive a single response.

After that RFP was posted, emails were sent out to all local vets notifying them of the listing. Now, a second RFP is live on the county's website.

Renee Clark, vice president of Cat's Cradle, works closely with the Lyndhurst animal shelter. Cat's Cradle often transfers animals out of the shelter and into foster homes.

The major cost of losing a vet has been the additional time it takes for animals to receive care, Clark said. If an animal develops an illness or injury, it takes more time to schedule an appointment at a clinic, which delays their care.

"Right now, what happens if an animal comes in and it needs to be treated for something even minor, the staff has to load that animal up in a vehicle and drive it to a veterinary clinic, which from the shelter's pretty far," Clark said.

Clark said that having a contracted vet can also increase morale among shelter volunteers and employees. When the shelter used to have a vet, workers could call if they had questions or concerns. That communication can lead to a stronger relationship between the vet and the staff, which Clark said "increases save rate, increases animal health, everything."

Even though the shelter hasn't had an in-house vet since 2021, its save rate is still sitting above 90%, according to the April 11 RFP.

A daunting 16-bullet list outlines the responsibilities of the vet in the RFP. Whoever becomes Lyndhurst's next vet will oversee treatment of animals, update medical records, monitor and establish medical protocols, communicate and train staff, perform euthanasia.

— Katelyn Waltemyer (she/her) is the government watchdog reporter for The News Leader. Have a news tip on local government? Or a good feature? You can reach Katelyn at kwaltemyer@newsleader.com. Follow her on Twitter @Kate_Waltemyer.

This article originally appeared on Staunton News Leader: Lyndhurst animal shelter in desperate need of contracted vet