Information for Villages
Questions?
​Email us at 
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So you'd like to help reduce the overpopulation of pets in your community?  
Let's get started by answering some basic questions for you. 
1.   How does the clinic work - the big picture:
  • ARVO and the Village will agree on dates for the clinic. 
  • ARVO will obtain the volunteer medical team. The team can consist of 2 to 6 members, depending on a number of factors including how many animals are expected.
  • ARVO will prepare and bring all of the supplies and equipment needed.
  • The ARVO team will fly to your village, go to the clinic site, and set up.  Sometimes the clinic may begin that day, other times not until the next day - this can depend on flight arrival times.
  • The clinic will usually last 1, 2 or 3 days, depending on the number of animals, the number of veterinarians, and other factors.

2.   What services are provided:
  • Spay (females) and neuter (males) surgery
  • Rabies and vaccines
  • Deworming
  • Nail trims
  • Humane euthanasia for quality of life reasons
  • Basic wellness checks 
  • Referring pet owners to hub-area rescue groups, assisting with transportation, and assistance in sending animals to full-service veterinary clinics for treatment if desired

3.   What the village is expected to provide:
  • A facility large enough for the clinic.  It should include heat, lights, running water, a stove or ability to heat a pressure cooker, and rest room.  It needs enough floor space for recovering animals.  Public buildings such as a community or Tribal hall or school work very well. 
  • Folding tables for surgery, prep for surgery, supplies, check-in, and chairs for waiting pet owners.
  • Overnight accommodations - Our team will need a place to stay overnight and prepare our own simple meals. (We are glad to bring our own food and can bring sleeping bags if necessary.)  
  • Transportation in the Village - we will need transportation to and from the airstrip, and to and from the clinic location.  We will be bringing considerable supplies and equipment in standard totes and bags, so a truck or SUV type vehicle is best, if possible.
  • A village representative and contact person - One of the most critical components to a successful clinic is having at least one individual in the village who can act as a consistent, reliable coordinator.  This person will help obtain and coordinate local volunteers, use of the facility, make sure it has the necessary tables, chairs, etc., help advertise the clinic in the community, and help get pet owners to sign up.  It will also be necessary to assure that animals can get to and from the clinic if such help is needed.

4.    How much does it cost?    
  • ARVO's clinics in most villages are free.  We understand that pet owners in rural, subsistence based communities have a very high cost of living, and are frequently not able to afford even modest fees. Since our goal is to provide services to as many animals as possible, we do not charge fees to pet owners.
  • However, we invite local entities, such as Tribal Council, City, or Health Association, to provide some support or sponsorship to help offset our costs. Without financial support, we would not be able to provide these clnics. Thank you for your consideration.