SAN DIEGO — Veterinary services can be a huge expense for pet owners. Nonprofit Vet Mother Earth is looking to open a vet clinic with lower cost and even free care for those who can't afford it.
It will be the first nonprofit vet clinic of its kind in San Diego and its owner hoping to make vet care more accessible for those in need.
Marc Emmelman was inspired to create Vet Mother Earth from his own experience.
"I was struggling with my own pet vet bills and a lot of people know what it's like to not have the money," he said.
The cost of vet care can cause medical services to be delayed or even force some families to give up their pets.
"Vet bills have always been very high," said Dr. Jodee Mahlberg, a local vet with a mobile clinic.
She's excited to see the nonprofit clinic open in San Diego. Pet owners will be charged fees based off a sliding scale. Free services will be offered for those who can't afford care.
"I'm not gonna turn pets away. For those that can pay and will pay, we're gonna accept that and there will be a sliding scale. For all those that can't afford it and don't have money we aren't going to turn them away," he said.
Vet Mother Earth will offer essential services such as routine check-ups, vaccinations and minor procedures. They'll have full time staff and plan to bring on volunteer veterinarians to fill some shifts.
"I hope it's the beginning of something special and that it has trajectory and more of these pop up. A lot of animals are left at the shelter or have to be put down or they're abandoned and it's definitely a big problem," Mahlberg said.
They're working to fundraise and look to open the clinic downtown with accessibility to the trolley. They want to get it up and running by early next year.
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