Pet owners across the city of Detroit and some of its suburbs can access a new service that improves access to veterinary care. It's called
PetCalls, a company that sends veterinarians and veterinary technicians on house calls.
PetCalls offers a number of on-site services like vaccinations and digital x-rays. For surgeries and other services, the vets will "pet taxi" the animal to a clinic. House calls start at $59.
CEO and owner Kimberly Jackson says the company is perfect for senior citizens who have mobility issues and millenials that don't have their own vehicles. It's also good for the pets; Jackson cites recent cases that include a cat that would vomit every time it was put in a car and a rescue pit bull that refused to get in a vehicle.
"We started seeing patients the day after Labor Day and we've already been able to see animals that haven't been able to get to a veterinarian in years," says Jackson. "It's very exciting."
The house calls also allow the veterinarians to see pets in a more relaxed and natural setting. They can watch a dog run in its own backyard and assess potential injuries or watch a cat and observe its regular eating habits.
Though PetCalls began seeing patients in September, the company will be celebrating its grand opening Thursday, Oct. 20 from 5 to 9 p.m. at its downtown Detroit office on Washington Boulevard. The celebration is open to the public and their pets.
Rather than a ribbon-cutting ceremony, PetCalls is having an edible ribbon for the dogs to chew apart. A Halloween parade down Washington Boulevard is also planned and the dog with the best costume will receive a year's worth of heartworm protection. Other giveaways include pet bandanas, toys, and identification tags.
There will also be refreshments for the humans.
PetCalls is located at 1514 Washington Blvd., Suite 203, and can be reached by phone at (313) 788-7387.
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