The staff at the Cape Coral Animal Shelter. PROVIDED

Two years ago on Aug. 25, during the pandemic, the Cape Coral Animal Shelter Veterinary Clinic opened for business. With limited staff and hours, and under strict COVID guidelines, it became apparent there was a desperate need for low-cost veterinary care in the community. The response was overwhelming, and CCAS set out to become a premier, full-service community veterinary clinic that is not only affordable, but offers top notch standard of care.

In the last two years, the CCAS clinic has seen thousands of patients — some that had not had veterinary care in years, if ever. The clinic is open to anyone and helps to support the life-saving work of the shelter, which has saved the lives of over 2,700 unwanted, abandoned, and neglected animals since opening in March of 2020.

The Cape Coral Animal Shelter Veterinary Clinic offers all services including spay/neuter surgery, illness/wellness visits, dental procedures, and the sale of heartworm preventative and prescription food, all at low/discounted prices. Thanks to the generosity of donors, the clinic also has state of the art equipment that allows it to provide the absolute best standard of care for our patients. This includes digital radiographs, digital dental radiographs, ultrasound, in house bloodwork and urinalysis, and a cold laser to provide therapy for a variety of ailments.

In April 2022, CCAS welcomed Dr. Megan Davis as director of Medical Operations. She oversees the veterinary care for the patients in the clinic as well as all shelter animals.

In June 2022, CCAS welcomed Dr. Mariah Bessette. Dr. Bessette worked at a local Humane Society prior to obtaining her DVM. With the addition of Dr. Bessette, CCAS was able to open extra days and extend hours to accommodate more patients.

Dr. Megan Davis PROVIDED

“One misconception about our clinic is that we are only open to low-income patients,” said Executive Director Liz McCauley. “Yes, we have clients who seek our help because they can’t afford to go elsewhere, but we also have clients who just want to support our shelter. All revenue from our clinic goes directly to help us save more animals and find them loving, forever homes.”

Due to the success of both the shelter and the clinic, plans for expansion have been expedited. CCAS hopes to break ground early next year on a new 14,000-square-foot shelter and convert the existing building into an expanded clinic and surgical facility.

“None of this would be possible without the continued support of this community, our donors, volunteers, and dedicated staff,” said McCauley. “We are truly grateful.”

Dr. Mariah Bessette PROVIDED