Looking for a friend, consider pet adoption
Spc. Tamara White Fort Gordon Veterinary staff
Photos by Siobhan Carlile A Fort Gordon Veterinary Service staff member holds a male chihuahua. He is a favorite who has been at the clinic for about a week. There are two elements to the U.S. Army Veterinary Command organization: Food Safety and Animal Care.
Each element of the organization provides a different mission but may work together as a team to support both missions.
The food safety team provides food safety and the animal care team offers an assortment of on-post animal care. Both services are offered to the service members, their dependents, and military retirees.
As a Food Inspector, food safety on Fort Gordon is my priority. However, I want to shed some light on the important role of the veterinarians and the veterinary Technicians and types of services they provide in animal care.
The Veterinary Treatment Facility provides routine quality veterinary care to government and privately owned animals for significantly less money than a veterinary clinic off-post. The VTF provides complete care for government owned animals. The VTF offers Home Again Microchip, vaccinations, flea, tick and heartworm prevention, sterilization and adoption services. Microchipping your pet is a cost efficient way to track your pet in the event the pet is missing. Fort Gordon Policy Memo No. 22 requires all pets residing on post to have this chip. For $16.50, the annual membership fee for microchipping your pet is waived for active duty service members and military I.D. [identification]cardholders. If your pet is currently being treated off-post and you wish to participate in the VTF services on-post, your pet must be registered at the Fort Gordon VTF and you must have on-post medical privileges.
This small dog is out for a morning walk while her kennel is cleaned. She is very quiet and affectionate. Adopting an animal is a serious matter and one should not take the responsibility lightly. Caring for an animal is a 10-15 year commitment or for the duration of the pet's life. Pet owners should ensure their pets find good homes in the event the owner has to PCS [Permanent Change of Station] and unable to take their animal along. Fort Gordon VTF supports a stray animal facility for adoptable pets. The veterinarian will provide a health assessment of the animal prior to the adoption. Adopting a pet from the stray facility is a simple process in which one is not required to be a military I.D. cardholder. Personnel may tour the stray facility during normal hours of operation and fill out an adoption form. Adoption fee is $90 for both dogs and cats and includes but is not limited to: heartworm testing, fecal testing, rabies vaccine, de-worming, microchipping, sterilization and heartworm prevention.
This little kitten's mother is also available for adoption. Remember, pets are part of the Family too. Like other members of your Family, pets should have their basic needs met. Pets can be loving, playful companions that fill their owner's lives with enjoyment. You can be assured that when your pet is treated at the Fort Gordon VTF, the staff will do their best to ensure that those special fourlegged members of your Family are treated with quality care. Your pet deserves the opportunity to live a long healthy life.
"Betsy" has come in for her puppy check-up with her owner. The Fort Gordon VTF is located at Building 500 North Range Road (next to the Hilltop Riding Stables). There is a fee and a nominal surcharge for supplies and/or services provided. We accept cash, check, Visa and MasterCard. Privately owned animals are seen by appointment only Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m.
Contact the VTF at (706) 787-7375 or visit the website
www.petplatoon.petfinder.com to view adoptable pets. The Veterinary Service website is http://fortgordon.com/ vet.htm
 The chihuahua gets some fresh air and lots of attention from the staff. |
