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FORT COLLINS, Colo. -- Inside a tiny little cottage house on North College Avenue, Dr. Tracy Thomas and her small staff help to get sick pets back on their feet.
“Are you ready to get your stitches out," a veterinary assistant says while working to take a black lab’s stitches out.
"This afternoon we'll be seeing pets that are ill that need to be seen," said Dr. Thomas, who is only seeing very ill animals right now due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Dr. Thomas’ clinic has a mission beyond just helping furry family members.
“When people come through the door, they get a discounted rate based on their income," said a CSU veterinary assistant.
For the past 25 years, Dr. Thomas has run the nonprofit called Elder Pet Care.
"I couldn't afford to go to anyone else," said one of her clients.
HOW TO HELP: To give to the Contact7 Gives Fund and Elder Pet Care, click here.
At Thomas’ clinic, seniors on fixed incomes can get vet care for a fraction of the cost they get elsewhere.
“It is wonderful to be able to come and know that I'm not going to spend a fortune," said another client.
But in early March, Denver7 highlighted a new issue threatening the survival of Thomas’ clinic – rent prices.
"The landlord is going to let us stay, but the price is going up almost 50%," Thomas said on March 10.
“We're not getting donations right now because people are staying home,” she said on Tuesday. “Which they should be doing."
After the March 10 interview, Denver7 put out the call and over the past month - Denver7 viewers stepped up. Allowing us to deliver some good news amid all the bad.
"Dr. Thomas - on behalf of Contact7 Gives, we'd like to present you with this check in the amount of $3,700," said Denver7 reporter Russell Haythorn.
"I'm overwhelmed,” Thomas told Haythorn. “No really, I am. I never thought something like this was going to happen. This will keep us in business."
A wonderful surprise for Thomas and staff and her nearly 3,000 clients.
"She's wonderful,” said a client. “Anything we can do to keep her open is what we need to do."
The clinic does have a new need if you’d still like to help. The clinic's X-ray machine recently broke, and the new replacement machine costs $12,000.
"We're not one of those million dollar nonprofits,” Thomas said. “We're a little tiny nonprofit — so this is a major, major thing for us."
Denver7 has created an easy way for people to help others in our community. We have featured the stories of people who need help and now you help them with a cash donation through Contact7 Gives. One hundred percent of contributions to the fund will be used to help people in our local community.
