Photo: Kyle Bray/WBZ NewsRadio
BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — For Boston residents who want to make sure their pets stay healthy without worrying about the cost, the Wellness Waggin' is here to help.
The Animal Rescue League of Boston's mobile veterinary clinic has offered affordable pet wellness care for Bostonians since 2019, making weekly stops in Mattapan, Dorchester, and Roxbury, and fortnightly stops in East Boston; according to ARL Boston, these neighborhoods are considered veterinary deserts.
Boston City Councilor Enrique Pepén, who represents Mattapan, checked out the service when it opened its doors on River Street Friday.
"They actually come to the neighborhood, instead of having residents go somewhere that is unattainable, maybe they don’t have a car, they can’t get there," Pepén told WBZ NewsRadio.
"The service is good, and it helps because I am considered low income and it costs a lot, so they help and do a good job," said Sharell, a local who brought her dog Angel to get a check-up.
1 of 3 Photo: Kyle Bray/WBZ NewsRadio
2 of 3 Photo: Kyle Bray/WBZ NewsRadio
3 of 3 Photo: Kyle Bray/WBZ NewsRadio
ARL Boston President and CEO Dr. Edward Schettino said the Wellness Waggin' is all about "allowing people to have a pet, enjoying their pet, and not having to make decisions of feeding themselves versus feeding their pet."
"Because of this, she’s been able to actually keep the dog and be able to continue to afford giving him services, keep up-to-date with any vaccinations, keep up-to-date with the physicals," Pepén said after speaking with a dog owner using the service. "So this is, quite frankly, life changing."
ARL Boston says the Wellness Waggin' has helped over 17,000 people and pets and seen a 40 percent drop in surrendered animals in the neighborhoods it services since the clinic's inception.
WBZ's Kyle Bray (@KyleBrayWBZ) reports.
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