Fredericksburg SPCA Awarded $20K By Prince William Humane Society For Dental Services

FREDERICKSBURG, VA — The Prince William Humane Society awarded the Fredericksburg SPCA a $20,000 grant to cover the cost of new state-of-the-art dental diagnostic equipment.

The grant from the Prince William Humane Society means the Fredericksburg SPCA will be able to provide animals in the community with affordable dental diagnostics and surgeries.

About $16,000 of the grant award went to the purchase of the dental equipment, while the remaining $4,000 will subsidize dental work on homeless animals at the SPCA and help low-income residents pay for dental work on their pets.

"Dental health is so important for the longevity and health of our loved pets, but it is often out of reach to many pet-owning families within our community due to cost. The $20,000 grant from the Prince William Humane Society will make dental care for cats and dogs affordable and accessible," Von Young, communications and marketing manager for the Fredericksburg SPCA, said in a statement Thursday.

The Fredericksburg SPCA was able to secure state-of-the-art equipment and training for the medical team in its Locke Community Medical Center and will be opening for dental appointments in late October, with new services being offered in the upcoming months, Young said.

The SPCA's Locke Community Medical Center is already open for pet sick and wellness exams, diagnostics, and spay and neuter surgeries. The SPCA also hosts monthly drive-up, exam-fee-waived vaccine clinics where pet owners can get their cats or dogs up-to-date on vaccinations, microchips and purchase affordable flea and tick preventatives.

Lori Leary, president of the Prince William Humane Society, said her group was looking at how it could fund one of the greatest needs at animal shelters. With the Fredericksburg SPCA expanding its clinic services in recent years, the Prince William Humane Society decided that providing funds for the organization to add dental equipment would be a good use of the grant money.

"I am proud to be able to help the Fredericksburg SPCA and partner with them," Leary said.

Fredericksburg SPCA clinic services, pricing and appointments can be found at fredspca.org/clinic. Located at 10819 Courthouse Rd, the SPCA is currently open by appointment only.