Flatbush Vet, a low-cost veterinary clinic, is set to introduce dental services for rescue animals and pets in Brooklyn due to the high demand. Many pets, like Gordon Baggins, a rescue cat suffering from severe dental disease, require significant dental care that exceeds $1,000. Nearly 2,000 animals have been diagnosed with dental issues since the clinic opened, emphasizing the need for economical veterinary help. As dental disease is prevalent among cats, especially older ones, this initiative aims to alleviate the financial strain on pet owners and rescuers alike.
"This has been by far the highest-need, most-mentioned, most-requested service since we opened," said Will Zweigart, founder and executive director of Flatbush Cats and Flatbush Vet. "As rescuers, we were expecting that."
Since Flatbush Vet opened in 2023, it has diagnosed dental disease in nearly 2,000 animals. Of the 533 cats rescued by Flatbush Cats in 2024, 12% had dental disease - including 57% of cats over the age of 5.
It's fairly common for animal rescuers to find a friendly cat like Gordon, start getting it ready for adoption, then find it requires dental work that would cost $1,000 or more.
The overall cost of veterinary care has skyrocketed, and many people struggle to afford basic veterinary checkups. This financial burden impacts both rescuers and pet owners.
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