Rescue Connect Clinics

NEW! Due to the OVERWHELMING amount of willing

student and surgeon volunteers, we are no longer announcing individual quarterly clinics, as we are having smaller clinics quite often now (as much as 1-2 times a month). We will be sending LIMITED email correspondence in a mass form. Please check our Facebook page for updated information as clinic postings are announced there. We will now accept applications at ANY time and will try to get you into the next available clinic (sometimes still a few months out).

There is more information below, but for anyone new to our program, the RC Clinics offer many surgical and dental procedures to UNOWNED animals residing in shelters or rescue group foster care for a VERY LOW COST. Financial assistance is available and is discussed at the bottom.

Surgeries will be performed by a team consisting of a Licensed Veterinarian and veterinary students. We occasionally have specialty residents who are willing to donate their time and expertise. Dental cleanings/extractions will be performed by teams of RVT's and RVT students. Space IS limited so we will be accepting, reviewing and selecting animals from the applications we receive.

The first surgery or dental will cost $100 each. If the animal is unaltered, it will be altered at the clinic (non-negotiable, unless our vet team feels that it is not in the best interest of the patient). If the patient undergoes two procedures, it is an additional $50 cost. All Rescue Connect Clinic staff are volunteers, but at this point we do need to charge for anesthesia and supplies.

Bloodwork is available for $15-$50 and is always recommended and sometimes required by the attending vet. All animals receive injectable and inhaled anesthesia, IV catheters and fluids, take-home antibiotics and pain medication, PCV test before any surgical procedure and any additional recommended testing by attending vets (x-rays etc). Biopsies (and limited other options) are available at cost

NEW! We are working to add some more orthopedic surgeries, thanks to some motivated UC Davis students and willing residents. We will still be EXTREMELY limited as to what we can offer but hopefully we can soon be a resource to groups needing these services (potential additions could be luxating patellas and minor ACL repairs in addition to the smaller dog FHO's and amputations that we currently offer now).

NEW: Dentals (with or without extractions) and dentals needing only spay/neuter are being accommodated during the week (and a very few Saturdays) thanks to the generosity of Maddie's Fund AND our friends at our vet clinic. We can accommodate up to 10 every week and can get you in quickly if you can transport your animals to us during the weekdays.

Most other surgeries (including those that need surgery AND dentals) are done on various Saturdays and Sundays throughout the month depending on the schedules of our core volunteers.

NEW: Our "application" has changed to a more simple Patient Information Form. Please COPY/PASTE into a new email to groups.rcc@gmail.com. Fill out and return one for each patient (can be in same email). You may submit these at any time, but please note that it may take several weeks to several months to find an available space. We will do the best we can and hope that you understand!

GROUP/SHELTER NAME:
ANIMAL NAME:
ANIMAL GENDER:
IS ANIMAL ALREADY ALTERED?:
ANIMAL SPECIES:
ANIMAL BREED:
ANIMAL COLOR:
WEIGHT:
AGE:
WHAT PROCEDURE/S DOES THE ANIMAL NEED?:
ARE THERE ANY HEALTH CONDITIONS THAT WE NEED TO BE AWARE OF?:
ARE YOU WILLING TO TAKE A CHIHUAHUA (OR MIX) OR ADULT CAT** IN EXCHANGE FOR YOUR PROCEDURE?* If YES, please give us any parameters we need to consider when choosing one for you:

*This is NOT exclusion criteria. You do NOT have to take a chihuahua or cat in exchange for your procedure to be accepted to the clinic.

** For RESCUE GROUPS: If you commit to taking healthy, friendly chihuahuas (or mixes) that we will pull from our local shelter, then you can get credit for up to the whole procedure.

We choose the chihuahuas and make sure they are behaviorally sound and healthy. We also make sure they are altered, vaccinated and have clean teeth. That way, you can put them straight up for adoption.

Chihuahuas that are 4 or less years old and 6-12 lbs are worth a $100 credit to your RCC account
Chihuahuas that are 5-7 years old OR over 12 lbs are worth $150 credit to your RCC account
Chihuahuas that are over 7 OR 5-7 years and 12+ lbs are worth $250 credit to your RCC account
Chihuahuas that are over 7 years and greater than 7 lbs are worth $300 credit to your RCC account

There are some REALLY nice chihuahuas that are in need of rescue and who we would like to save. Let's make a deal???

For cat-only groups (or groups that prefer cats if we have them available for transfer), we will offer the same thing in exchange for adult cats and SOMETIMES litters of kittens.

FINANCIAL AID -- financial aid for rescue groups is our chihuahua/cat exchange as stated above. Open-Admission shelters may apply for financial assistance in the form of limited scholarships available that can reduce the cost of the procedure by UP TO 90%. Please tell us with the application that you need assistance and let us know what co-pay (of the total amount) that you are capable of paying. Selection is by committee and done as available.

The following surgeries are ones that can be performed at the clinic. We are NOT capable of performing most orthopedic surgeries such as cruciate repair etc at this point. If a procedure is not listed, you can ask (we HAVE been able to add procedures that are not on this list) but if it requires a specialist, we will probably not be able to accommodate it at this time.

Procedures that our team is capable of include:

Amputation

Cherry Eye

Cryptorchid

Cystotomy

Dental Cleaning with/without extractions

Entropion

Enucleation

Femoral Head Ostectomy (FHO) -- (animals less than 20 lbs)

Gastropexy

Hernia Repair

Laceration Repair

Lumpectomy

Pinnectomy (therapeutic ONLY)

Perineal Urethrostomy (PU)

(Not all procedures will be available at every clinic. We reserve the right to add or subtract from this list at any time. Some procedures that are NOT listed ARE available upon request, so please ask. We are working on adding more orthopedic surgeries, but we are currently VERY limited on these procedures)

All animals are subject to a pre-surgical exam on the day of surgery to determine if it is an acceptable surgical candidate. All animals must be healthy and up to date on vaccinations. Vaccinations ARE available if needed at a minimal charge. ALL surgical follow-up care will be the responsibility of the rescue group and will not be handled by Rescue Connect Clinic or Umbrella of Hope Rescue. As we are limited on the pain medicines that we can send home, SOME extensive procedures will REQUIRE you to have a same day/following day PAIN MANAGEMENT follow up appointment with your vet or an E-Vet and is at the discretion of our veterinarian (in these cases we WILL confirm with the vet that an appointment has been made and attended for the comfort of the animal).

Fees are due to be paid to our vet office on the date of service by cash, check or credit card.

General Information

Please do not contact us about a schedule or calender. It will be posted as soon as the date is set.

We welcome all animals lovers to volunteer at our events. Whether you are a veterinarian, veterinary student, RVT, pre-vet students, or general animal lover. Our clinics are a great resource for people to strengthen their veterinary skills and to give back to the community.