Sometimes it takes a village even when it comes to animals.

An organization called Rowan Neuter Scooter was formerly a transport partner with the Charlotte Humane Society, but when that contract ended, they knew they still wanted to find a way to help with providing an affordable spay/neuter option for residents of Rowan County and their fur babies.

“We spent the first half of 2024 looking for other viable solutions to offer affordable options to residents of Rowan County,” said lead volunteer for Rowan Neuter Scooter Angi Elkins. In July 0f this year, they partnered with Community Pets Mobile Veterinary Services, which offers low-cost clinics for spay and neuter services, vaccinations and microchips. With that collaboration, RNS has gone from serving 25-30 pets per month to spaying/neutering 30-40 pets per week.

“This growth in our outreach has been remarkable to be a part of, and we are proud to be making a significant impact within our community,” said Elkins.

Dr. Elizabeth Welch, who operates Community Pets Mobile Services, has always been committed to combining community service with her vet work. She played a pivotal role in establishing local animal shelters and served as the medical director of a nonprofit spay-neuter clinic in Charlotte which, while expanding to three locations, continued to emphasize efficiency without compromising on quality. With the mobile services, which she established this past April, she is carrying on her mission of efficient quality.

Welch and the RNS crew celebrated 100 days of partnership on Oct 4, and during those three and a half months, there have been 328 spay/neuter surgeries, including 177  trap/neuter/release or TNR surgeries, at more than six TNR clinics. There have been 149 surgeries for friendly cats and dogs through five clinics. There had been three vaccination and microchip clinics at the Rowan Fairgrounds providing vaccination and microchips for 513 pets. TNR clinics and spay/neuter clinics for family pets are run separately, and all spay/neuter clinics require reservations. Appointments are first-come, first served and the slots fill up quickly.

“We would not have been able to do this without the wonderful hosts from our community who have stepped up to help us. This includes Nova Vita Rescue, Hodge Farms, Rowan County Fair Grounds, Salisbury Civic Center and the town of Spencer and Spencer Fire Department,” said Elkins. “‘And we would not be able to do this for anyone, anywhere, without all of our wonderful volunteers.”

There have now been two clinics at the Salisbury Civic Center and two at the Spencer Fire Department with more coming in November and December. A “Howl-oween Pet Vaccines” clinic is also scheduled for Oct. 31 at the fair grounds from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. The event is open to the public and no appointments are needed. Rabies and distemper vaccines are $10 each. Bordatella, Lepto and leukemia vaccines are $15 as is a heartworm test. An HIV/FELV test is $25 as is a microchip.

Spencer Alderwoman Erin Moody was the one who brought the clinics to the Spencer Fire Department, according to Chief Michael Lanning.

“She came to me and said she had an idea,” said Lanning, and so he, Moody, Town Manager Peter Franzese and Elkins met and discussed the idea of hosting a spay/neuter clinic at the department.

“There were supposed to be two, initially,” Lanning said. “And we were glad to do it, but it does create some inconvenience for us. When she (Elkins) came back and said they have been looking for a place to hold the clinics over the winter and asked me if we’d do it, I had to think about it. I told her we are a working fire department and might not be able to offer them the same amount of space each time, but in the end, we’re doing a good thing, so we said yes.”

Meanwhile, the organizations continue to search for a permanent hosting partner to allow the mobile clinic to set up on a weekly or even bi-weekly basis. A clinic typically runs from 6:30 a.m. until about 3 p.m. and because drop-off and pick-up are staggered, it doesn’t typically interfere with business parking or traffic. The mobile unit is 33 feet long and can be parked outdoors or partially or fully indoors, depending on space available. More importantly, they rely on an indoor space to set up six to eight folding tables where safely contained pets and be kept out of the elements. There is minimal staff, with just the veterinary staff and one or two additional volunteers.

In addition to continuing to search for a permanent location for the clinics and services, Elkins said they are also looking for more business and community sponsors.

“We were the beneficiary of funding from Giving With Grace Foundation, which allowed us to have a reduced rate for community cats” which is the TNR program, she said. “That’s about to end now as we have used all but the last of that.”

Not only would the organization like to find funds to continue to lower the cost for the TNR programs, but for costs for household pets as well.

“Together we can continue to make a lasting impact, ensuring that pets receives the care they need and helping reduce animal overpopulation is Rowan County,” said Elkins. Anyone interested in being a sponsor or in hosting a clinic can find Rowan Neuter Scooter on Facebook, where unless they are in the middle of a clinic, messages are answered promptly.