Better Together: Whatcom County Veterinary Wellness Clinics
WHS joins fellow animal welfare orgs to provide pet care aid to the community
On June 4 and July 2, at the Mackenzie Resident Organization Center (ROC), a few of Whatcom County’s animal welfare organizations banded together to serve the animals and humans of our community in a big way: Animal Emergency Care (AEC), Alternative Humane Society (AHS), Shadow’s Forever Friends, and Whatcom Humane Society (WHS) partnered with the Lummi people (Lhaq’temish) to provide free veterinary wellness clinics.
Started by the incredible team at AEC in 2022, these wellness clinics have been offered in different areas of Whatcom County for several years now. The two clinics held so far in 2025 provided services such as free pet exams, vaccinations, dewormer, wellness checks, pet food, microchipping, spay/neuter vouchers, and other assistance to tribal animals in need. Over the two days that the clinics were offered, a whopping 317 Lummi Nation pets were served, with July 2 holding the record so far for animals helped in one day with a count of 172.
WHS staffers Kailee and Alaina tabled at the July 2 wellness clinic, offering resources, pet supplies, microchips, and free spay/neuter vouchers for Lummi Nation members. In total that day, WHS provided 69 free microchips and 48 applications for free spay/neuter services for dogs and cats.
“It was pretty cool to be a part of something so beneficial for the community,” Kailee said. “Providing much-needed resources was super rewarding, and it was overwhelming the amount of people we were able to help—especially for the animals that may not get that care if it wasn’t for the free clinic. It’s always a privilege getting to provide resources and education to members of the public.”
Kailee also assisted at the wellness clinic on June 4, during which WHS provided 48 free microchips and 79 applications for free spay/neuter services.
“It was really special being able to connect with our community and meet a whole lot of wonderful dogs and cats,” Alaina added. “I felt privileged to be a part of this very direct action to help people and animals in our community by eliminating barriers to access and providing so many different services to help keep pets safe and healthy. This has been a very hard year for everyone, and it feels like offering services like this is more important now than ever before.”
The next two wellness clinics will be for Eastern Whatcom County residents, held in Maple Falls in partnership with Opportunity Council on Wednesday, October 8, and Wednesday, October 29. Learn more at https://animalemergencycare.net/community-activities/