A Local Spay and Neuter Clinic Fills in Cortez’s Veterinary Gaps

Rural communities across the U.S. face acute veterinary shortages, and Cortez is no different. The city’s five veterinarians are stretched thin, so much so that they no longer accept new patients. That’s a problem for local pet owners, some of whom are having to drive as far away as Moab (2 hours) and Grand Junction (3:30 hours) for care, but also the city’s shelter and feral animals. In the past, Denkai Animal Sanctuary, a local nonprofit, has hosted pop-up clinics to help with spay and neuter surgeries and other pet care. To fill in Cortez’s veterinary gaps, the group’s president wanted to make those clinics permanent, partnering with traveling veterinarians to offer subsidized and low-cost services for Cortez residents and the city’s shelter and feral animals. She shared the idea with LOR, including her goal to help make veterinary services more accessible and affordable for the Four Corners region around Cortez. LOR’s funding will help Denkai Animal Sanctuary launch the project, supporting the group’s purchase of a range of medical supplies, including an anesthesia machine, surgery tables, syringes, tape, and medicine. With the support, the nonprofit will improve the well-being of both animals and the Cortez community.