Ivy & Her Cats
“Boots was always there for me, my gift from god…she was my world, and these Community Veterinary Outreach vets know this. Even if you don't have a high income, they know you love your animal the same. They know it's your family. They treat your animals like their own.” These are the words of Ivy Chrysler, one of the amazing clients that the CVO Toronto has the privilege of serving as a client for the past 7 years.
Recently Ivy’s beloved feline companion Boots, passed away at the age of 18. As difficult as this was, Ivy credits CVO for helping Boots to have lived such a long and fulfilling life. Ivy recalls her experience at the Outreach clinics: “(They demonstrate) compassion and caring--not just for the animals, but for the animal parents too. Their compassion is beyond belief.”
Ivy has had multiple cats cared for by CVO “I cannot imagine my life without my cats. They (CVO) help my cats live longer, and we live longer because we get to love our animals longer.” These sentiments are echoed by many other CVO clients, and not just by Ivy. In fact she credits her cats’ long lives in part to the healthcare they receive at CVO clinics. “Without CVO I don’t think they’d be as healthy as they are. They (CVO) give us bags of cat food; and it's the good stuff (Royal Canin). They (CVO patients) get better healthcare at Outreach clinics than we do as humans in some hospitals.”
Ivy has also come to know the Outreach clinics as a safe space that is free from the judgment and negativity that vulnerable community members may experience in their day to day lives. “They just care so much about our animals. We are in a very low income neighbourhood, and we are never turned away. We are treated just like everyone else; we are never looked down on and never laughed at.”
Ivy’s daughter also uses CVO services, and Ivy describes how capable and caring the CVO team has been towards her daughter’s nervous cats. “Charlie (one of Ivy’s daughter's cat) scratched, she bit, but they didn’t turn her away…… she got her (vaccine), and she got her microchip. The vets were so patient with Charlie, and they went at Charlie’s pace. The compassion they have showed her [Ivy’s daughter] for this cat is just amazing...they didn't give up on her.”
“After my rent is paid, the next thing I take care of is my cats’ food and my cats’ litter for the month. Then me. They have to come first.” Ivy’s primary concern has always been looking after her cats, making sure they have everything they need. Through her relationship with CVO, meeting those needs can now include regular exams that help them to live longer, healthier lives. Through all the uncertainty that Ivy has experienced in her own life, 2 things are now constant: she will never stop caring for her cats and CVO will never stop caring for her.
Client stories have been shared with permission.