Client Spotlight: Homeward Bound Mobile Veterinary Clinic

Homeward Bound Mobile Vet was founded in September 2010 by Dr. Kristin Vance. Serving greater Harford County, Maryland , Dr. Vance says she chose to go mobile because bringing the vet to the client decreases the amount of stress placed on an animal. Also, she says she can serve clients who may have more difficulty getting to a veterinary clinic on a regular basis, particularly senior citizens.

In the two years since launching her mobile practice, Dr. Vance has been working to initiate a program in partnership with the local animal shelter, “Senior Pets for Seniors.” With this program, elderly people can adopt older pets from the shelter, and Homeward Bound Mobile Vet will provide veterinary care at no cost to the seniors with the help of grant dollars and private donations.

“For seniors owning a pet has emotional and physical benefits,” she says. “ I feel like mobile practices, myself included, can help seniors a lot more then brick and mortar practices because we can go to the house and offer many services. We are also sometimes the first line to realize when a senior needs help from another group or service.”

Dr. Vance explains that she is working with another group to set up a food bank for the senior’s pets as well.

In July 2011, Harford's Heart Magazine featured Homeward Bound Mobile Mobile Vet in an article titled “Helping Seniors Help Their Pets.”

Homeward Bound Mobile Vet provides many pro bono services for local shelters and participates with Pets on Wheels, taking pets for visits to assisted living and nursing home facilities. Dr. Vance has established an “angel fund” to help with expenses, particularly for spay/neuter programs, such as Project CatSnip.

I’m passionate about spay/neuter… and equally passionate about the importance of helping seniors care for their pets. The most serious disease for older persons is not cancer or heart disease – it’s loneliness. Love is the most important health tonic we have, and pets are one of nature’s best sources of love.”

Homeward Bound Mobile Vet is available to help all residents of the greater Harford County. Their 26ft mobile clinic is fully equipped to provide routine checkups and vaccinations, surgical procedures, x-ray and lab diagnostics, medications, and at home euthanasia. More information can be found at homewardboundmobilevet.com.