Columbus Humane Opens the First Essential Care Center of Its Kind in the U.S.
The center provides low-cost veterinary care, pet food assistance, veterinary workforce development
Columbus, OH — Columbus Humane debuted a brand-new Essential Care Center (3772 S High St., Columbus) featuring low-cost veterinary care, a pet food pantry, and veterinary workforce development. The new center is unlike any other facility in the country and will help meet the needs of the more than 106,000 pets living below the poverty line in Franklin County.
“Veterinary care has become a luxury in this country and that is simply unacceptable,” said Rachel D. K. Finney, CEO of Columbus Humane. “Our new Essential Care Center will be a one-stop shop for pet owners, allowing them to be and remain the hero they already are in their pets’ lives. Everyone deserves a companion, and everyone should have access to the care necessary to sustain them.”
What is the Essential Care Center?
The Essential Care Center is equipped with a subsidized veterinary clinic that offers wellness exams, vaccinations, surgery services, and sick and injured care services. Each service has a fixed, reduced fee and owners will pay for their animal’s care up-front. This ensures that there are never surprise costs, allowing owners to focus on their pets and not worry if they’ll be able to pay the final bill. Emergency services are not offered.
The Pet Food Pantry is a drive-thru pet food assistance program that distributes an average of 15,000 lbs. of food every week for families in need. In 2022, more than 6,100 households in Franklin County utilized pet food assistance programs, feeding more than 24,500 dogs and 18,300 cats. The Essential Care Center is helping meet the needs of an average of 250 families every week.
“It’s common for pet owners to prioritize food and care for their pets over themselves when they have trouble affording both,” said Finney. “When one in five Franklin County residents experience food insecurity, programs like the Pet Food Pantry are vital in ensuring that human and pet needs aren’t met through the sacrifice of one or the other.”
Rounding out the services at the Essential Care Center is a Veterinary Assistant Training Program set to impact the industry’s workforce challenges. The Rachael Ray Foundation™ Pathways to Careers in Animal Health program will train a diverse workforce to fill more than 200 current vacancies for veterinary support staff in Columbus. Two classes have already completed this program and have found jobs in our community.
The Unleashing
Columbus Humane held a celebration to unleash the new facility with our friends and supporters who made the Essential Care Center a reality. Donors of the Essential Campaign celebrated the grand opening on Thursday, August 24th at the new facility commemorating the momentous occasion.
Attendees had the opportunity to tour the completed space, get to know the innovative programming and ceremonialize their efforts opening this first-of-its-kind community resource. The top donors to the Essential Campaign were recognized and unleashed the Essential Care Center during the ceremony– Brad Kitchen and Alisa Argust of Alterra Real Estate Advisors, The Wolfe Associates and The Davis Foundation. Proclamations from the county, city and state were presented to Columbus Humane in honor of the new facility.
Columbus Humane’s youngest supporter was remembered during the ceremony. To commemorate her legacy, the Quinn Sophia Quigley Foundation for Joy will help further subsidize care when families cannot afford services. An image of Quinn and her kitten, Magnolia adorns the Essential Care Center Lobby to remember one of our youngest and most passionate supporters and her love of animals. Learn more about the Quinn Sophia Quigley Foundation for Joy here.
Columbus Humane’s partners were in attendance to celebrate. The innovative programming of the Essential Care Center is brought to the community in partnership with The Ohio State University Colleges of Veterinary Medicine, Social Work and Nursing, Jewish Family Services, Workforce Development Board of Central Ohio and Greater Good Charities.
A special thank you to the vendors who supported our Grand Opening event, providing a delicious experience: BrewDog, The Cheesecake Girl, The Buckeye Lady, Peace, Love & Little Donuts, Together & Company, and Explorer’s Club.
The Essential Campaign
Please consider making a gift toward the $6 million Essential Campaign to complete the Columbus Humane Essential Care Center for our deserving community. Your support is essential.
Our sincerest gratitude expressed to our friends of the Essential Campaign. Below are our generous supporters who have gone above and beyond for our community with a donation of $25,000 or higher:
In Need of Low Cost Services?
The Essential Care Center is open Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (closed noon to 1 p.m. and on weekends) by appointment. More information on services can be found at: www.columbushumane.org/checcvet.
