Melville vet clinic brings rural pet care directly to those who need it

When you live in the city, the vet is a hop, skip, and a jump away. That’s not always the case, though, for those of us who live off the beaten path. That’s exactly why the Melville Veterinary Clinic is reaching out to rural communities in an effort to help bring that care directly to those who need it.

Dr. Zachary Johnson, the owner of the Melville Veterinary Clinic, said that the care was always there for rural communities, it’s just a lot harder to get.

“There weren’t as many veterinarians at the time when we took over, and so we’ve always been able to provide a mixed animal service where we were able to do companion animal and livestock care and meet clients where they’re at, and that’s a big thing for us.

“Each client is different and individual, and their needs are different and their situations different, and trying to accommodate that and take that into account is really a big thing for us,” said Johnson.

Terry Lerat is a councillor and farmer in Cowessess First Nation, and he said that having the clinic help them has done a lot for the community.

“For starters, it’s opening up a whole new avenue for taking control of their beloved pets. It gives our First Nation members a good understanding of what should be done to look after their household pets, and whether it’s neutering or vaccinating them, it’s something that was never really sort of thought about or discussed maybe on the First Nation,” said Lerat.

He said that having access to this resource has made the community healthier.

“It improves not only the animal’s quality of life but also the owner’s quality of life with the support we get through the Melville Vet Clinic or whichever one’s we bring in. No matter who you approach they’re more than willing to … give us a helping hand, and we sure appreciate them,” said Lerat.

The clinic was also recognized as the 2024 Canadian Veterinary Medical Association Practice of the Year for their outstanding achievement within their community.

The Melville Veterinary Clinic is a full-service, American Animal Hospital Association accredited, rural mixed animal practice serving east central Saskatchewan. The owners, Zachary Johnson and Kylie Johnson purchased the  in 2016 and has a of five veterinarians, seven registered veterinary technologists, and four support staff.

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