Healing Paws in Tribal Communities with Community Veterinary Care | The Bond Between

A Golden Retriever relaxes and receives attention from caring veterinary staff during a community outreach visit from The Bond.

Access to affordable veterinary care can be hard to come by. Yet that care plays a vital role in keeping families together.

When unexpected costs or barriers arise, families are often forced to face heartbreaking decisions about their pets. These choices aren't made from a lack of love, but out of a deep desire to do what is best for the family. Removing those financial and logistical hurdles is at the heart of our mission, and it’s why our Tribal Partnerships are so meaningful to us.

The Bond Between Veterinary staff carefully administer a vaccination to a bulldog, ensuring its comfort during the procedure.

Through these collaborations, accessible veterinary care is brought directly into Tribal communities across Minnesota through free wellness pet clinics. Local families can bring their pets in, at no cost, for essential services like vaccinations, preventative medications, spay/neuter surgeries, and general medical support.

While providing treatment is critical, the community connection builds an entirely new layer of meaning into this work, one that makes us immensely proud. Being invited and trusted into Tribal Communities across our state is a true privilege. Working side by side with our partners to support families and keep pets healthy is nothing short of special.

Making an Impact: The Numbers Behind the Community Veterinary Care

This year, we were fortunate to receive a grant from the Lupa Animal Wellness Fund of Boreal Waters Community Foundation, which funded multiple clinic days across our partner communities. 

The Bond Between's clinics in Grand Portage were fully funded by the Lupa Animal Wellness Fund of Boreal Waters Community Foundation. Unfortunately, our time there was cut short due to wildfires, so the remaining funds were used to help support our clinics in Mille Lacs.

While our scheduled time in Grand Portage was unfortunately cut short due to active wildfires in the area, remaining funds were redirected to maximize impact during our clinics in Mille Lacs.

Together with our partners, we accomplished:

• 372 Wellness exams

• 97 Spay/neuter surgeries

• 615 Vaccines administered

• 1,033 Preventative treatments prescribed

• 161 Heartworm tests

• 539 Additional services (including medications, pain management, deworming, ear-cleaning kits, and essential pet supplies)

• 

• 

• 

Beyond the Numbers

While these metrics represent hundreds of animals receiving life-saving care, this work goes far beyond statistics. Behind every single number is a community that welcomed us with open arms, a family that trusted us with a beloved family member, and a pet living a healthier, happier life because care was within reach.

We extend our deepest gratitude to our Tribal Partnerships for welcoming us into your communities, sharing your spaces, and allowing us to walk alongside you in this work.

A heartfelt thank you also goes to the Lupa Animal Wellness Fund of Boreal Waters Community Foundation. Your generous support removes real barriers to care—and directly helps keep families together.

• 

•