Finance committee reviews $180,000 animal‑care grant amid staffing gaps at city clinic

The Finance Committee on Sept. 15 reviewed a $180,000 grant from a local foundation intended to offset salaries and specialty medical care at the municipal animal clinic. The funding was described as helping pay for a veterinarian, a clinic coordinator and a veterinary technician, as well as higher‑cost specialty care.

“This is a $180,000 grant from the Foundation for TJO Animals. It helps to offset the salary for 3 physicians in a veterinary clinic as well as emergency surgery, specialty care, blood work, medical care that’s above and beyond what we would anticipate taxpayers should pay for,” the presenter said. The committee discussed the ongoing challenge of staffing a permanent veterinarian at the facility.

Staff said the clinic has operated without a permanent veterinarian for a period and has relied on retired and relief veterinarians, volunteers from private practices, and partnerships with regional providers. “We are still without a vet, so we are hopeful that we are hiring someone, hopefully, for October,” the presenter said. Committee members asked whether outside private clinics are used; staff confirmed they contract or refer to local private veterinarians and university clinics (including student clinics) when needed.

Committee members also asked about compensation and hiring barriers. Staff said the nationwide shortage of veterinarians and competitive salaries make recruiting difficult; another factor mentioned was a municipal residency requirement that likely discouraged some applicants and may require a waiver process. “Part of it is salary. There is a shortage of veterinarians just countrywide, so they’re commanding very high salaries. ... We’re actually in the process of talking with someone right now about the position, but we’re gonna have to go through the waiver process, and that adds time on to trying to hire someone,” staff said.

The grant presenter said the clinic has benefited from volunteers and partnerships with organizations including the MSPCA, Tufts student clinics and regional humane societies, which have helped maintain services in the absence of a permanent in‑house veterinarian. Staff also invited committee members to tour the facility and meet partners.

The finance committee later approved items 1–9 in a single motion to forward for council approval; the transcript shows the animal‑clinic grant as one of those items to be forwarded. The committee did not record a separate, itemized vote for the grant in the committee discussion.