Tails are Wagging at UCC Graduate’s Veterinary Clinic

By Richard Dye · The Mainstream
Published Janurary 24, 2012

 As the Executive Director of the new non-profit Low Cost Veterinary Services in Roseburg and the proud owner of eleven dogs, Julia Russil has proven success can be created by attending UCC courses. While working on an assignment for UCC writing instructor Amy Sargent’s class, Russil had an idea that would change her life and the community that surrounds her.

Russil began her journey to success a little over two years ago with the dream of starting a low income animal clinic. That dream is now a reality thanks in part to the organizational commitment practiced and preached by UCC staff, according to Russil.

“Mel Cheney and Gary Gray bent over backwards to help me get into the appropriate facility,” she said.Russil worked closely with UCC instructor Gary Gray and Cancer Center director Mel Cheney to obtain a suitable facility from which to run her new non-profit low income veterinary clinic. The clinic now uses the building which was once used as the community cancer center.

Russil says she started the clinic for a good reason.

“In my research I found a majority of animals that end up at shelters, are from low income owners.”

Her commitment to what she was doing became supremely evident when I entered her office and was quickly greeted by one of her personal companions, a full size Doberman pincer named Cane and another large dog named Max.

“Max has been a wonderful guest and is currently being fostered for a retired veteran, who is homeless and had no place for his pet to stay while the pet’s owner was receiving badly needed medical care,” said Russil as her eyes began to water.

Next I noticed a spot on Cane’s neck, where he had been shaved.

Russil was quick to explain the shave, “Cane is a canine blood donor, and he recently donated his blood to help save the life of a puppy who might have otherwise not survived.”

Russil has a history of compassion and commitment for animals. She graduated from Hartwell College in 1982 with a degree in veterinary health. She also gained experience as a veterinary technician for over fifteen years in southern California before moving to Roseburg where she worked for the Department of Environmental Quality. When unfortunate circumstances led to the closure of the state run DEQ facility, and she was faced with unemployment and uncertainty.

She faced the choice of selling her home and relocating to Eugene or going back to school and starting her own business.

After completion of UCC’s business and marketing programs, she finally found a light at the end of the proverbial business tunnel. Russil found new hope and new financing for her dream of helping animals. Through an application, for a Pet Smart equipment grant, she was awarded $54,000 to furnish the new non-profit facility. The clinic has used the grant money to purchase new medical equipment now filling the once empty pet examination rooms.

“We are a full service vet clinic; we do not just spay and neuter,” said Russil as she grinned and made a point of showing each machine to me.

Other veterinary professionals have supported the clinic. Professionals such as Dr. Ore of Roseburg and Mary Herrera of the Sutherlin Vet Clinic have donated time and the use of valuable resources.

“What we are able to accomplish makes my heart sing,” said Russil.

The clinic continues to help support the needs of the community by offering low cost vaccination clinics to Douglas County residents in the past and they plan to continue to do so in the future. The clinic offers low cost professional pet care to those who meet low income requirements or people who are already receiving some type of government assistance; their rates are on a sliding scale which adjusts to the level of the income of the pet owner.

The clinic has also inspired other veterinary professionals in the area to hold reduced cost spay and neuter weekends. Currently the clinic if offering discounted spay and neuter procedures Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.

More information on how to get help or how to become a volunteer may be obtained by contacting the Douglas County Low-Cost Veterinary Services clinic at: (541)672-3161.