As an official mentorship organization of the Humane Society of the United States’ “Pets for Life” (PFL) program, Nutmeg Clinic’s in-depth community outreach efforts address inequity and the lack of access to pet resources people experience in underserved communities through door-to-door engagement and pet owner support services.  Nutmeg Clinic bridges the gap between these overlooked communities and services people want and need for their pets.  This program provides access to free veterinary care, services, and information to people and their pets with limited or nonexistent access to pet wellness resources. Nutmeg Clinic’s current focus area is the Bridgeport zip code of 06608.

Within 06608 zip code, which is the most underserved in Bridgeport, CT, nearly 35% of residents are below the poverty level, and the median household income is just over $30,000, well below the state average.  Also, there are next to no pet resources in the immediate area, such as veterinary clinics or big box stores.  Approximately 63% of residents are Latino, and 30% are African American.  Furthermore, the percentage of renters in this zip code, 77%, are also well above the state average of 34%, illustrating the additional barriers to pet ownership and resources people in 06608 face.  To date, the majority of pets met through the program have been unaltered, and 96% of the client met have never contacted an animal service agency, further illustrating the isolation and lack of connection to service providers in underserved communities experience.

Since implementing the program in late 2017, we have already begun to make positive transformational changes for people in pets of Bridgeport.  Since late 2018, we have served over 1,200 individual pets and given more than 2,000 medications, services, and other supplies at no cost to families.  The conversion rate, which is the number of pets spayed or neutered out of all the unaltered pets met through Nutmeg Clinic, is 80%.  These metrics further illustrate that a lack of access to resources is a primary roadblock to veterinary care in these vulnerable communities.

Nutmeg Spay/Neuter Clinic is committed to helping families in need of spay/neuter services residing in the 06608 zip code of Bridgeport, CT.For more details about the Pets for Life program, or to donate, please visit our clinic online. To schedule an appointment through our Pets for Life program, call a friendly team member at (203) 690-1550, or book an e-appointment online.