A North Wales RSPCA veterinary clinic, that supports owners on low incomes, has urged patients to bring pets in before their conditions get worse and costs rise. 

Clwyd and Colwyn Animal Welfare Clinic, based in Rhyl, provides veterinary/financial assistance to help animals most in need within the area.

During the pandemic, as the only RSPCA veterinary clinic open in North Wales, they saw animals from all over including Wrexham and Flintshire. 

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The clinic is open for those on low income and in receipt of at least one of the following means tested benefits, Income Support or Working Tax Credit, Jobseekers Allowance, Housing Benefit, Council Tax Benefit, Pension Credit.

Despite having upto 100 new patients a month accessing the service, Kieren Barlow, Branch Manager for RSPCA Clwyd and Colwyn, is concerned by the numbers of pet owners leaving it too late to seek treatment due to concerns over costs. 

He said: “Don’t wait until last minute- people think it'll be fine for tomorrow – but the problem will get worse and worse and the cost will get higher."

As a charity organisation the clinic works to keep prices as low as possible therefore with increasing costs of energy, pet medication and vet shortages they been operating in a deficit since January. 

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Mr Barlow continued: "this clinic will only run, if it doesn’t start bringing in a profit, for the next 18 months – what will happen after that I don’t know."

The clinic provides services based on residential area however in an effort to help any pets in need they often see clients outside of the Denbigshire area. 

Kieren Barlow said: "Why should it be based on a post code lottery on what you receive. I say if you need it then well try and do what we can.

"I've seen clients from Wrexham quite often and from all over and that's getting more and more."

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The Rhyl clinic are currently seeking extra volunteers to help and assist in the clinic. 

The Clwyd and Colwyn branch along with five RSPCA branches operating across North Wales from Anglesey to Wrexham also fund a mobile veterinary clinic.

The mobile clinic visits the following sites; 

Tuesdays – Old Colwyn 9.00 – 11.00 & Llandudno 13.00-15.00

Wednesdays – Blaenau Ffestiniog  09.00-11.00 & Caernarfon 13.00- 15.00

Thursdays – Llangefni 9.30 – 11.30 & Bangor 13.30 – 15.30

Fridays – Wrexham 9.30 – 11.30 and Deeside 14.00 – 16.00