Brandi Winkelman, executive director of A HOPE nonprofit, had a dream to open a local low-cost veterinary clinic. Today her vision becomes a reality.
Snip Happens, a low-cost veterinary clinic, opens today in Milton. It’s a dream brought to fruition by one woman’s vision, years of hard work from dedicated volunteers, and support from caring community members.
A HOPE, which stands for Animal Health Outreach Prevention Education, is a non-profit organization that has been transporting dogs and cats to Operation Spay Bay in Panama City for eight years.
“We would drive 50-60 animals every other week to be spayed and neutered at an affordable cost for the community,” said Paige Cary, vice president of A HOPE. “We are proud to say that in those eight years, we were able to get over 9,000 animals spayed, neutered, and vaccinated.”
Cary says the need for spay/neuter service in Santa Rosa County and surrounding areas is high. But now that Snip Happens clinic is opening, instead of fixing 100 animals per month, A HOPE will be able to double, or even triple, that number. Additionally, on non-surgical days, the clinic will offer wellness visits to include services such as deworming, nail trims, microchips, etc.
One of those who stepped up to bring Winkleman’s dream to life was retired local entrepreneur Jeff Ates, who was asked to help by North American IPS, a site preparation company based in East Milton.
Ates pictured with his personal fire truck, which was used to help spray water during site preparation at the new clinic.
Cary said Ates and North American IPS helped pull together the exterior of the building. “Their help, guidance and donation of time is invaluable. They helped us maneuver through the maze of regulations, connected us with the right people for the right job-concrete, septic, hauling, etc. and just explained why some things had to be done ‘that way’.”
Ates said he initially responded to a call for help to deliver and spread four loads of dirt. “After learning how these volunteers have spent years driving back and forth to Panama City and wanted to provide an actual solution for problems our county animal shelter couldn’t meet, we knew we wanted to do more to help,” he said.
In the end, Ates and his contacts contributed more than $100,000 in goods and services toward the project, including a parking lot and holding pond.
“Because Jeff is so well connected in the community and believed in this project, many of the subcontractors came in on their own time and donated their services,” stated Cary.
Thanks to such helpful community support, Snip Happens opens today. A ribbon-cutting ceremony with the Santa Rosa County Chamber of Commerce will take place at 3 p.m. at the clinic, located at 6951 Pine Blossom Road in Milton.
For more information, including clinic services and pricing information, visit: http://ahope4src.com/sniphappens.
