The ambulance bay at Nome Police Department’s Public Safety Building was filled with animals in November for a veterinary clinic. The effort was led by several organizations and brought in 21 animals from the Bering Strait, North Slope, Northwest Arctic Borough regions, including Nome.
The clinic lasted three days and the team was able to bring the dogs on a free chartered flight. They received vaccines, dewormers, medications, exams, and also were treated for injuries.
Emily Stotts, president of the non-profit PAWS of Nome, said there’s a real need for the clinic for villages in the surrounding area. Sometimes that outsized need means people look for other options – like rehoming or surrendering animals – because they couldn’t get their pets veterinary care.
“Well, how about instead of medically surrendering this pet that you obviously love very much, you make him participate in the clinic,” Stotts said.
Stotts plans on holding another community clinic in March 2026. She said it takes a village to raise a child, or a puppy in this case.
