Helping Advance's furry, feathered, and scaled residents

Thursday, September 10, 2015
KRISTIN DEJOURNETT photo Dr. Ward sedates an injured bobcat brought to his clinic.

Brett Ward grew up in Poteau, Oklahoma, surrounded by animals.

"I always had cats and dogs and my grandparents and uncles had animals of all kinds: pigs, goats, sheep, chickens," Ward says. "Seeing all those kinds of animals is where my drive to investigate veterinary school came from."

His parents wanted to make sure he was ready for the commitment of eight years of school required to become a veterinarian, so they pushed him to volunteer with and observe established veterinarians. Ward attended Oklahoma State University.

KRISTIN DEJOURNETT photo Dr. Brett Ward heads up Helping Hands Veterinary Clinic in Advance.

"It's a very family oriented school and a small town. That helps keep you from getting distracted and losing focus. The dedication and time that it took was challenging. Vet school involves a lot of books, reading, and remembering things. You can't do it unless you have a heart for it," Ward explains. "From day one everything is cumulative. You have to remember everything from the beginning. They teach you enough in vet school to be dangerous. The real part comes in the real world where you fine-tune what you've been taught."

After completing school, Ward moved to Southeast Missouri to be with his wife, Amanda, who is originally from Bell City. The couple opened up Helping Hands Veterinary Clinic in Advance in August 2012.

He says one of the major problems facing the Advance area is the companion animal overpopulation crisis.

KRISTIN DEJOURNETT photo Dr. Ward shows children how to listen to a dog's heartbeat through a stethoscope at the Advance Library's "Every Hero has a Story" Summer Reading Program.

"There's breeding going on that shouldn't be, mostly because people can't afford to spay and neuter their animals," Ward explains. "We get one or two calls a week from people wanting to drop off stray animals. We have to get them in touch with the Bollinger County Stray Project because we can't harbor unvaccinated animals."

Although they can't help every homeless animal, every now and then, the clinic is able to help find a home for an animal in need. Earlier this year, two dachshunds became homeless after their elderly guardian passed away. The clinic posted their plight on its Facebook page and was able to find the two dogs a loving home.

"We can't make a habit of it because it's very time consuming and we aren't a shelter. We can't foster animals," Ward says. "We do try to help when we can."

Heartworm disease is also a big concern in the Advance area. It results in severe lung disease, heart failure, other organ damage, and death in pets, mainly dogs, cats, and ferrets. It's caused by a parasitic worm that is spread through the bite of a mosquito. Unfortunately, the preventative medicine can be cost-prohibitive for those on a tight budget.

In the animals he treats, Ward especially enjoys assisting in births or c-sections and wound care.

"I like to see the nasty wounds through to the end and see them heal up well," he says.

Helping Hands Veterinary Clinic also assists the occasional injured wild animal. Ward's mainly seen birds, such as hawks or owls, but also sees the occasional turtle or rabbit. He was even once brought a large bobcat who had been stuck by a vehicle and was suffering from grievous injuries.

"We know that it's best to get injured wildlife out of the public's hands. Sometimes, if the animal isn't injured, we can advise people to put them back in the nest or just leave them alone. We want to educate people that these are wild animals and can't be kept as pets," Ward says.

Ward encourages anyone who needs veterinary care or services to call his office.

"The Bollinger County Stray Project offers spay and neuter grants, and the Humane Society of Southeast Missouri also offers vouchers for spay and neuter," Ward explains. "We also accept Care Credit, which is a line of credit that can be used toward veterinary services. Even if you're broke, there are options available."

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