TEXARKANA - The Animal Protection League's portable unit paid its weekly visit to Texarkana on a cold, gray Thursday, letting pet owners here take advantage of low-cost pet care in the PetSmart parking lot.
Rhealynn Reagan, a surgery technician with the Animal Protection League, greeted her clients, both two and four-footed, canine and feline persuasions. Working as an APL surgery technician since January, she is a veteran in the animal care calling, previously calling a veterinarian clinic her place of practice. But she decided to cross over to the APL, liking what they offered to someone in her profession.
"The benefits were good, and I get to do an even wider range of things, like operate this mobile clinic here," she said.
The mobile clinic offers vaccinations as well as spaying and neutering services for dogs and cats. APL's main brick and mortar office is in Longview, Texas, with others in Sulfur Springs and Palestine.
"The mobile clinic comes out once a week, always at this location," Reagan said.
Reagan confesses this is not just a job.
"I grew up with animals," she said. "This is my passion, it is what I do. I own a dog and cat, as well as horses."
Marilyn Lamb of Maud, Texas, brought her eight-week old orange Tabby, Simba, to see the caregivers at the unit.
"I'm getting Simba his rabies vaccinations and flea medication," she said. "This is the first time we have brought a cat to see APL. We heard about them from PetSmart. Simba is a gift from my grandsons. Glad to get him, too, as I lost my previous cat too soon."
Bobby McDowell of Texarkana, Arkansas, brought his two dogs, Buddy and Baxter, to visit APL.
"I've used their services before," he said. "But this is the fist time I've come to their mobile service. I'll be back again when the time comes around."
The Animal Protection League formed in 1984 in Texas, originally as an animal rescue and adoption agency. In May 1996, the League reorganized with the additional mission of providing low-cost spay and neutering services as well as vaccinations. Over time, they further expanded their services and range.
In 2003, they opened up a satellite program in Longview, Texas. The APL has provided these services to more than 100,000 animals in a 25-county, three-state region.
The APL does not receive any public funds. It instead operates on small, individual donations, fundraising efforts within its communities and from fees generated by sterilization services.
(For more information, call them at 903-439-2953, 903-753-7387, or 903-440-4911.)