VI Department of Health Partners with the Humane Society of St. Thomas to Deliver Comprehensive Veterinary Services
St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands — The VI Department of Health, in partnership with the Humane Society of St. Thomas, is proud to announce a two-week Pet Care Clinic offering comprehensive veterinary services at no cost to pet owners.
The clinic will take place June 17 through June 28, 2025, at the Humane Society of St. Thomas, located at 4012 New Herrnhut.
This unique opportunity is made possible through a grant with the U.S. Department of Defense’s Innovative Readiness Training (IRT) Program, which is deploying a 24-member veterinary team to St. Thomas. The team will provide care for cats, dogs, and rabbits, helping to ensure the well-being of the island’s beloved pets. The IRT has committed to bring a similar program to the St. Croix district in 2026.
“This effort began during our second IRT collaboration last year,” said VI Health Commissioner Justa Encarnacion. “It took some time to come to fruition, but we’re thrilled to now extend care to our extended family — our pets. We know how important animals are to our own mental and emotional well-being, so it’s only right that they are well cared for too. I encourage every pet owner to take advantage of this very special opportunity.”
Services offered at the clinic will include:
- Spay and neuter procedures
- Vaccinations
- Wellness checks
- Microchipping
All services are provided at no cost. Appointments are required and can be made by calling the Humane Society of St. Thomas at (321) 327-9142. For more details, visit https://humanesocietystthomas.org or call (340) 775-0599.
“We are honored to host this initiative and grateful for the partnership with the Department of Health and the IRT team,” said Kathryn Kennington, Shelter Manager of the Humane Society of St. Thomas. “This is a tremendous service to our community, and we look forward to welcoming pets and their families to the clinic.”
The IRT program previously supported the U.S. Virgin Islands in 2023 and 2024 by deploying military medical teams to provide healthcare services to residents, delivering approximately $2.25 million in care at no cost.
The Department’s Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Tai Hunte-Ceasar, led the application for the IRT program and was honored with a National IRT Champion Award in 2024.
“We are truly grateful for this program and the military medical professionals who have made such a lasting impact on healthcare in our territory,” said Dr. Hunte-Ceasar. “We’re delighted to welcome them back — this time for our furry companions — and we look forward to hopefully seeing them again in 2026 to serve our residents once more.”
The Department of Health remains committed to promoting the health and well-being of all members of the Virgin Islands community—two-legged and four-legged alike.
