The ASPCA recently celebrated the grand opening of our new ASPCA Community Veterinary Center in Liberty City, Florida, in partnership with Miami-Dade Animal Services (MDAS) and Miami-Dade County. The new Veterinary Center provides affordable and accessible veterinary services to pets and their guardians in Miami-Dade County, including the Liberty City area—a critically underserved community with limited options for veterinary care.

By expanding our work in Florida, the ASPCA aims to create better access to services for pet parents and improve the health and welfare of dogs and cats in the Liberty City area. To better understand the needs of the community, the ASPCA met with and listened to people who live and work there, and also looked at data from a variety of sources. “What we learned was that this area has long been under-resourced and underserved, with little to no access to basic vet care and other pet-related resources in or near this community,” said David Betournay, Senior Director of the Miami Initiative. “The result of this is an increase in the number of families struggling to care for their pets.”

The Center will offer partially and fully subsidized basic and preventive care to companion animals, including vaccinations, spay/neuter surgeries, and treatment for infections and other minor issues. This clinic will also have a meaningful, direct impact on improving the lives of thousands of Miami-Dade pets and pet guardians each year.

“Making veterinary services both accessible and affordable is key to keeping pets healthy and safe in their homes,” said Matt Bershadker, ASPCA President and CEO. “Whether it’s providing vaccinations, flea and tick medication, or minor medical care, the ASPCA Community Veterinary Center will play a vital role in preserving the loving and dependent bonds between Liberty City residents and their animals.”

The ASPCA Community Veterinary Center is located at 1320 NW 62nd Street in Miami and will be open Tuesday through Saturday between the hours of 9:00 AM and 5:00 PM. Pets will be seen by appointment only.

“Liberty City was a veterinary desert, with little access to care for residents’ pets. As we serve Miami-Dade County’s pets and pet owners, we wanted to meet our residents where the need is greatest. Opening this Center with the ASPCA will do just that,” said Alex Muñoz, Director of Miami-Dade Animal Services.

In the year leading up to the opening of the Center, we worked in Liberty City to bring critical resources to pets and people, including pet enclosures/houses, pet food and pet supplies. We also recently formed a partnership with Farm Share, through which Liberty City residents are provided with free pet food and supplies as part of a monthly food distribution program.

These efforts in Liberty City are part of a larger commitment that we’ve made in Miami-Dade County to help animals—specifically focusing on keeping pets and people together. And on a national level, we are continuing to develop initiatives that serve the most vulnerable animals and help keep pets in their homes, where they belong.