Regional Community Vet Clinic

31/10/2026

We have been absolutely overwhelmed by the support shown to us since sharing our post about the vandalism to our van. ❤️
When we originally shared the news, our intention was simply to keep our community and supporters informed. We certainly weren't asking for donations, particularly at a time when we know so many people are already doing it tough.
But our wonderful community has other ideas! So many of you have reached out asking how you can help, and we have been genuinely touched by your kindness and generosity.
For those who have asked for a way to contribute, we have now set up a GoFundMe page.
We want to say a heartfelt thank you to everyone who has sent messages of support, offered to help or simply taken the time to let us know you care. Your kindness has meant more than you could possibly imagine to everyone at RCVC.
It is moments like these that remind us just how special our community is. While one person's actions may have caused damage, the response from so many others has shown us what community spirit, compassion and kindness really look like.
Thank you for standing alongside us. We are so very grateful. ❤️

RCVC – Because Every Pet Deserves a Vet

At RCVC, we have always wanted to share the good in our community - stories of kindness, people help… Robyn Slattery needs your support for Upgrade security

29/10/2026

💔Sometimes, despite all the good we try to do, a little bit of bad news finds its way into our story.
At RCVC, we have always wanted to share the good in our community - stories of kindness, people helping one another, and beloved pets receiving the food and veterinary care they deserve.
Sadly, today we have some disappointing news to share.
After years of writing grant applications, we finally secured a highly competitive grant to purchase a van for our Mobile Pet Food Pantry and Health Check Clinic. It represented hope: the opportunity to reach isolated communities, deliver free pet food and provide health checks to animals whose owners struggle to access veterinary care.
Six weeks ago, our van finally arrived. We couldn't wait to share it with you once the branding and fit-out were complete.
But last week, our van was broken into while parked at the clinic and extensively vandalised, causing over $20,000 worth of damage. 😔
Fortunately, the van was insured, and our clinic itself is protected by extensive security. However, insurance doesn't eliminate the financial consequences, nor does it undo the damage.
The insurance excess and additional security measures are expected to cost around $5,000.
For a small charity like ours, that's a devastating setback, meaning fewer free veterinary procedures, less money for pet food when donations fall short, and further delays in reaching isolated communities that desperately need our help.
Ultimately, it's the people and animals who are already doing it tough who will feel the consequences.
Our volunteers pour their time, energy and hearts into this work. They see firsthand how much a beloved animal means to someone experiencing hardship, loneliness or isolation. To have something that represents years of determination, generosity and hope damaged in this way is deeply disheartening and disappointing.
But we won't let this change why we do what we do. ❤️
We will keep supporting our community, helping vulnerable people care for their beloved animals, and working towards the day our new van can finally hit the road.
This van was never just a vehicle. It was a promise to people who often have nowhere else to turn.
We had hoped to share photos of our beautifully branded van ready for its new adventure. Instead, we're sharing this heartbreaking news and being honest about the impact it will have on our small charity.
To everyone who supports RCVC, stands beside our volunteers and believes in what we do, thank you. Your kindness matters, and it reminds us why we keep going. 💚🐾
RCVC — Because every pet deserves a vet.

18/10/2026

🐾 THE RCVC PET NAME AWARDS ARE HERE! 🏆😂
We’ve been looking through our patient list at RCVC and discovered something important…, naming pets is a very serious business! 🤔🐶🐱
One name kept popping up again and again, which sparked a highly competitive (and completely unofficial) in-house competition. After extensive research (aka looking at our patient list), the winners are in!
🥇 MOST POPULAR NAME – CAT OR DOG
🏆 Charlie!
Apparently, you can’t go wrong with a Charlie. We have a feeling there are a few very confused Charlie’s being called at the dog park! 😂
🥈 RUNNER-UP
Molly! Another popular choice for our furry friends. ❤️
🐱 MOST UNUSUAL CAT NAME
🏆 It's a tie! Mr Fish and Red Frog!
We have questions… but we're also impressed. 😂🐸🐟
🐶 MOST UNUSUAL DOG NAME
🏆 Nibbles!
We can only assume this name comes with a healthy appetite and a questionable relationship with the furniture! 🦴
🎩 MOST DISTINGUISHED NAME – CAT OR DOG
🏆 Mr Bates!
One imagines a pet who expects dinner served promptly, the staff to be well presented, and absolutely no peeing in the drawing room. ☕🎩
🍽️ AND THEN THERE'S THE FOOD-INSPIRED CROWD!
Our patient list also appears to double as a menu! We have:
🧁 Muffin
🍜 Tom Yum
🍮 Plum Pudding
🍪 Monte Carlo
🥪 Vegemite
🍫 Aero
🍮 Chunky Custard
🍑 Peaches
We're not sure whether we're running a veterinary clinic or preparing for a very unusual dinner party! 😂
A huge shout-out to all our wonderful patients and their humans for keeping us entertained. We love them all, whatever their names! ❤️🐾
Now it's YOUR turn! 👇
Tell us your pet's name in the comments - if your pet has a name that deserves an award of its own, we want to hear it! 🏆🤣

Pictured - two of our wonderful patients, both Charlies!

🐾 RCVC – Because every pet deserves a vet.

11/10/2026

September Round-Up at RCVC
It’s time for the September round-up of what’s been happening in the clinic. The first month of spring has been extra busy. We are very excited to have taken delivery of our van 🚑 once it has its branding attached and been fitted out for pop-up health check clinics, you will see us on the road as far afield as Inglewood, Dunolly and Talbot, delivering food and health checks to those communities.
During September, the team has achieved great outcomes for people and their pets, we were able to:
🐾 See 33 animals for veterinary consultations
🦷 Perform 5 dental surgery
🌈 Said final goodbyes to 1 cherished companion
🐶🐱Desexed 10 dogs and cats
🤝 Assist 4 welfare cases to access financial assistance for blood tests and ongoing medications.
Beyond the clinic, our incredible outreach volunteers continued to make a real difference in the community by distributing an amazing 5,519 pet meals in September to people struggling to feed themselves and their pets.
In total, our volunteers generously contributed more than 182 hours during September to help ensure that companion animals remain with the people who love them, regardless of financial circumstances.
Every consultation, every meal distributed, every kilometre travelled, and every volunteer hour helps strengthen the bond between people and their pets.
Thank you to our amazing volunteers, supporters and donors. None of this would be possible without you. Together, you're changing lives—both human and animal. 💙🐾
RCVC – Because Every Pet Deserves a Vet

04/10/2026

🐾 Jabari – helping older pets and their people stay together ❤️
We regularly see older animals and their people at RCVC who haven’t been able to access veterinary care for quite some time, and this was the case for Jabari, a beautiful older boy of 15½ years.
Jabari presented with excessive drinking and weight loss, despite having a ravenous appetite. Without blood tests, we could only make educated assumptions about what might be happening.
Although our costs are kept as low as possible, we understand that even basic diagnostic testing can sometimes be beyond the reach of our older clients. Asking for help can also be difficult, particularly for older people who have always managed on their own.
Fortunately, at RCVC we can often recognise when someone needs a little extra support, and by offering assistance, we can help remove the embarrassment of having to ask.
Jabari has now had his blood tests, and thankfully, the suspicion of kidney disease was not confirmed. Instead, Jabari has been diagnosed with hypothyroidism, a condition that can be managed with medication.
He has gone home with his medication, an appointment for follow-up blood tests, and a dental appointment for a scale and polish. With the right treatment and ongoing care, we hope Jabari and his person will have many more happy and healthy years together.
The costs of Jabari’s blood tests have been subsidised through BAWCS Community Pet Support Program, along with the generosity of RCVC’s regular donors, who help make it possible for us to provide the medication for Jabari, free of charge.

RCVC: Because Every Pet Deserves a Vet

26/09/2026

🐾 Ruby’s journey – a little help can make a big difference ❤️
We first met Ruby at RCVC in April 2026, when she came in to have a few lumps checked. Thankfully, there was nothing concerning about those lumps.
A couple of months later, Ruby’s diligent family noticed a lump developing in her mouth. They brought her back to RCVC, where a fine needle aspirate confirmed Dr Alistair’s suspicion — Ruby had a malignant tumour in her mouth that was growing rapidly.
With family pressures also bringing financial constraints, Ruby’s family needed help to ensure she could receive the treatment she needed.
On behalf of Ruby and her family, RCVC worked alongside Bendigo Animal Welfare & Community Services and their Community Pets Support Program to make her treatment possible, Bendigo Animal Welfare & Community Services supporting the costs of medications and RCVC providing her consultations free of charge.
Working closely with Ruby’s family, Dr Alistair developed a treatment protocol specifically for her. Since then, there have been some nervous phone calls, follow-up visits and plenty of photo updates.
We are absolutely delighted that Ruby’s most recent update shows a reduction in the size of her tumour.
Throughout her treatment, Ruby has remained her wonderfully bouncy self — proof that even when something serious is happening, our pets can continue to bring plenty of joy and resilience into our lives.
Ruby’s treatment will be ongoing, but for now, we are incredibly pleased with her progress and have every hope that those updates will continue to be positive.
A huge thank you to Dr Alistair for developing treatment plans that take into account not only Ruby’s needs but also the people who love and are caring for her, and to Bendigo Animal Welfare & Community Services Community Pets Support Program for helping support her treatment. 🐕
RCVC - Because Every Pet Deserves a Vet

13/09/2026

August Round-Up at RCVC
It’s already time for our August round-up and the month has whizzed by. We had a couple of weeks off in the clinic as our vet Alistair took a well deserved break. All our other services continued as normal, and we were the fortunate recipients of donations from Boehringer Ingelheim, of NexGard Spectra parasite control and from Zoetis, Revolution Plus parasite control for Cats.
During August, although our clinic is only open one day each week and in addition we had a break for a couple of weeks, we were able to:
🐾 See 15 animals for veterinary consultations
🦷 Perform 1 dental surgery
🐶 Said final goodbyes to 2 cherished companions
❤️ Desexed 12 dogs and cats
🤝 Assist 2 welfare cases to access financial assistance for treatment at full-fee veterinary clinics
🏥 Helped an outreach client to transition into Aged Care, knowing that her companion animal was being looked after.
Beyond the clinic, our incredible outreach volunteers continued to make a real difference in the community by distributing 4,359 pet meals in August to people doing it tough.
In total, our volunteers generously contributed more than 168 hours during August to help ensure that companion animals remain with the people who love them, regardless of financial circumstances.
Every consultation, every meal distributed, every kilometre travelled, and every volunteer hour helps strengthen the bond between people and their pets.
Thank you to our amazing volunteers, supporters and donors. None of this would be possible without you. Together, you're changing lives—both human and animal. 💙🐾
RCVC - Because Every Pet Deserves a Vet

06/09/2026

Volunteers. Where would we be without them?
We often acknowledge the incredible people who volunteer with RCVC, but there is another small group of volunteers whose stories deserve to be told.
Meet Biscuit, or "Bikkie" to her friends. This charismatic girl can usually be found in reception on clinic days, eagerly waiting for her many admirers to stop by for a pat. The enthusiastic thump of her tail is something that truly needs to be heard to be believed.
Biscuit provides a calming presence for both our patients and the people who bring them to the clinic. She has challenges of her own and cannot stand unaided, but her love of life shines through in her beautiful, expressive face.
For her unwavering enthusiasm, gentle nature, and dedication to making others feel welcome, Biscuit earns a well-deserved 10 out of 10 as an RCVC volunteer. 🐶
RCVC: Because Every Pet Deserves a Vet

27/08/2026

Recently we desexed, vaccinated and microchipped cats over two days, sponsored by BAWCS Community Pets Support Program. Cats owned by eligible residents were de-sexed at a discounted cost at RCVC.
Some of the cats were young and this little sweetie had the five-star treatment, not only was she on a heated mat, but she also had socks on to keep her tiny feet warm during surgery. Just like people, animals need support to maintain their body heat during and after surgery, she recovered after the procedure all cosy with a hot water bottle and a lovely polar fleece blanket made especially for RCVC patients by our wonderful volunteers.

RCVC - Because Every Pet Deserves a Vet.

20/08/2026

🐾 Parasite Control Available This Week! 🐾
Thanks to a generous donation, we have parasite control products for both dogs and cats available at the RCVC Pet Food Pantry this week.
Parasite prevention is an important part of keeping our pets healthy and comfortable, but we know that keeping up with treatments can be difficult when budgets are tight.
If you’re visiting the Pet Food Pantry this week between 10am and 2pm Friday, please ask our volunteers about the available parasite control products for your pet.
A huge thank you to the generous businesses who donated the NexGard Spectra and Revolution Plus products and are helping us keep pets healthy in our community. 🐶🐱

RCVC - Because Every Pet Deserves a Vet