MARINE CORPS AIR STATION CHERRY POINT, N.C. - With all the Marines and sailors on the air station, the two Army soldiers stationed aboard Cherry Point may be overlooked. The soldiers at the Cherry Point Veterainary Treatment Facility work tirelessly to ensure the readiness of military working dogs and treat personally owned animals, provding a service to the community.
The clinic is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday to all active-duty, retired military and their families. Located between the mess hall and the 7-Day troop store on 4th Avenue, the clinic offers a variety of services for military working dogs, domesticated pets and their appropriate handler/owner.
The clinic offers annual wellness/geriatric exams, new puppy/kitten exams, sick call, minor surgeries (spaying and neutering), blood work, vaccinations, de-worming, nail trims, microchips, flea and tick control and heartworm preventative measures.
“Our mission is multifaceted; we provide physical health checks for personally owned animals for all active-duty and retired service members and have a large focus on military working dogs,” said Army Capt. Danielle M. Diamond, Cherry Point veterinarian branch chief with the veterinary corps. “The military working dogs play a large role in today’s wars, and I think that is one of the most rewarding aspects of our job; to ensure military working dogs are 100 percent mission ready.”
“Not a lot of Marines know about us, and it’s a shame because we offer a good amount of services that are affordable and practical for families here,” said Diamond.
“Since I’ve been here there has been countless times I’ve brought up the clinic to people, and the person I am talking to was completely unaware of us,” said Kim R. Henderson, a registered veterinarian technician with the Cherry Point clinic. “The reason why we are here is to ensure the health of their animals.”
The clinic often has its hands full due to the limited amount of personnel. Diamond is the only veterinarian, and there are only a handful of other technicians and doctors working at the clinic. However, Diamond said that fact doesn’t cause the clinic to shy away from challenges.
”We see senior officers, senior enlisted, young service members and retired military service members, and each of them have different challenges in their lives,” said Diamond. “Like when a spouse comes in with four kids and three pets while her husband is deployed … it shows how important our job is here to ensure what’s best for the animals.”
To make an appointment or for more information contact the veterinary clinic at 466-2166. Clients interested in scheduling appointments regarding surgery must call in advance due to the number of personnel and limited surgery appointments available.