Jason Martin brought his furry friend, Rue, in for some treatment at the new Paws for Hope Community Hub.

Having services accessible to those who may not otherwise be able to take their pets to the vet means a lot to Martin.

“It’s great; I’m on disability, so I can’t really afford much,” he said.

“They’ve helped me out a lot.”

This is what the animal foundation was hoping to accomplish when they opened the space, which was built for pets and low-income owners to keep them together instead of facing surrender over vet bills.

“The intention of the hub is to provide wrap-around service for pet families,” said Paws for Hope executive director Kathy Powelson.

“We have pet pantries, today we are doing a wellness clinic, so folks can get their pets’ vaccines, parasite control, and minor grooming, and we also have a boarding facility to help us respond to urgent requests for temporary foster care.”

The pantries are open Tuesday to Thursday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., and animal wellness clinics will happen monthly.

But the new hub is about more than supporting just the four-legged friends.

“By being able to provide a safety net for pets, we are providing one for people as well,” Powelson said.

“We see, all the time, women not leaving an abusive situation or someone not going to treatment because there is no one to take care of their pets.”

The services are free for those who meet the low-income threshold.

Dr. Emilia Wong Gordon is director of veterinary services at the wellness clinic. Speaking to CityNews as she cared for Rue, she said she is grateful to have seen this all come together.

“I am so excited about this new building,” Dr. Gordon said.

“I’ve been able to help with planning, and this is the first time we have been able to welcome animal patients to the space.”

“It’s such a good feeling knowing we’re supporting people and their pets who really need help.”

And as for Rue, she had a paw-sitive experience getting cared for at the clinic. Martin says she got her rabies, distemper, and flea prevention medication and had a pleasant time at the clinic.

“[Clinic staff] were really accommodating, super friendly, they put her at ease, and she allowed them to do what they needed to do,” he said.

“They also sent medication through the mail prior to coming here, so she was calm. All in all, a great experience.”

For more information about the clinic or to donate to the cause, visit pawsforhope.org.