Digital Radiology Project delivers healthy smiles from furry friends
The Oregon Humane Society (OHS) Salem Campus unveils their Digital Radiology Project at a ribbon cutting event on August 20th at 2:00 p.m. The project is their largest expansion of medical services since the spay and neuter clinic opened in 2010.
The Digital Radiology Project will significantly enhance the clinic’s diagnostic capabilities, offering advanced digital imaging (x-ray) for surgeries and dentistry. This upgrade means faster, more accurate diagnoses and treatments for animals in their care.
Pets with complex medical issues were previously transferred to the Portland Campus, which is more than an hour-long drive, for x-rays or dental procedures. In 2023 alone, over 40 pets were transferred from Salem to the Portland Campus. Now, the Salem Campus performs in-depth diagnosis and treatment onsite for complex issues.
OHS began planning the expansion as soon as Willamette Humane Society merged with OHS in July 2022, eventually breaking ground on January 25th, 2024. Less than seven months later, the project is complete. Staff have been trained on the new equipment and are already putting it to use on patients. The project’s final cost totals around $732,000. OHS raised almost $600,000 of that figure, thanks to generous Salem-area donors.
Dr. Sara Livesay, lead veterinarian at the OHS Salem Campus, expressed excitement in having advanced diagnostic tools for onsite treatment. “The faster we can diagnose an injury or illness, the faster we can begin treatment and reduce the animal’s pain,” she said.
The OHS Salem Campus serves a wide variety of animals, including household pets, transfers from other shelters, stray or abandoned animals, and animals from abuse or neglect cases through the Humane Law Enforcement division. Spay and neuter procedures are an essential service offered to all these different kinds of patients, whether it’s preparing a shelter dog for adoption or controlling the population of stray cats that receive insufficient care.
Since opening the spay and neuter clinic in 2010, shelter veterinarians have spayed and neutered more than 70,000 pets. The Digital Radiology project will further increase the Salem Campus’ capacity for these procedures, continuing their ability to meet this critical demand.
Dr. Livesay started her career in a more traditional veterinary clinic, but found herself more at home after pivoting to shelter medicine. “I find it incredibly rewarding to care for animals who don’t yet have a home,” she said. “Until they are adopted, I consider these pets part of our OHS family.”
The Digital Radiology Project will offer peace of mind to community members looking to adopt, by providing more comprehensive information on the newest member of their family. The clinic remains open for visitors to walk through and meet pets up for adoption seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
OHS has delivered critical care to countless animals over the years. Anyone with a beloved pet knows that those animals provide invaluable care to their families as well. The Digital Radiology Project enables OHS to continue providing happy and healthy furry friends to the Salem community.