CITY FOCUS: Fewer pets left behind

A year ago, veterinarian Matthew Wheaton had to put down a black lab puppy that he would have otherwise operated on, because the owners couldn’t afford to pay the cost of the required surgery to save their pet. Since the heart-wrenching experience, he has made it his mission to ensure he will never face such a predicament again.

A lifelong Lagunan and veterinarian of 12 years who has managed his own practice since July 2000, Wheaton recently founded the Orange County Pet Rescue Center, a nonprofit organization that will help local pet rescue groups save adoptable cats and dogs from euthanasia in high-kill shelters by providing veterinary care while looking for loving families to adopt them.

“I want to make the rescue effort more efficient,” he said. “What our facility will provide is very unique.”

The idea occurred to Wheaton when his veterinary practice at the Alicia Pet Clinic outgrew the 2,000-square-foot space and was forced to upgrade to a much larger, 6,000 square foot space in Mission Viejo.

He’d been contemplating a rescue effort for a long time, and thought this would be a great way to utilize the old space. However, due to zoning laws that prohibit animal boarding and adoption practices in the current building, the organization is actively looking for a new location.

They have two prospects, but details are still being worked out.

The center plans to foster about 40 to 50 animals for a 30-day period, free of charge, during which time they will make all efforts to market the pets for adoption.

Wheaton’s passion for helping animals is shared by his wife, Blythe, the director of development at the center. Together, they will work with other volunteers at the center to get pets healthy and adoptable.

They would like to make the center a public store front for adoption, but the exact details of how the center will operate are pending.

They will also spay and neuter, microchip and vaccinate pets prior to being released.

If a pet is still not adopted after 30 days, the Pet Rescue Center will give the rescue group from which they got the pet an additional 14 days to “swap out” for a more adoptable one.

“Unfortunately, we won’t be able to help every cat and dog,” Wheaton said. “We’ll have better chances of placing pets in homes that are free of severe medical problems [too expensive to treat], are good with people and are therefore, highly adoptable. I want to make this clear so there are no surprises.”

More than 3 million animals are euthanized in the U.S. each year, and about 20,000 of those occur in Orange County, Wheaton said.

He and his staff anticipate being able to save 700 pets in the first year.

The Pet Rescue Center has already recruited 30 volunteers, and that number is expected to grow in the upcoming months.

The organization will also provide financial aid in addition to running the center.

They will also allocate grants, as they are available, to owners who are unable to afford veterinary care for their pets for highly treatable conditions. They hope to allot at least $30,000 to support such care given by Wheaton or another volunteer veterinarian.

“It’s a small niche, but a big need,” Wheaton said. “We want to provide a patch for this issue.”

Another ideal program would offer a free spay to a recently “queened” cat, in exchange for her litter, which would then be put up for adoption at the clinic.

Wheaton said spaying and neutering are preventive measures that would help fix the overall problem, and reduce the number of homeless animals.

“We’re trying to be creative and cover all of the bases,” he said.

Diane Klein, president of New Beginnings, one of the rescue groups that will rely on the Pet Rescue Center to take some of their “overflow,” said she and other rescue groups in the area are equally thrilled about the new center.

“We are excited at the prospect of having the Pet Rescue Center come to the aid of so many sweet, loving animals that are at risk of losing their lives simply because their time has run out,” she said.

In addition to personal investments by the Wheatons, the center will rely on public funding and corporate sponsorship. Some pet-supply companies have already agreed to sponsor an inaugural benefit event from 7 to 11 p.m. Saturday in efforts to raise money for the organization.

The “Providing Shelter” benefit will offer beer, wine, hors d’oeuvres and dessert at Zinc Café in Laguna Beach for a donation of $150, and will include entertainment by Django-style gypsy guitarist, Tommy Davy, and an on-site painting by artist Patrick Moran. There will also be a raffle and silent auction, with some generous donations to be auctioned off.

Since the event is completely sponsored, all proceeds will go to the Pet Rescue Center.

Wheaton said he is following in the footsteps of his late father, also a local veterinarian.

“My dad always helped people financially — whatever it took and no matter how long,” he said. “The Pet Rescue Center is my way of doing the right thing and giving back to the community.”

The Wheatons live in Top of the World with their two children and their three rescued dogs.

For more information about donations, or to purchase tickets for the “Providing Shelter” event, visit www.thepetrescuecenter.org.