SAULT STE. MARIE — The Chippewa County Animal Shelter has added a new member to its team with the hiring of part-time veterinarian Dr. Cassandra Ayers.
Ayers will provide medical care for the dogs and cats at the shelter, including spaying and neutering, vaccinations and minor surgical procedures.
The hiring fulfills a long-term goal for the shelter, which doubled in size in May 2024. Having a veterinarian on staff is expected to reduce the costs and time associated with transporting animals to outside clinics for medical care.
“That was part of when we originally had the building designed,” said Holly Henderson, director of the Chippewa County Animal Shelter. “We had the architect put that surgery suite in there. So, I would say even though it took about a year to get here to get the surgery suite up and running, it’s been more like two, two and a half years in the running knowing that this was what our end goal was.”
Henderson said Ayers played a key role in designing the new surgery suite, which she called an important step toward improving animal care at the shelter.