Burnsville, NC – On September 27th, while preparing to leave their property in Burnsville, NC due to rising flood waters, Nan Collins and her family watched in horror as they spotted their cat, Ricardo Blanco, desperately trying to climb up the roof of their neighbor’s house as it floated downstream. Eventually, the cat’s grip failed, and he slid into the rushing water. Over a week later, his family – who never gave up hope of being reunited – had returned to their property to assess the damage and discovered Ricardo Blanco had made his way back home.   

Once reunited, Nan Collins and her family heard about the Best Friends Animal Society free mobile vet clinic through a nearby shelter. After an extensive amount of time spent in compromised water, Ricardo Blanco had seen better days and needed a check-up. The family brought him to the clinic in Yancey County, NC. The volunteer vets at the clinic looked him over and treated him for an infection in one eye and both ears, as well as removing a few ticks. That same day, Ricardo Blanco’s family was able to take him home. 

“He’s doing fine, playing and doing all the normal stuff,” said Nan Collins. “His full name is Ricardo Blanco because he’s like a little movie actor, so full of life and playful. He’s like a puppy dog and wants to be beside you and take a walk.”

“There are so many stories just like that of Ricardo Blanco and his family throughout western North Carolina,” said Audrey Lodato, Director, Regional Programs, Best Friends Animal Society. “By opening a free mobile clinic, Best Friends Animal Society is working to fill a gap for services, providing basic veterinary care to the Western North Carolina community at no cost so that people and their pets can stay together during this difficult time.”

Last Sunday, Best Friends Animal Society launched a free mobile vet clinic to support people and pets in some of the hardest-hit areas of western North Carolina. Since beginning service, the mobile vet has treated 156 animals from 95 families, including 108 dogs, 47 cats, one goat, and one horse.

Photo 1: Collins family with Donated RV.

Photo2: Ricardo Blanco, with Best Friends Animal Society, who  launched a free mobile vet clinic to support people and pets in some of the hardest-hit areas of western North Carolina.