In response to the struggling economy and a national study showing one-quarter of pet owners haven’t been to the veterinarian in the past year, PetCare of Duluth announced Tuesday that it will provide free exams for Twin Ports-area dogs and cats through the end of 2012.

"This is our way of giving back at holiday time and doing our part to get more animals on track with regular care in the New Year," Dr. Amanda Bruce, a veterinarian and owner of PetCare of Duluth, said in a news release. "We know that the cost of veterinary care is one reason pet owners say they don't get as much care as they know their animals need. This problem has only worsened as our economy has struggled."

PetCare of Duluth opened last summer at 2701 W. Superior St., Suite 102, with a low-cost, no-appointment service model designed to make veterinary care more accessible to pet owners. All of the clinic's services are discounted.

The clinic keeps prices affordable by serving only dogs and cats, the most popular pets, and by focusing on basic services, including exams, vaccinations, parasite protection and microchipping. Those services represent the overwhelming majority of vet visits for most animals. The clinic provides referrals for pets needing more extensive treatment, such as surgery.

"We realize that despite our low-cost services, many pet owners are still priced out of getting basic care for their pets,"� Bruce said.

The clinic will offer free physical exams to all dogs and cats from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. every Thursday at the clinic from Nov. 29 through Dec. 27.

The most recent Bayer Veterinary Care Usage Study found that one-quarter of the more than 2,000 dog and cat owners surveyed nationwide said they had not taken their animals to the veterinarian in the past year. Many said they hadn't done so because of cost concerns.

"The cost of veterinary care has gone up 5 percent a year in a recessionary market," Bruce said. "Salaries have not increased 5 percent a year. We need to find new approaches to ensure that the animals in our lives and in our communities get the veterinary care they need."

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