Humane Animal Partners cuts ribbon on vet van
Dot Filbert is making an impact on animals in Sussex County.
Filbert has launched Sandy’s Fund, named for her 12-year-old rescue dog. It is her way of helping Humane Animal Partners fulfill its mission to keep dogs and cats healthy and find them forever homes.
The fund is now paying for a mobile veterinary care van that is used for free and low-cost spay and neuter clinics. Each clinic costs $3,000 to $5,000.
Filbert joined HAP leaders and dignitaries to cut the ribbon on the van June 12, at HAP’s Rehoboth Beach location.
“I was looking for something that’s long term for my legacy, so when this opportunity came up, it’s a great way to give back to the community,” Filbert said.
Filbert came along at the right time, since HAP lost a grant from PetSmart Charities that was providing access to low-cost vet care.
Patrick Carroll, HAP CEO, said the van is critical to keeping the concept of community care going.
“We found we have to go out into the community, not be in one place and expect everybody to come to us,” Carroll said.
The stand-up Sprinter van has been in service since 2024. HAP often coordinates events with its human healthcare partners to provide pet and people care at the same time.
Leigh McKinley, HAP’s Sussex County director, said the van is outfitted with all of the equipment needed, including an operating table.
She said veterinarians come down from HAP’s Stanton and Wilmington locations once a month to provide services in the van.
“It’s an impressive production of 40 cats that get spayed and neutered. They do the surgeries in the van, and we use our facility for the prep and recovery for the animals,” McKinley said.
HAP will be holding its first express wellness exam for cats and dogs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Wednesday, June 25, at its Rehoboth Beach location. There is a charge for the services.
McKinley said HAP also holds discounted vaccination events for dogs and cats. The next one is scheduled at HAP’s Rehoboth Beach location in September.
To donate to Sandy’s Fund, go to form-renderer-app.donorperfect.io/give/humane-animal-partners/sandys-fund-2025.
HAP lists information on its events at humaneanimalpartners.org.
Bill Shull has been covering Lewes for the Cape Gazette since 2023. He comes to the world of print journalism after 40 years in TV news. Bill has worked in his hometown of Philadelphia, as well as Atlanta and Washington, D.C. He came to Lewes in 2014 to help launch WRDE-TV. Bill served as WRDE’s news director for more than eight years, working in Lewes and Milton. He is a 1986 graduate of Penn State University. Bill is an avid aviation and wildlife photographer, and a big Penn State football, Eagles, Phillies and PGA Tour golf fan. Bill, his wife Jill and their rescue cat, Lucky, live in Rehoboth Beach.
