By providing core vaccines, pet food, and essential supplies at no cost, Lollypop Farm helps keep pets healthy, safe, and right where they belong: at home with their families.

Expanding Access to Veterinary Care
The Klingenstein Veterinary Clinic at Lollypop Farm provides critical veterinary services for thousands of abandoned and neglected animals that we care for every year, as well as pets in our community who face barriers to accessing preventative care.

That’s where our dedicated team steps in. At this year’s Community Pet Care Events, the Klingenstein Veterinary Clinic team administered 1,883 vaccines — 1,573 for dogs and 310 for cats — a remarkable 65% increase from last year’s total, demonstrating the need for our services throughout the Greater Rochester region. Each vaccine given represents a healthier pet.

More Than Medicine
Beyond vaccines, the Lollypop Farm Pet Pantry distributed nearly 6,000 pounds of pet food and numerous supplies to families in need. Our Behavior and Education Teams were also on-site to answer training questions and share resources, empowering pet owners with tools to prevent behavior challenges before they become reasons for surrender.

A Community Effort
These events wouldn’t be possible without the generous support of our partners and sponsors. We extend heartfelt thanks to the Petco Love Foundation for providing vaccines and to Fidelis Care for sponsoring our final events of the year. Thank you to Christel’s Claws and Paws for providing nail trims at this year’s events. We’re also deeply grateful to our community partners who opened their doors and hearts to host these events: Cameron Communities, New Hope Community Development Corp at David F Gantt R-Center, Kind Hearts Ministries at Glad Tidings Church, The People’s Pantry of Rochester, Greater Harvest Baptist Church, and Father Tracy Advocacy Center. Lastly, none of this would be possible without your support.

To donate to help with these vital Community Pet Care Events, visit https://www.lollypop.org/ways-to-give/make-a-donation/ today.

The post Breaking Barriers to Care: Lollypop Farm’s Community Pet Care Events Make a Big Impact appeared first on Lollypop Farm.

With the rising cost and limited availability of affordable veterinary care, many pets arrive with medical conditions that require immediate and often complex treatment.

For Amarii’s family, that heartbreaking decision came after months of trying to manage her painful condition. The beautiful young husky had already undergone surgery to correct a prolapsed rectum, but when the issue returned, her care became too much for her owner to manage alone. Hoping Amarii could finally receive the treatment she needed, they made the loving decision to surrender her to Lollypop Farm.

Upon her arrival, our veterinary team immediately took action. Amarii was sedated and brought into surgery to repair the prolapse once more. The procedure went well, but during her recovery, it became clear that she needed additional care. A few days later, Dr. Cristina Cadavieco, Lollypop Farm Medical Director, performed a second, more extensive surgery during Amarii’s spay, hoping this would finally bring her relief.

For a short while, things seemed to be looking up, until staff began noticing that Amarii’s bedding was frequently soaked in urine when she woke up. What at first appeared to be simple house-soiling was actually a sign of something more serious: urinary incontinence.

After ruling out infection and bladder stones, Dr. Cristina referred Amarii to a veterinary specialist for advanced diagnostics. There, an ultrasound revealed the true cause of ectopic ureters, a congenital condition where the tubes carrying urine from the kidneys bypass the bladder entirely. Without surgery, Amarii would face a lifetime of discomfort, infections, and difficulty finding a home.

Most of the veterinary care our animals receive happens right here at our on-site Klingenstein Veterinary Clinic. In some cases, like Amarii’s, they require advanced imaging, specialist consultations, or complex surgeries.

That’s where Puma’s Purpose comes in. This special fund supports specialty and emergency veterinary services that our clinic isn’t equipped to address.. For pets like Amarii, Puma’s Purpose makes it possible to access the specialized care that can mean the difference between pain and healing, or between uncertainty and a second chance at life.

Because of compassionate supporters like you, Amarii will soon receive the advanced surgery she needs to finally live free from pain and discomfort and go on to find the loving home she deserves. Help pets like Amarii by replenishing Puma’s Purpose fund here.

Puma’s Purpose ensures that no animal is ever denied care because of cost or complexity. Together, we can enable every pet to heal, thrive, and live the life they were meant to have.

The post Amarii’s Second Chance Starts with You appeared first on Lollypop Farm.

Radiographs done at the Klingenstein Veterinary Clinic revealed even more: a broken back leg, broken ribs, broken orbital bone, and another broken bone in his front limb. The rib fractures showed signs of healing at different stages, evidence that Moose had endured repeated trauma over time.

Yet despite everything he had been through, Moose showed nothing but love. One of our dedicated veterinary technicians opened her heart and home, providing Moose with a safe foster environment where he could heal, surrounded by comfort and care.

In time, Moose underwent a complex surgery at the Klingenstein Veterinary Clinic. Dr. Cristina Cadavieco performed a Femoral Head Ostectomy (FHO), a procedure that removes the head and neck of the femur to relieve pain and restore mobility in a damaged hip. Thanks to this surgery and the tireless efforts of his medical and foster teams, Moose began to move forward on the path to recovery.

An arrest was made in Moose’s case, and Moose was surrendered. He will soon be available for adoption and on his way to a new home.

Stories like Moose’s remind us that second chances take time, compassion, and a community that believes in brighter futures for animals in need. Every wag of Moose’s tail is a testament to what’s possible when we come together to heal, protect, and give love where it’s needed most.

Moose’s journey is far from over, but with friends like you, his future is full of hope.

The post From Broken Bones to a Healing Heart: Moose’s Story appeared first on Lollypop Farm.

Vanilla Bean was born with a rare congenital condition called pectus excavatum, in which the sternum curves inward toward the chest cavity. For a growing kitten, this deformity can place dangerous pressure on the heart and lungs, causing serious health problems if left untreated.

During his intake exam, our veterinary team immediately recognized the sunken shape of his chest. At just nine weeks old and weighing only three pounds, Vanilla Bean needed surgery if he was going to have a healthy future.

But there was a catch—this highly specialized procedure wasn’t something our staff had performed before.

Rather than see the challenge as a roadblock, Dr. Anna Young turned it into an opportunity. She and two veterinary team members were preparing to attend a shelter medicine conference at Cornell University, where she connected with a former professor. Not only did he agree to perform Vanilla Bean’s surgery, but he also offered to train Dr. Young in the technique, ensuring that our clinic could help future patients with the same condition.

When the day of the operation arrived, Dr. Young was nervous but determined. Vanilla Bean’s case was severe, one of the worst her professor had ever seen. The surgery presented risks, but the prospect of giving Vanilla Bean a significantly improved quality of life was all the motivation Dr. Young needed. The two veterinarians got to work, painstakingly threading each suture under the sternum, careful not to damage any internal structures, especially the heart. After completing all twelve sutures and anchoring them to an external splint, the surgery was complete.

Over the next several weeks, Vanilla Bean returned to our clinic to see Dr. Young and have his bandages changed before returning to the comfort of his foster home. Four weeks later, he was finally able to have the splint removed for good, with the skin beneath the cast healing well. Even more exciting, Vanilla Bean found a new home!

Stories like Vanilla Bean’s are only possible because of the incredible support of our community. Your generosity empowers our veterinary team to take on complex cases, provide lifesaving surgeries, and give pets with special challenges the chance to live long, happy lives.

Want to help make a difference for animals like Vanilla Bean? Visit our adoption, foster, or donation pages today.

The post A Sweet Success: Vanilla Bean’s Story appeared first on Lollypop Farm.

How did you get involved with animals? What made you become a veterinarian?
I always loved animals since I was a kid – and I said I wanted to become a veterinarian but I didn’t really know how or think I could, so I pursued what came naturally to me, which was the arts and acting! I loved animals my entire life but it wasn’t until I got a job running the adoption department at the Austin Humane Society that I realized working in the shelter environment was my calling. I loved it so much and planned to stay there forever, but my husband got accepted to a PhD program in Pennsylvania. So we had to move away. I had to think really hard about what to do with my life at that point, given that we were uprooting ourselves and going to an entirely new place! It was at that time that I decided to take the plunge and try to go back to school to make my dream of becoming a vet come true. Thankfully, it ended up working out!

Where did you go to school, and how long have you been a veterinarian?
I went to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champagin for BOTH my Bachelors and my DVM. However, I got my bachelors in fine arts in 2001, and my DVM in 2021, so a bit of a span between times! I was an acting major when I was young, then I changed course and went back to school for my DVM at age 37! I’ve been a veterinarian for 3 years.

How many animals do you currently have?
I have 3 cats currently, Bob (15 years, orange), George (11 mos., orange), and Greg (10 mos., grey) – in age order. I will send you pictures because they are too cute not to see. Feel free to include them or not!

What excites you about working at Lollypop Farm?
I have worked at and externed at several shelters around the country including Austin Humane Society, Kansas Humane Society, Nebraska Humane Society, and Rochester Animal Services. I loved working at all of these places, and I feel that Lollypop Farm brings the best of all of these places together in one. It is so amazing to work in a place where everyone is so passionate about the mission and where the work is taken seriously. Also, I have amazing colleagues in the clinic who have been so helpful in getting me oriented these first three weeks. It is so inspiring to work alongside such an incredible team. This organization does so much for the citizens and pets of Rochester and Monroe County – I’m just so proud to be a part of it.

What do you enjoy doing while not at work? What are you passionate about?
I love to run. It’s so good for my body and my mind, more importantly. I’ve done 3 marathons and one half marathon. My goal is to run an ultramarathon someday – that’s any distance beyond a regular marathon which is 26.2 miles. Other than that I love spending time with my husband and my cats. I love visiting my family. I love gardening. We are going to plant a vegetable garden and are trying to transition our front and back yard to be lawn-free with only native plants that birds and bees love! I also love to bird watch.

What is something people might not know about you?
I played banked track roller derby in Austin, Texas with the league who helped revive roller derby back in the 1990s, TXRD, or Texas Roller Derby. My skate name was Chupacabra.

Anything else you would want to add?
(To staff and volunteers) Thank you all for being here and for doing this work. Animals are such an important part of all of our lives and we are so lucky to be able to care for the most vulnerable. Thank you for your dedication and your passion. I look forward to impacting so many more lives, human and animal, alongside you!

The post In the Clinic: Lollypop Farm Welcomes New Veterinarian Dr. Kristen Braitkrus appeared first on Lollypop Farm.