The Vet Cross Bundaberg team recently visited Argyle Gardens Retirement Village to provide free pet health checks for residents’ beloved companions.
The Vet Cross in the Village event aimed to make veterinary care more accessible and convenient for retirees, ensuring their pets receive the care they need without the stress of travel.
Here’s what Dr April Fegredo BVCs (Hons) had to say:
Can you provide an overview of the event and what inspired you to organise it?
We set up at Argyle Gardens Retirement Village and offered free health checks for the residents’ pets, with our goal to make veterinary care more accessible and convenient for retirees.
It ended up being a really lovely, relaxed morning. People stayed to chat, shared stories about their pets.
The idea for Vet Cross in the Village really just came from wanting to make things easier for retirees.
I see so many older pet owners who absolutely adore their animals but struggle to get them into the clinic—whether it’s transport, mobility, or just the stress of it all.
So we thought, why not bring the vet to them?
What are/were the main activities or highlights attendees will be/have been involved in?
One of the highlights was how engaged everyone was—we had residents stopping by even if their pets weren’t due for a check and even residents without pets, just to be part of it.
People got to explore new products, pick up helpful info and freebies, and have genuine conversations about their pets’ care.
It felt more like a community event than a clinic visit, which was really special.
How does this event benefit those involved?
This event benefits everyone involved in meaningful ways.
For the residents, it provides free access to veterinary health checks—helping to ease cost-of-living pressures while removing the stress of organising transport.
It’s also an opportunity to catch potential health issues early that may have otherwise been missed, which can make a big difference to a pet’s wellbeing.
For the pets, it means extra care, attention, and a few treats along the way!
For us as vets, it’s a chance to connect with the community in a more personal and proactive way.
And for our sponsors, it’s a great way to support pet owners who genuinely value their products and care.
Are there any local businesses or organisations partnering with you for this event?
We are so incredibly grateful for all the generous donations from the below companies (we were inundated with freebies!)
Vet Cross (locally owned and operated), Hills Science diet, Kong, LickiMat® (Australian company), Dermcare (also Australian company), and Yours Droolly treats.
What is your vision for the event’s future?
The goal is definitely to keep this going.
We’d love to take Vet Cross in the Village to other retirement villages around Bundaberg and Bargara—it’s clear there’s a real need and appreciation for this kind of outreach.
If there’s enough interest, we’d even consider making it a quarterly event.
It’s such a simple way to make a big difference, and the feedback so far has been really encouraging.
Is there anything else you’d like to share?
If there are any other retirement homes in Bundaberg or Bargara that would be interested in hosting something like this, we’d love to hear from you.
Vet Cross in the Village is all about making pet care easier and more accessible for older Australians, and we’d be more than happy to bring the same support and service to other communities.
Just reach out—we’re always keen to help where we can.
Meanwhile, I had to pay nearly $200 for a consult for my dog at VetCross. Where is my cost of living relief?