An after-hours weekend emergency pet clinic will be opening in Sequim, starting June 6 at 6 p.m., thanks to efforts by the Pet Emergency Group.

The clinic, Peninsula Pet Emergency, will be located inside the Pacific Northwest Veterinary Hospital at 289 W. Bell St. Its hours will be 6 p.m. to 8 a.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

The vet will provide emergency services, not routine care, for cats and dogs.

An emergency exam fee will cost $175. If a pet arrives in critical condition, the clinic may ask for authorization of up to $1,000 for critical stabilization.

The clinic, run by Amanda Mason, DVM, will also provide end-of-life care. A euthanasia exam will cost $150. Payment will be due at time of service; the clinic does not have in-house payment plans or accept checks.

For more information on Peninsula Pet Emergency, call (360) 207-4773 after June 6, or email info@peninsulapetemergency.com.

The establishment of an after-hours emergency clinic on the North Olympic Peninsula was a three-year-long process for Pet Emergency Group (PEG), a nonprofit organization working to build, grow and sustain emergency care on the North Olympic Peninsula.

During the past three years, PEG members researched business models, did market research, raised awareness and networked, attempting to find someone who would be interested in starting a private after-hours practice.

“It was through networking from one person to another that we found some names of vets that could potentially be interested,” Board Chair Sally Rodgers said.

One of the struggles that PEG faced was the shortage of veterinarians, which spans the whole country and is particularly prominent in rural areas, Rodgers said.

“There’s a tight labor market,” Rodgers said. “I think we’re really lucky [to have found someone].”

Although this is the first step in building access to after-hours care, Rodgers said they plan to continue working to increase access to emergency care at all hours. Part of the trial run for Peninsula Pet Emergency will be figuring out what the local demand is.

Additionally, PEG is attempting to address the shortage of local veterinarians and vet techs by offering $1,500 scholarships to high school students in Clallam and Jefferson counties and working with Peninsula College to start a vet tech program.

Individuals interested in the scholarship can visit pet emergencygroup.org.

Eventually, PEG hopes to offer financial support for individuals who need emergency care for their pets but cannot afford it.