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Okinawa Veterinary Treatment Facility hosts leash cutting ceremony

  • Published
  • By Chip Steitz
  • 10th Support Group Public Affairs
TORII STATION, Japan --  The remodeled Okinawa Veterinary Treatment Facility held an official leash cutting ceremony at their original location, on Kadena Air Base, May 18.

The original building started life as a warehouse in 1962 and split use between Army Veterinary Services and Air Force Public Health.

Maj. Kent Vince, chief, Okinawa Branch, Japan District Veterinary Command, highlighted the significance of the renovation project. "As the veterinary mission continued to expand, Army Veterinary Services occupied the entire building as it underwent several renovations and minor modifications to grow into the Okinawa Veterinary Treatment Facility."

Major Vince says that while the VTF team was striving to meet the demand for services in the old cramped building, it was never designed to be a medical facility. "The mission had out-grown the old facility." He says the mission continues to grow. "In fact, our military working dog mission on Okinawa alone has increased by 66 percent since I arrived here almost three years ago and there are plans for that mission to increase even more over the next two years."

Major Vince went onto explain about the impact of the renovation project and the commitment and dedication made by the employees each and every day.

"The animal medicine team works from the busiest of the 180 veterinary treatment facilities within the Department of Defense. We provide care to 50 military working dogs of the Air Force and Marine Corps on Okinawa. "

Major Vince also said the veterinary clinic is a surgical referral facility for over 150 military and other government working dogs throughout Japan, Guam, and Diego Garcia. "Providing care to these amazing dogs that are continuously deploying to the front lines of the war on terrorism and saving the lives of countless servicemembers from all branches is the primary mission of the three Army veterinarians and five Army veterinary technicians assigned to the Okinawa VTF."

The Okinawa VTF remains vigilant in their mission as the only military veterinary facility on island, and in order to serve the massive demand, they rely heavily on the 27 local Japanese and civilian employees.

"Because those of us in grey are frequently away from Okinawa in support other real world missions, the only reason that the Okinawa VTF is as successful as it is, is because of the outstanding civilian employees who come to work every day to serve our four-legged friends," said Major Vince.

The Okinawa VTF hours of Operation are 8:00 a.m. through 4:30 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday and Wednesday 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. They are closed weekends, holidays and the last duty day of the month. To schedule an appointment please call 959-1300 or 090-6860-2203 for an after-hours emergency.

The Okinawa VTF is located at the end of Davis Drive, just north of the 18th Medical Group.