The good Cornellians can do: Paul R. Black ’79, DVM ’82

Ten years ago, Paul R. Black '79, DVM '82 moved to Oconee County, South Carolina (SC). He had worked as a veterinarian at a companion animal hospital in Rochester, New York for 35 years, and he and his wife retired to Salem, where Paul began volunteering at the Oconee County Humane Society (OHS).

He began by walking dogs, doing outdoor maintenance, and helping with special events. When Paul revealed that he was a veterinarian, his role at the shelter rapidly expanded.

“Oconee is one of the poorest counties in SC, with a large population of homeless pets and feral cats,” Paul explains. “OHS was not going to solve its pet overpopulation problem by relying on local veterinary hospitals, which were already booked to the max with their own clients. Thus began my research to build a modular clinic (yes, a double wide!). I gained OHS board approval to move forward, and we opened the Well Pet Community Vet clinic in November of 2022.”

Paul came out of retirement to volunteer at the new clinic three days a week—where he performed exams and provided spay/neuter/vaccination services to community (feral) cats and shelter animals. Demand for services was high, and Paul oversaw the expansion of the clinic to employ two part-time veterinarians and three veterinary technicians.

Today, Paul serves as clinical director and president of the OHS board. Over the past three years, the clinic has performed more than 12,000 spay/neuter surgeries, in addition to providing low-cost dentistry, amputations, and other surgeries.

“This is the first year the shelter has seen a reduction in the number of cats/kittens coming into the shelter for adoption since opening our doors. It appears we are making a difference,” Paul says.

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