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Host Peter McCully chats with Alison Stanley, a veterinarian technician, and Karen Kamachi, the thrift store manager from RAPS, the Regional Animal Protection Society Animal Hospital in Richmond, a full service, not-for-profit veterinary clinic.

RAPS funds medical services through donations and its鈥� thrift stores, now the focus of a TV show, 鈥楶ets and Pickers鈥�.

The staff at the Animal Hospital work tirelessly to offer low-income pet family鈥檚 access to top healthcare. To fund these treatments, RAPS has a unique solution: their thrift stores.

鈥榃hen people think not-for-profit, they think we鈥檙e a very low-cost veterinary clinic,鈥� says Stanley. 鈥楾hat鈥檚 not the case. We are average cost. Any owner can apply for financial assistance. We have a subsidy program, and we also have payment plan programs.鈥�

An energetic and dedicated group of animal loving 鈥減ickers鈥� comb through donated mystery bins containing abandoned storage locker items, all money raised goes to pay for vet care and lifesaving surgeries.

It鈥檚 a one-of-a-kind 鈥減ets and pickers鈥� relationship with an uplifting mission: to help animals and their people.

Kamachi says that donations at the thrift store have gone up considerably since the show began airing.

鈥業鈥檝e had people from all over North America send me stuff in the mail. I have had jewelry, stamps, I鈥檝e had money come from all over North America because they saw 鈥楶ets and Pickers. And our general quality of donations has gone up because now people know what we do.鈥�

Marty Kramer - former rock and roll tour and road manager for musicians including Neil Young, The Guess Who, Burton Cummings and now is their star volunteer and journeyman picker for RAPS.

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