From caring for people to caring for our furry friends, for many families, pets are more than companions.

They're part of the family.

But when care becomes too expensive, that love can be hard to sustain.

"Carolina Impact's" Chris Clark shows us how one area non-profit veterinary clinic helps make that care more accessible while taking on a bigger challenge in animal welfare.

- [Chris] Paws, whiskers, wet noses, and the way they quickly become family.

But for many pet owners, the cost of care is becoming overwhelming.

Vet visits, prescriptions, even basic treatment can add up.

And for some, getting the care their pet needs can mean the difference between holding on and letting go.

- It comes between getting my blood pressure medication and getting fluffy seen.

We try to lower our costs so, you know, you can do both.

- [Chris] In North Carolina, the state ranks second in the nation for animals euthanized in shelters.

Too many animals and not enough options for the people trying to care for them.

- The original vision for what we started out with was a spay/neuter clinic.

We started interacting with our clients and very clearly understood that lots of these folks that had cats and dogs didn't have any options in the community for affordable veterinary care.

- [Chris] What began as an effort to keep animals out of shelters quickly revealed something deeper.

The people trying to care for them didn't have many places to turn.

And when the pet at home is the one waiting at the door, sleeping at your feet, or claiming the best seat in the house, that kind of help matters.

- It's anguish to see these people that are told that their pet needs, you know, $5,000 or $10,000 worth of medical care.

It may not take care of the entire bill, but, you know, we offer those opportunities where we offer the assistance.

- [Chris] At Stand for Animals, the difference is filling a gap most clinics can't.

And almost as quickly as it started, they found one location just wasn't enough.

- We, you know, slow walked into a second facility and now we're in three buildings.

- [Chris] For people trying to hold onto the pets they love, that growth means access.

It means one more place to go when the dog in the recliner or the cat on the windowsill suddenly needs help.

- I was on the job site doing some work and it was pouring down raining outside.

When every time I walked in my van, she would run out and start jumping on my leg.

And next thing you know that she was sitting in my recliner beside me.

And it's been that way since.

I'm grateful for the assistance that I get from here because right about now I don't know what I would do, but she's still gotta be taken care of.

- [Chris] Like a lot of pets, she didn't just find a home, she found her person.

And for families like his, care isn't optional.

It's everything.

- A lot of clients come to us because they cannot afford standard care at their primaries.

It's just too expensive.

That is just what keeps me here is we are very affordable and it's really nice recognition.

- If we are not able to do a bunch of diagnostics and a full workup, I kind of have to think on my feet and do what's best for the animal and the client.

- [Chris] Every decision here carries weight, not just for the animal, but for the person standing beside them.

Because these aren't just pets, they're company in the quiet, comfort on those hard days and family for the people who love them.

While care often begins in a moment of need, the goal is to stay ahead of it.

- I love to encourage them to bring their pets in every year because that's part of preventative care.

- Having them come back and having the client express how grateful they are and seeing the pet, whether it be a skin infection, come back and be completely normal is so rewarding.

- [Chris] Because sometimes catching something early is what keeps a small problem from turning into something much bigger and keeps a playful pet playful.

- We have people that can't afford anything and we are able to say, come on in, don't worry about payment, we can help you.

- [Chris] To meet that demand, they didn't just hire more people, they built their own pipeline.

- We offered this vocational training to people who wanted to get into doing this kind of work and then it helped us have veterinary assistance so that we have people to provide the services that we wanna provide.

- We really truly work as a team.

I could not do my job without the assistance of technicians.

I have a lot of trust in them.

- [Chris] And it's not always about helping someone keep a pet.

Sometimes it's about giving one a chance to be chosen at all.

- Some of the workmen found him sitting kind of on the edge of campus.

So we brought him home and he's done great.

They're gonna give him his rabies shots and his starter vaccines and they're gonna take care of that.

They're gonna make sure he's ready to go for his forever home and it's just awesome 'cause I alone couldn't do that.

- [Chris] For the people walking through these doors, it's not just about treatment.

It's about a chance to hold on or a chance to start over, about keeping a family together or helping one come together for the first time.

- It's really fulfilling to know that I'm still making a difference in people's lives because everyone wants a pet.

Everyone loves their animal and they wanna do what's best.

- [Chris] And in a place where the cost of care can mean losing what matters most, this is where people come to keep that tail wagging, that seat on the couch occupied and that bond intact.

For "Carolina Impact," I'm Chris Clark.