ALBANY, Ga. (WALB)- One of South Georgia’s biggest attractions announced medical treatment options for its animals are taking a giant step forward thanks to the generosity of a local hospital.

Chehaw Park and Zoo now has a portable X-ray machine, thanks to a donation by Phoebe Putney Health System valued at more than $100,000.

Phoebe brought the machine to Chehaw on Tuesday, March 24, so the zoo can use it wherever it’s needed on the grounds.

In the past when animals needed X-rays, Chehaw either had to rent a portable machine or transport animals for X-rays. That often meant sedating the animals for travel. The park sometimes had to plan weeks in advance for non-emergency cases.

Chehaw said the donation by Phoebe is a gamechanger. Now, they can treat animals, including chetahs, bears, rhinos and red wolves, more efficiently and make the experience less stressful for animals that need care.

Phoebe said the hospital decided to donate the C-arm mobile machine after Phoebe Imaging Services Director Tracy Wilkinson learned of the park’s equipment need from Chehaw staff.

“We recently purchased new technology with more advanced imaging capabilities, but this machine still has a lot of life left in it. Typically, we would just trade it back in to the company that sold it to us, but if we can keep it here in our community to support a great organization like Chehaw, that’s great. We’re excited to be able to help the zoo keep their animals healthy,” said Wilkinson.

Dr. Austin Mobley, of Leesburg Animal Hospital, who oversees Chehaw’s animal care, said the C-arm machine offers park staffers flexibility in taking X-rays and also makes the process less strenuous on animals.

In addition, the C-arm X-ray offers a more comprehensive look at the internal organs of animals.

“Their body systems are a lot different. There’s not a lot of training you receive in vet school for some of this, so a lot of it is doing your own research. We do cheetahs, rhinos, bears, red wolves, their anatomical structures are all different, what works for one may not work for another, and you have to make informed decisions on the best treatment plan for each one. That’s what makes this equipment so valuable. It gives us better information to make better decisions,” said Dr. Mobley.

Sam Sassone, Chewhaw’s Living Collections Director, said Phoebe’s donation greatly enhances its ability to care for animals.

“Our veterinary clinic is set up to house this kind of equipment, but we haven’t actually had any technology like this in many years, so this will be a great improvement for our veterinary program. We’ll be able to use the C-arm on most of our animals, and it will have lots of benefits for our animals. By not having to take them off site, we’ll be able to provide care much more quickly,” said Sassone.

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