BEAVER TWP., Ohio (WKBN) – Angels for Animals handles 25,000 animals a year through all of its services. Recently, it added two specialists in veterinary dentistry, including Youngstown native Dr. Rocco Mele.
Dr. Mele is excited to be treating dogs.
“As we start doing the different types of oral surgery, cancer, fractures, trauma to the head, I think as we start doing those and do the referrals, then I believe we’re going to start to get busier,” he said.
Dr. Mele is a 1964 Ursuline graduate. He is back home and focusing on X-rays and other dental procedures involving dogs and cats. He believes many problems are fixable.
“Quite honestly, some of the oral cancers that we deal with, there’s, there’s probably five major types, but the one we can deal with good prognosis. The other ones, quite honestly, we do the surgery, we help the patient quite a bit,” Mele said.
He’s also compassionate to give animals relief if one of those cancers is not going away. All of this veterinary work on the clinic side helps fund the shelter, so the lead veterinarian at Angels for Animals can return to her work.
“So this is a huge help. This frees her up in a lot of ways to work on more clients with sick pets. She’s very good at diagnostics,” said Angels for Animals founder Diane Less.
Angels for Animals could still use support staff. Dr. Mele is happy that Angels has invested in what he needs to do his specialized work. He also feels there’s a fringe benefit right outside with the weather.
“I just like to say again, I’m happy to be here. Really, I am. I just enjoy this. I got tired of the heat,” Mele said.
Dr. Mele was most recently in Tucson. He brought Dr. Mary Bryant, another veterinary dentistry specialist, with him.
