Our Clinic
Little Paws Community Pet Clinic is a nonprofit, low-cost veterinary clinic. The first phase of Little Paws will be pop-up vaccine clinics in the community starting in early 2027. In the following months, we will move toward opening a fixed location, full-service general practice veterinary clinic in Maryland. Please check back here and on our social media for updates and pop-up clinic dates!
Our Mission
Little Paws Community Pet Clinic's mission is to provide high-quality, low-cost veterinary care to underserved members of the DC and Maryland community, to strengthen the human-animal bond, and to reduce relinquishment by helping keep pets with their loving families.
Meet Our Board
Shakuntala Makhijani, DVM
Founder and President
Dr. Shakuntala (Shak) Makhijani received her undergraduate degree from Georgetown University and her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from the University of California, Davis. After veterinary school, she completed an internship in shelter medicine at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. She then worked in both shelter medicine and general practice in Maryland and Washington, DC for several years. Through these experiences, she saw firsthand the barriers that pet owners face in seeking veterinary services for their beloved furry family members. She founded Little Paws Community Pet Clinic to break down these barriers and expand access to quality, affordable veterinary care in our region. Dr. Makhijani lives in her hometown of Silver Spring, Maryland with her husband and their beloved dog, a sweet senior pitbull named Pancho. In her free time, she enjoys bird watching, reading, and playing guitar.