National Nonprofit Distributes Free Pet Vaccines to Animal Shelter and Rescue Partners this Month
SAN ANTONIO, Feb. 29, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — During March’s National Pet Vaccination Month, Petco Love, a national nonprofit organization, is reminding pet parents of the importance of vaccinating their pets against deadly, but preventable diseases in dogs and cats, at their veterinarian or local vaccine clinic. As part of this Vaccinated and Loved campaign and to support access to pet care nationwide, Petco Love distributes pet vaccines to partner animal welfare organizations to conduct free pet vaccine clinics in their communities.
Pet loving parents wait in line at free pet vaccine clinics in their communities making sure their pets are Vaccinated and Loved with free vaccines distributed by the national nonprofit Petco Love.
The threat of potential exposure for pets to deadly diseases and viruses, such as parvovirus and distemper in dogs, and panleukopenia in cats, is higher during the Spring and Summer months. “The best way for pet parents to keep their pets healthy and safe from diseases is to make sure they are up to date on recommended vaccines,” said Dr. Whitney Miller, DVM, MBA, DACVPM, Petco Chief Veterinarian and Petco Love Board Member. “No pet parent wants to see their pets suffer, especially from a preventable disease, and we know that vaccines save pets’ lives.”
Petco Love’s Vaccinated and Loved campaign launched in 2021 to encourage Petco Love animal welfare partners to host free vaccine clinics. Since then, Petco Love has been distributed 2.2M vaccines up to date and checked pet parents1 attending these free clinics to assess its impact. Only 34% of respondents reported that their pet had received a similar vaccine and of these, 41% indicated that they relied on vaccine clinics for this important service. In fact, 40% of respondents to these free vaccine clinics indicated that their pet has never seen a private veterinarian and only 27% take their pet to a veterinarian for an annual checkup.
“The results of this survey show that our Vaccinated and Loved Pet vaccine clinics are very important to protect these pets who are most in need. It is imperative that we act to ensure access to care for all pets, so no pet is immune from preventable, life-threatening diseases especially in areas where these diseases are most prevalent,” said. Susanne Kogut, Petco Love President. “Vaccinating these pets can save more than $150 million on veterinary treatment costs, and more importantly reduces unnecessary suffering and saves lives. Helping pets, helping people, advancing our mission to make pet families closer, stronger, and healthier.”
Petco Love’s Vaccinated and Loved the initiative is a nationwide campaign. Petco Love partner, Spay Neuter Network at San Antonio, Texas, hosts free pet vaccine clinics in an area of the country where deadly diseases are more prevalent. “We meet so many caring pet parents who can’t pay for preventive vaccinations as they choose between preventive care and providing food for themselves and their family,” she said. Jordan Craig, Executive Director of the Spay Neuter Network. “Fortunately, Petco Love makes sure that important preventative care is available to everyone. With their help, we can make sure everyone has access to the care their pet needs.” The organization’s next free vaccine clinic will be held at March 2n.d.
Another Petco Love partner and animal shelter at Texas is gearing up for its free vaccine event at Arcadia Park in dallas in March 9th. “Vaccination plays an important role in keeping pets in our communities happy, healthy, and in their homes,” said Meredith Jones including Operation Kindness. “We look forward to continued partnerships with Petco Love and communities like the southern dallas because together, we can improve the quality of life for pets and the people who love them.”
The Vaccinated and Loved the campaign marked a milestone November 2023, reaching Petco Love’s goal of distributing 2 million free pet vaccines for family pets. Now, Petco Love aims to distribute an additional one million vaccines to partner shelters and rescues, including the Front Street Animal Shelter in Sacramento, California. “The Petco Love Vaccinated and Loved The campaign allows us to provide more than 5,000 vaccines to the pets of more than 2,200 families in 2023. We hope to serve even more pets and their families this year,” said Phillip Zimmerman, Manager of the Front Street Animal Shelter. The organization has planned a free vaccine clinic March 10th at the Pannell Community Center.
For upstate pet parents New YorkPetco Love partner Rochester Animal Services hosts free pet vaccine clinics for dogs in March 1St and 15thand for cats March 28th at the Rochester Community Sports Center.
Pet parents can stay up-to-date on all recommended vaccines for dogs and cats at more than 200 full-service Vetco Total Care hospitals conveniently located within Petco pet care centers, or at Vetco Vaccination Clinics held regularly at more than 1,200 Petco pet care centers and select Lowe’s locations.
Pet parents in need of free pet vaccinations can visit care.petcolove.org to find a participating clinic. The vaccines distributed under this initiative are DAPPv Canine and HCP Feline vaccines in collaboration with Merck Animal Health. To learn more about Petco Love, visit petcolove.org.
Media Contact: Crystal BugaryPetco Love, [email protected]
About Petco Love
Petco Love is a life-changing nonprofit organization that makes pet communities and families closer, stronger, and healthier. Since our founding in 1999 as the Petco Foundation, we have empowered animal welfare organizations by investing $375 million in adoption and other life-saving efforts. We’ve helped find loving homes for more than 6.75 million pets in partnership with Petco and organizations across the country. Our love for pets drives us to lead with change, create the tools animal lovers need to reunite lost pets, and lead with passion, inspiring and mobilizing those community and our more than 4,000 animal welfare partners to drive life-saving change alongside us. Is love calling you? Join in. Visit petcolove.org or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, XThreads, and LinkedIn to be a part of the life-saving work we lead every day.
About Merck Animal Health
At Merck, known as MSD outside of The united state and Canada, we are united in our purpose: We use the power of leading science to save and improve lives around the world. For more than a century, we’ve been at the forefront of research, delivering medicines, vaccines and innovative health solutions for the world’s most challenging diseases. Merck Animal Health, a division of Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA, is Merck’s global animal health business. Through its commitment to The Science of Healthier Animals®, Merck Animal Health offers veterinarians, farmers, producers, pet owners and governments one of the broadest ranges of veterinary pharmaceuticals, vaccines and health management solutions and services as well as a wide range of connected technology that includes identification, traceability and tracking products. Merck Animal Health is committed to preserving and improving the health, well-being and performance of animals and the people who care for them. It invests heavily in dynamic and comprehensive R&D resources and a modern, global supply chain. Merck Animal Health is present in more than 50 countries, while its products are available in about 150 markets. For more information, visit www.merck-animal-health.com and connect with us at LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
1Petco Love distributes vaccines for free clinics in 44 states, and surveyed pet parents attending some of these clinics. Respondents answered three main questions: whether (including reasons for) their pet visited a private veterinary office; if they have previously received the offered vaccines, and if a pet in their household has been diagnosed with these diseases. Regions are defined according to US census designations.
Source Petco Love
