Petco Love goals to finish lethal preventable illnesses in pets
Petco Love will provide animal welfare partners with 1 million vaccines to distribute to pets in need
Petco love is taking action to end life-threatening vaccine-preventable diseases in our beloved pets. The foundation will provide 1 million free pet vaccines to its existing community-based animal welfare partners for distribution to pets in need.
August as National Vaccination Awareness Month, a campaign highlighting the importance of vaccination to people, also reminds us of the vital importance of vaccinating our pets.
According to experts, rabies, parvovirus and distemper in dogs and panleukopenia in cats are the most common vaccine-preventable diseases affecting our pets at the national level, and it is estimated that nearly 30% of pet owners do not regularly bring their companions to a veterinarian at least once in the year.
“Although many pet owners are already vaccinating their pets with these core dog and cat vaccines, many cannot afford or do not understand the importance of this standard prevention to ensure the health and longevity of our beloved pets,” said Dr. Whitney Miller, Petco’s chief veterinarian.
“While vaccines have been available for decades and are very effective at preventing deadly diseases, the best way to ensure the general health and well-being of pets is to make them available to all.”
“It is heartbreaking when a pet suffers or dies from an illness that could have been prevented. It is made worse when unvaccinated pets end up in busy animal shelter kennels, where these deadly diseases can spread rapidly, resulting in multiple deaths, skyrocketing costs and animal life saving, ”said Susanne Kogut, President of Petco Love. “By creating greater awareness and making these vital preventive care more accessible to those who are currently not receiving these life-saving vaccines, we can prevent the dangerous spread of disease.”
A 2010 University of Florida study tested dogs and cats upon admission to a Florida animal shelter and found that 65% of dogs and almost all cats had inadequate protection against parvovirus in dogs, distemper and panleukopenia in cats, suggesting that they had not received proper vaccinations.
According to Julie Levy, Fran Marino Professor of Shelter Medicine Education at the University of Florida, “This study clearly showed that a significant population of the community’s most vulnerable pets who are more likely to find themselves in a shelter are not what is needed is preventative vaccines that make them vulnerable to these deadly diseases. We believe it is imperative to make pet vaccines and vaccination clinics more accessible, affordable and convenient to ensure that more pets are vaccinated, which will absolutely save pet lives. “
Initial distribution of the vaccines to Petco Love’s existing animal welfare partners will begin immediately, with additional grant incentives available to offset the cost of organizations delivering the vaccines.
“Expanding vaccine clinics in many areas of the country, such as Texas, where communities appear to be disproportionately affected by these deadly pet viruses is critical,” said Aaron Johnson, director of Montgomery County Animal Services, a partner organization from Petco Love, who hosted a clinic in late July that vaccinated 700 pets in one day. “Although it’s been a long day for staff and volunteers, the demand for free and inexpensive vaccines and preventive measures is high.”
On June 27, Petco Love partner El Paso Animal Services and the City of El Paso hosted a one-of-a-kind community clinic that cared for nearly 700 pets and offered both pet and human COVID vaccines.
With these efforts, Petco Love aims to promote more clinics in high impact areas and identify other distribution channels to support pets in their distress. Petco Love’s commitment to providing free pet vaccines through local animal welfare partners, in addition to the regular Vetco vaccination services offered at Petco Pet Care Centers nationwide, and programs like Petco’s Vital Care Membership, which includes unlimited routine veterinary checkups, seeks to make one Achieve widespread vaccination and help prevent deadly viruses from spreading in pets.
