As spring rings in puppy and kitten season, the potential exposure to contagious and deadly viruses increases. These deadly diseases — parvovirus, distemper, and panleukopenia — are preventable. Declaring March as “National Pet Vaccination Month” encourages pet parents to ensure pets are up to date on vaccinations by visiting their veterinarian or a local community clinic.
During March’s National Pet Vaccination Month, Petco Love, a national nonprofit organization, reminds pet parents of the importance of vaccinating their pets against deadly, yet preventable diseases in dogs and cats, at their veterinarian or local vaccine clinic. As part of its Vaccinated and Loved campaign and to support access to care for pets across the country, Petco Love is distributing pet vaccines to partner animal welfare organizations to hold free pet vaccine clinics in their communities.
The threat of potential exposure for pets to deadly diseases and viruses, like parvovirus and distemper in dogs, and panleukopenia in cats, is even higher in Spring and Summer months. “The best way for pet parents to keep their pets healthy and safe from diseases is making sure they are up to date on recommended vaccines,” said Dr. Whitney Miller, DVM, MBA, DACVPM, Petco’s Chief Veterinarian and Petco Love Board Member. “No pet parent wants to see their pets suffer, especially from a disease that could have been prevented, and we know 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 that time, Petco Love distributed over 2.2M vaccines to date and surveyed pet parents1 attending these free clinics to assess their impact. Only 34% of respondents reported that their pet had ever received a similar vaccine and of these, 41% indicated that they relied on vaccine clinics for this essential service. In fact, 40% of respondents at these free vaccine clinics indicated that their pet had never seen a private veterinarian and only 27% take their pet to a veterinarian for an annual check-up.
“These survey results demonstrate that our Vaccinated and Loved pet vaccine clinics are crucial to protect these pets most in need. It is imperative that we take action to assure access to care for all pets, so no pet is unprotected from preventable, deadly diseases especially in areas where these diseases are more prevalent,” said Susanne Kogut, Petco Love President. “Vaccinating these pets potentially saves more than $150 million in veterinary treatment costs, and more importantly reduces unnecessary suffering and saves lives. Helping pets, helps people, furthering our mission of making pet families closer, stronger, and healthier.”
Pet parents in need of free pet vaccinations can visit care.petcolove.org to find a participating clinic. Vaccines distributed under this initiative are DAPPv Canine and HCP Feline vaccines in partnership with Merck Animal Health. To learn more about Petco Love, visit petcolove.org.
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