The Walker County Animal Shelter will provide free vaccinations to family pets to combat contagious and deadly diseases. The no-cost vaccines are made possible through Petco Love's national vaccination initiative, Vaccinated and Loved, which provides an additional one million free pet vaccines to animal welfare partners, like the Walker County Animal Shelter.
Parvovirus and distemper in dogs and panleukopenia in cats are the most prevalent deadly diseases affecting pets and are preventable with a simple vaccine.
An estimated 30 percent of pet parents do not take their pet to a veterinarian annually for preventative care. “By creating greater awareness and making this crucial preventative care more accessible to pets not currently receiving these life saving vaccines, we can prevent the dangerous spread of disease,” said Susanne Kogut, president of Petco Love.
“With the support of Petco Love, we are able to provide these essential vaccines free of charge to pet parents,” said Melissa Smith, deputy shelter director. “We encourage community members to utilize this valuable resource to help maintain the health and well-being of pets in our community.”
The Walker County Animal Shelter aims to vaccinate 600 pets through this effort. Vaccines distributed through the partnership with Petco Love will be the DAPPv Canine and HCP Feline vaccines. Pet parents who bring their pet to the shelter to receive a free vaccine can also have their cat or dog microchipped for $10.
“Vaccinations are vital to protecting our beloved pets from life-threatening but preventable diseases,” said Susanne Kogut, president of Petco Love. “Our goal is to make these critical vaccines accessible to as many pet parents as possible, breaking down financial barriers and strengthening the human-animal bond.”
Petco Love’s Vaccinated and Loved initiative has distributed more than three million free pet vaccines for family pets since 2021, and the organization is determined to reach even more pets in need by providing an additional one million free vaccines. Learn more about Petco Love’s lifesaving impact at PetcoLove.org.
For more information about the vaccine distribution, contact the Walker County Animal Shelter at 706-375-2100 or wcanimalshelter@walkerga.us.