BEMIDJI — Great River Rescue will provide free vaccinations for Bemidji area pets Saturday, March 25.
The free vaccines are made possible through Petco Love's new national vaccination initiative, which is providing 1 million free pet vaccines to existing animal welfare partners, including Great River Rescue, for family pets in need.
Parvovirus and distemper in dogs and panleukopenia in cats — the most prevalent deadly diseases affecting pets — are preventable with a simple vaccine. An estimated 30% of pet parents do not take their pet to a veterinarian annually for preventative care. To ensure the health and wellness of beloved pets and to address this critical need, Great River Rescue and Petco Love partnered to make pet vaccines free and accessible.
Through this national effort, Great River Rescue aims to vaccinate 300 pets. The first wellness clinic of the year will be noon-4 p.m. Saturday at Great River Rescue, 1612 Carr Lake Road SE, Bemidji. Those interested should go to greatriverrescue.com and click on the “Events” tab to learn more and register. Space is limited. Clients must meet the qualifications listed on the website.
The free vaccines distributed at events through the Petco Love initiative will be the DAPPv Canine and HCP Feline vaccines. Other low-cost services will include microchipping, flea/tick treatment and bordetella shots.
“Thanks to Petco Love we can offer these vital vaccines to our community at no cost,” stated Executive Director Brandon Mustful in a news release. “We are so excited to partner with Petco Love again this year and reach more people and pets through this service.”
Petco Love President Susanne Kogut said it’s heartbreaking when any pet suffers or dies from a disease that could have been prevented.
“It is further exacerbated when unvaccinated pets come into busy shelter kennels, where these deadly diseases can spread quickly, resulting in multiple deaths, skyrocketing expenses, and hindering saving pet lives,” Kogut stated. “By creating greater awareness and making this crucial preventative care more accessible to pets not currently receiving these lifesaving vaccines, we can prevent the dangerous spread of disease.”
For more information about vaccine distribution, contact Great River Rescue at info@greatriverrescue.com. Learn more about Petco Love’s lifesaving impact at PetcoLove.org.
