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Petco Love and Richmond SPCA aim to stop the spread of deadly parvovirus through free dog vaccination clinic

Posted on Thursday, October 10, 2024
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As part of Petco Love’s Vaccinated and Loved Initiative to provide one million additional free pet vaccines, the Richmond SPCA will host vaccine event, October 14, in Richmond

Richmond, VA (October 10, 2024) – The Richmond SPCA and Richmond Animal Care and Control will provide free vaccinations for Richmond area dogs on Monday, October 14. The drive-through clinic is made possible through Petco Love’s national vaccination initiative Vaccinated and Loved, which is providing one million more free pet vaccines to existing animal welfare partners, including the Richmond SPCA, for family pets in need.

Parvovirus and distemper in dogs — the most prevalent deadly diseases affecting pets — are preventable with a simple vaccine. An estimated 30% of pet guardians do not take their pets to a veterinarian annually for preventative care. To ensure the health and wellness of our beloved pets and to address this critical need, two Richmond animal protection organizations and Petco Love have partnered to make pet vaccines free and accessible.

map indicating where drivers should enter for vaccine clinic on October 14, 2024
Drivers should look for the mural of Sundae and enter the Richmond SPCA’s second parking lot for the drive-through dog vaccine clinic.

The Richmond SPCA and RACC aim to vaccinate 200 dogs at Monday’s drive-through vaccination clinic. The clinic will be held at the Richmond SPCA at 2519 Hermitage Road from 3 to 6 p.m. or until vaccine supplies run out. Pet parents will be directed along Rhoadmiller Street to enter the Richmond SPCA’s second parking lot and remain in their vehicles with their dogs leashed. Guardians are asked to bring proof of their dogs’ prior rabies vaccination. Dogs may be declined at the veterinary staff’s discretion based on behavior or signs of illness.

The free vaccines distributed at events through the Petco Love initiative will be the DAPPv Canine vaccine. The RACC Foundation will provide free rabies vaccines to any dogs who do not have a current rabies certificate, and Dr. Alice Ulrichs, veterinarian at RACC, is donating her time. Virginia law requires all dogs over four months of age to be vaccinated against rabies. A rabies booster is required one year after the initial dose and again every three years.

“Recent outbreaks of the parvovirus across our community were the impetus to organize this clinic. Thanks to Petco Love, we can offer this important drive-through vaccine event at no cost to pet owners,” said Tamsen Kingry, Richmond SPCA CEO. “We urge dog guardians to take advantage of this no-cost resource to ensure the health and wellness of not only their own dogs but the community’s dog population at large.”

“It is 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,” said Susanne Kogut, Petco Love President. “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.”

In November 2023, Petco Love’s Vaccinated and Loved initiative reached its goal of distributing 2 million free pet vaccines for family pets and commits an additional 1 million vaccines to make pet families healthier.

For more information about vaccine distribution, visit the Richmond SPCA’s website, richmondspca.org. Learn more about Petco Love’s lifesaving impact at PetcoLove.org.


About Petco Love

Petco Love is a life-changing nonprofit organization that makes communities and pet families closer, stronger, and healthier. Since our founding in 1999 as the Petco Foundation, we’ve empowered animal welfare organizations by investing nearly $400 million in adoption and other lifesaving efforts. We’ve helped find loving homes for more than 6.9 million pets in partnership with Petco and organizations nationwide. Our love for pets drives us to lead with innovation, creating tools animal lovers need to reunite lost pets, and lead with passion, inspiring and mobilizing communities and our more than 4,000 animal welfare partners to drive lifesaving change alongside us. Is love calling you? Join us. Visit PetcoLove.org or follow us on FacebookInstagramXThreads and LinkedIn to be part of the lifesaving work we lead every day.


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