Petco Love vaccinates 1 millionth pet

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Petco Love announced it is celebrating its 1 millionth free pet vaccine distribution for family pets through its Vaccinated and Loved Initative. The 1 millionth vaccination went to Bella, a dog who received the vaccination at a clinic held last month in partnership with El Paso Animal Services in El Paso, Texas.

"My pets are vaccinated and loved. Thank you, Petco Love!" said Debra Simms whose dog, Bella received the millionth vaccination, in an organizational release.¹ “It's an honor [to be the millionth recipient]. Everybody needs to get their animals vaccinated."

Launched in 2021, this initiative helps end life-threatening pet diseases through free vaccination. Petco Love encourages its partners to host free vaccine clinics, especially those in high-impact areas where diseases such as parvovirus and distemper in dogs or panleukopenia in cats. Now that its original goal was reached, Petco love has pledged to vaccinate another 1 million pets.

"Clearly this free vaccine initiative is making a difference for many pet parents and their pets. These vaccines prevent diseases that are not only extremely costly to treat but result in pets needlessly suffering and often dying. Proactively vaccinating vulnerable pets saves lives," expressed Susanne Kogut, Petco Love president.¹ "Based on our survey results, we estimate this initiative reduced veterinary treatment costs by potentially $100 million, at a time when there is a veterinary shortage, and when treatment for pets is prohibitively expensive for some."

Along with the free vaccination clinics, Petco Love announced more than $1.6 million in Access to Care investment grants to almost 170 partners in the United States. These grants provide vulnerable families and their pets help to get veterinary care, treatment for illness and injury, and spay/neuter services.

"This year, we provided over 7,000 vaccines to our community pets," concluded Terry Kebschull, director of Petco Love partner, El Paso Animal Services.¹ "Our partnership with Petco Love to provide those vaccines is very important. These diseases are prevalent here in the community and if a pet encounters another pet that has those diseases, it protects them. Healthy pets make healthy and happy families, so it's vital for our community and communities across the nation."

Reference

Petco Love Vaccinated & Loved Initiative Saves Vulnerable Pet Lives. News release. Petco Love. October 12, 2022. Accessed October 13, 2022. https://prnmedia.prnewswire.com/news-releases/petco-love-vaccinated--loved-initiative-saves-vulnerable-pet-lives-301646568.html