Anyone who has pets knows how costly vet bills can be.
So it wasn’t surprising when hundreds of pet owners showed up to a free drive-thru vaccination clinic held in the city by the Harrisburg Area Humane Society on Saturday.
The clinic was so popular that traffic was backed up around the event site at the Hamilton Health Centre, where vaccinations were being administered against rabies, distemper and other diseases, and long lines of dog and cat owners formed in the centre’s parking lot.
Humane Society spokeswoman Sarah Smith said 609 pets were examined and 1,200 vaccinations were administered at the clinic, which was sponsored by Petco Love and the Harrisburg Police Department of Community Services.
“They were pleasantly surprised by the turnout,” she said.
The response has been so positive that Smith said they plan to hold more in the future, although dates have yet to be announced.
Smith noted that a similar clinic has been held at the Westchester-based Brandywine Valley SPCA, which partners with the Harrisburg Humane Society in Swatara County as part of a partnership agreement.
The Brandywine Clinic is held annually, she said.
Smith noted that traffic congestion at clinics is nothing new and it’s hard to predict in advance how many people will show up.
Working with local police departments will help with traffic control, she said. Smith said the Humane Society worked with police and chose Hamilton Health as its central location.
She acknowledged the response indicates demand for free pet care.
Nationwide, prices for veterinary services in urban areas rose 7.9% from February 2023 to February 2024, more than 2.5 times the average for all consumer goods, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
While the free clinics are a way for pet owners to save money, Smith stressed they also serve another purpose: keeping pets out of shelters.
“This is all part of our commitment to keeping pets where they belong – in their homes – happy and healthy,” she said. “This is really part of our mission to get resources and services out to the pet community.”
The Humane Society also hosts low-cost vaccination clinics throughout the year. The next clinics are scheduled for Oct. 12, Nov. 9 and Dec. 14 from 9 a.m. to noon at the shelter, located at 7790 Grayson Road.
The first-come, first-served clinic offers discounted dog vaccines for rabies, distemper, Bordetella and Lyme disease, with vaccines costing between $20 and $25.
Cat vaccines include rabies ($25) and FVRCP ($20).
