Free and low-cost wellness services for pet owners this month

Free and low-cost wellness services are available for pet owners throughout March and April as part of Spring Community Pet Days, offered by the Wake County Animal Center.

Posted 3:54 p.m. Mar 8 — Updated 3:54 p.m. Mar 8

Free and low-cost wellness services are available for pet owners throughout March and April as part of Spring Community Pet Days.

The events will provide essential resources, such as free vaccines and microchipping, to help families keep their pets in their homes.

Community Pet Days are offered due to a collaboration between local veterinarian Dr. April Ward with Heal House Call Veterinarians, Wake County Animal Center, Friends of Wake County Animal Center, Dorcas Ministries, Wake County Health and Human Services and Wake County Regional Centers.

“Adopting a pet is a commitment for the life of that pet,” said Wake County Commissioner Vickie Adamson. “This commitment also comes with financial obligations. We understand that it is not cheap to own a pet nowadays. That’s why we want to help by offering Community Pet Days.”

Spring Community Pet Days are scheduled on the following Sundays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.:

March 10 at Wake County Eastern Regional Center, 1002 Dogwood Drive, Zebulon
March 24 at Wake County Northern Regional Center, 350 E. Holding Ave., Wake Forest
April 7 at Dorcas Ministries, 187 High House Road, Cary
April 21 at Wake County Southern Regional Center, 130 N Judd Parkway NE, Fuquay-Varina

The following services will be provided:

Rabies vaccination: a vaccine that protects against the rabies virus. Both 1-year and 3-year vaccines are offered. Bring proof of prior rabies vaccination (this must be a certificate or vet paperwork; a rabies tag is not sufficient). If you have the paperwork from your pet’s last rabies shot, your pet could get the 3-year vaccine. If you do not have paperwork, your pet can still get the 1-year vaccine. Cost $5.
DHPP: a combination vaccine that protects against five dog diseases – distemper, canine hepatitis, canine adenovirus, canine parainfluenza and parvovirus. Free.
FVRCP: a combination vaccine that protects against three cat diseases – feline herpesvirus 1 (FHV-1), feline calicivirus (FCV) and feline panleukopenia (FPV or feline distemper). Free.
Microchip: a small, electronic chip enclosed in a glass cylinder (about the size of a grain of rice), implanted under the skin and used to identify pets. The microchip is read by a scanner and shows an identification number that corresponds to the owner’s contact information. Free.
Please note: no other vaccines, flea or veterinary services are being offered. Services will be provided while supplies last.