Vaccination clinic sees big numbers
Bob Kirkpatrick/The Sun Tribune - Mari Valdez (right), a veterinarian assistant with Sagehills Veterinary Services holds on to Levi while Sagehills Associate Veterinarian Kaitlin Jacobs administers a rabies and parvovirus vaccination.
The annual Adams County Pet Rescue Vaccination Clinic held in the Othello City Hall parking lot Saturday was a big success as the number of dogs inoculated saw an increase from last year’s event.
“I thought it was fantastic… the word is really spreading. We had a people from Moses Lake, Connell and Mattawa here,” Kyya Grant, president of ACPR said. “We exceeded last year’s total of dogs vaccinated. We originally thought it was a going to be a bit slower than last year because people came in waves, but when you see the numbers we had 40 more dogs this year.”
Veterinarians and staff members from Sagehills Veterinary Services were administering the vaccinations and steadying the dogs throughout the process that was offered at a reduced rate and or free to those unable to afford the services.
“We’re on year five of the vaccination clinic. The main reason we are here is to help out people who can’t afford it and for convenience for people who can only come on a Saturday,” said Dr. Sheena Sorensen, veterinarian and owner of Sagehills Veterinary Services. “It’s been a big success…been averaging 100-150 dogs each year…we’re seeing a lot less parvovirus, which is a pretty fatal disease in dogs. “
There were 114 dogs that received a rabies vaccination, and 35 puppies and 120 Canine that received a DHPP booster, which is a combination vaccine given to dogs to protect them from four dangerous diseases: distemper, hepatitis, parainfluenza and parvovirus.
The clinic was made possible through the partnership of the City of Othello, Adams County Pet Rescue and Sagehills Veterinary Services.