Cold temperatures and rain didn’t stop pet parents from making sure their dogs and cats were vaccinated against rabies, distemper and parvovirus. This past weekend, the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria (AWLA) hosted its fall Pets & People Community Wellness Event, offering free vaccinations at John Adams Elementary School for the first time. Attendees lined up as early as 9 a.m. for the event that began at 10 a.m., with some coming from as far as Manassas, bringing dogs and cats of all ages and sizes. Despite their differences, they all had one thing in common: pet parents who wanted their best friend to be happy and healthy!
The event catered not only to pets but to their humans too. Following the CDC’s One Health model, a global initiative which recognizes the interconnectivity between humans, animals and the environment, additional resources for people were offered, including shelf-stable groceries supplied by ALIVE!; information from the Alexandria Health Department and Senior Services of Alexandria; and demonstrations from the team at the Buddie Ford Nature Center. The AWLA also offered activities for children, including activity sheets, coloring and bubbles.
One by one, each animal was examined and vaccinated by a licensed veterinarian. As the rain began to fall and the wind started to pick up, the AWLA team began distributing towels to cover carriers and helped dogs stay warm with sweaters and jackets. By the end of the event there were so many fashionable pups! Attendees also had the opportunity to receive nail trims, flea preventatives, pet food and cat litter. By the time the event was over, more than 100 vaccines were administered.
This Community Wellness Event, as well September’s event in Alexandria’s Chirilagua neighborhood (read more about it in the Alexandria Gazette, beginning on page 5) highlighted the importance of free and low-cost veterinary care. “Rising vet bills makes this a very helpful event to just get a vaccine,” shared one attendee. Another mentioned her new pet and how she has “been able to afford to keep him because I can access his health care through AWLA’s low-cost/free services!”
Because the Community Wellness Events are held outdoors, they will be on hold until the weather warms in the spring, but pet parents seeking low-cost vaccinations for their pets can still look forward to the AWLA’s monthly drive-up vaccine clinics that take place on the first Wednesday of every month, which offer dogs and cats vaccinations against rabies, parvovirus and distemper, as well as microchipping.
Support for the November 13 Pets & People Wellness Event was provided by PetSmart Charities.