HENDERSONVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — Get your furry friends their safety shots for free this Saturday at a Hendersonville pet clinic.
Blue Ridge Humane Society is hosting a free vaccine clinic from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. this Saturday, Feb. 1 at the BRHS Warehouse, 802 South Grove Street.
In the past the quarterly clinics have been “low cost,” but after a steady stream of donations, BRHS has been able to hold this clinic and the last for free.
The vaccinations that the clinic offers are many of the heavy hitters for pet owners, including the one and three-year rabies vaccines.
“Rabies, of course. Any animal that’s over four months old is required to have a rabies vaccine,” said Jessica Monroe, BHRS Community Support and Adoptions Director. “Distemper-parvo is a combo vaccine that is for all dogs.”
The list went on. All of it was for free, though on a first-come, first-served basis. The clinics typically serve between 40 and 50 pet owners and over 70 pets. Dogs should be held on leashes and cats in cat carriers.
“We just take as many people as we can in the time we’re allotted. A lot of the folks that work our vaccine clinics, including our registered vet, are volunteers,” Monroe said. “While we could certainly be there all day and probably still have people coming, we just limit it to that window because we don’t want to ask our volunteers to be there for hours and hours and hours.”
Despite the first-come, first-served policy, sign-up forms on the BRHS website are helpful in streamlining the process.
“Number one, it does give us an idea of everybody who is interested in coming to the clinic. It gives us an idea of how many people are interested and want to come,” Monroe said. “Signing up in advance and filling out our registration form doesn’t guarantee you a spot at the clinic, but it just saves a lot of time and is a helpful tool for data, too.”
Another helpful event for pet owners is coming soon to Hickory.
Neuter for a Nickel will be held on Wednesday, Feb. 12 at the Humane Society of Catawba County, 3224 20th Ave. SE, Hickory.
The event offers neutering services for up to two pet cats per household for a nickel apiece. Feral cats are not invited and rabies vaccinations will be administered to unvaccinated animals for $10 each.
Appointments for Neuter for a Nickel are required and can be made by calling (828) 464-8878 or emailing ryleigh@catawbahumane.org. There are 100 available spots.
For more information about the Blue Ridge Humane Society, visit www.blueridgehumane.org.
For more information about the Humane Society of Catawba County, visit www.catawbahumane.org.