Potential Sources Of Vaccine Problems:
1. Incorrect storage or administration2. Use of chemicals to sterilize re-used syringe3. Vaccine antigens not protective against field strain virus4. Problem in manufacturing of vaccine
If a shelter is experiencing vaccine preventable disease in vaccinated, adult animals, the first place to evaluate is intake to ensure that proper storage, handling, preparation and administration of the vaccines is occurring. If there are errors occurring in any of these areas, ineffective vaccines will be given and thus animals will go unprotected.
Every shelter must have a well thought out vaccination strategy. However, always remember that this can reduce, but not ever completely eliminate, vaccine failures.
Vaccination & Microchip Clinics
Please note due to COVID-19 our Vaccination & Microchip have been changed. Clinics are subjected to be cancelled based on COVID-19 guidelines.
Our low-cost vaccination & microchip clinics will be held the 1st and 3rd Saturday of the month from 9:00-10:50 am and on the 2nd Wednesday of the month from 6:00-7:50 pm at our Coyote Point shelter located at 12 Airport Blvd in San Mateo and by APPOINTMENT ONLY.
For more information please call Rogelio Nicolas at 650-340-7022 ext. 332.
Our low-cost vaccination & microchip clinic provides vaccinations for rabies, canine distemper, FVRCP and DHPP. It is available by appointment only and for cats and dogs of all ages. To register for a vaccination & microchip clinic please fill out the form found here:
Microchips are available for $30 at our vaccine and microchip clinic. You can also bring your animal to our Coyote Point shelter at 12 Airport Blvd in San Mateo anytime during our open hours to be microchipped for a fee of $30. Our Coyote Point shelter is open Monday-Friday 11 am to 7 pm and 11 am to 6 pm on the weekends.
Dog and cat licenses will also be available for purchase at our clinics.
Dates of the Vaccination ClinicSignups will open at 12:00 pm on the dates listed below
Not Sure What Your Pet Needs
Fill out our online Wellness Application with the button above and once completed please email application and proof of income to We will get back to you as soon as possible! Questions? Please call 520-881-0321.
HSSAs donor-subsidized veterinary clinic is a full-service clinic for income-qualifying pet owners. Clinic services are not free. We offer reasonable, fixed fees for our quality care. You must qualify to use clinic wellness services. Proof of income and eligibility is required prior to scheduling an appointment. All sources of income must be included for each household. We limit our services to pet owners who otherwise would not gain access to quality veterinary care for their companion pets. Please speak to a customer service representative to determine eligibility.
Proof of income includes:
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Parenteral Vaccine Administration Procedure
1. Always have enough people and use proper animal restraint to administer the vaccine safely2. Gently grasp and lift a fold of skin to tent the skin over the proper location3. Insert the needle into the fold of skin 4. Aspirate by drawing back on the syringe plunger – you should encounter some resistance. If you draw back and aspirate anything other than a small bubble of air : I. Remove the needle from the skin II. Check needle for proper seal on syringe, replace if defective III. Reinsert needle into skin5. Depress the plunger slowly to inject the vaccine. If a large amount of resistance is encountered, reposition the needle into the subcutaneous space and attempt to re-inject.6. When vaccine is completely injected, remove needle from skin7. Dispose of syringe and needle appropriately8. Check the injection site immediately afterward for any blood or spilled vaccine9. Gently massage the vaccine area to disperse the vaccine under the skin
Why Vaccinate Your Pet
Dog vaccines and cat vaccines help protect your pet from contagious diseases, many of which can cause serious illness or death. Vaccinations are important even if your pet is kept indoors as many contagious diseases are airborne and capable of living a long time in any environment. For example, parvovirus is extremely contagious and can be transmitted by any person, animal or object that comes in contact with an infected dog’s feces. Highly resistant, the virus can live in the environment for months, and may survive on inanimate objects such as food bowls, shoes, clothes, carpet, and floors.
Disease prevention is always less costly than treating a condition your pet has developed. Returning to the example of parvovirus, treatments for that disease can frequently cost $1,000 or more while our DA2PPV dog vaccine that includes protection against parvovirus is only $25.
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Core Vaccines For Cat
The core vaccines are required for every cat, and they include:
- Rabies
- Feline herpes virus
- Panleukopenia
Fortunately, the last three come in a combination shot called the feline distemper vaccine. They should receive one to three shots three to four weeks apart of this combo and then a booster one year later, Dr. Bonk said. After the booster, this combo is good for three years.
Rabies is given after 12 weeks of age, a booster after one year, and then every three years after, Dr. Bonk said.
The cost for these core vaccinations ranges from $40$80 in total for the first year and then $20$50 for each booster shot after that.
B Importing Rescue Animals From Another State
When shelters are overcrowded and are forced to euthanize animals, some rescue groups will travel across state lines to pick up the animals from these high-kill shelters and transfer them to new rescue facilities or foster homes in other states. Concerns over this practice resulted in additional requirements for the rescue groups to comply with before the transfers can take place. Connecticut passed a law in 2011 to track how many animals are being imported into the state and to confirm that the animals being sold or adopted from out of state are healthy , available at ). The law requires all animal importers, including rescue groups, to give the state a 10-day notice before bringing an animal into the state . In addition to the health certificate required to import an animal into the state, once the animal arrives it must be seen by a Connecticut veterinarian within 48 hours of importation and must receive follow up examinations every 90 days until sold or adopted . A violation in the law can lead the rescue group vulnerable to fines, therefore, it is important for rescue groups and foster care providers to be aware of these requirements to save financial resources and avoid unintentional fines.
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Ii General Definitions And History Of Rescue Organizations And Foster Care Programs
In order to understand the detailed discussion below, a quick overview of the history of animal welfare will be given to briefly sketch the evolution of animal shelters and how the movement has created the need for additional types of organizations to assist with the pet overpopulation problem. Definitions will describe how the organizations differ from one another and how those groups receive the animals in their facilities.
Vaccine Storage & Handling
Most of the vaccine products used in animal shelters and veterinary hospitals are made up of living, infectious organisms . As such, they are extremely sensitive to both extreme temperatures and fluctuations in temperature.When a vaccine shipment arrives at the shelter, it should be unloaded as soon as possible and inspected to be sure the shipping container is intact, the product packaging is sealed and the ice packs are cold. If any of these things are not in place, the vaccines may be compromised and should not be used. The distributor should be contacted immediately and, in most cases, will send a replacement shipment at no cost to the shelter.
Once unloaded, vaccines should be stored in a refrigerator maintained at 35-45°F . Temperatures higher or lower than this range can result in the death of the living vaccine organisms, leaving the product ineffective.A refrigerator thermometer should be placed in each location where vaccines are stored to ensure the appropriate temperatures are being maintained. Temperature monitoring is especially critical in warm environments and busy shelters when the refrigerator is constantly opened and closed to access the vaccine products. A system for recording the temperature of the refrigerator at different time points throughout the day will help keep track of fluctuations and allow refrigerator settings to be adjusted to maintain a temperature within the desired range.
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Core Vaccines For Dogs In Shelters:
- Distemper
- Parainfluenza
- Bordetella bronchiseptica
The first four antigens are often grouped into one modified live vaccination administered by a single injection given under the dogs skin . Puppies should be vaccinated with DHPP starting at 4-6 weeks of age and revaccinated every 2-4 weeks until 18-20 weeks of age . Adult dogs should be vaccinated with DHPP once at intake. If resources permit, a second vaccination 2-4 weeks later may be beneficial, especially for dogs that were in poor health when the initial vaccine was given.
Vaccines for Bordetella bronchiseptica are available with or without canine parainfluenza and canine adenovirus-2. A recent study showed modest benefit even in a shelter where dogs were likely exposed to high levels of disease early in the shelter stay. In general, intranasal vaccination is recommended due to the demonstrated rapid onset of immunity and the potential benefits of local IgA derived protection. Additionally, this vaccine can be used in puppies as young as 2-3 weeks of age, and may provide local immunity even in the face of maternal antibody.
All puppies and dogs should be vaccinated once on intake with a modified live intranasal vaccine containing at least Bordetella and parainfluenza. Revaccination is generally not necessary with the exception of puppies initially vaccinated prior to 6 weeks of age: revaccinate when the puppy is at least 6 weeks old, no sooner than two weeks after the previous vaccine.
Determining The Timing And Frequency Of Vaccinations
Your veterinarian can best determine a vaccination schedule for your pet. This will depend on the type of vaccine, your pets age, medical history, environment and lifestyle.
For puppies: If his mother has a healthy immune system, a puppy will most likely receive antibodies in mothers milk while nursing. Puppies should receive a series of vaccinations starting at six to eight weeks of age. A veterinarian should administer a minimum of three vaccinations at three- to four-week intervals. The final dose should be administered at 16 weeks of age.
For adult dogs: Some adult dogs might receive certain vaccines annually, while other vaccines might be given every three years or longer.
For kittens: Kittens automatically receive antibodies in the milk their mother produces if their mother has a healthy immune system. When the kitten is around six to eight weeks of age, your veterinarian can begin to administer a series of vaccines at three- or four-week intervals until the kitten reaches 16 weeks of age.
For adult cats: Adult cats might be revaccinated annually or every three years.
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D Zoning And Nuisance Laws
Similar to pet limit laws, zoning laws and actions of private nuisance can be used to limit the number of animals that a homeowner can keep in residential areas. Zoning laws is an area of the law where it can be particularly important to understand how the organization is defined under the law. Mentioned above, some states may define what it means to be a kennel, shelter, rescue, or foster slightly differently and with different requirements. Some states may allow kennels only in areas zoned as agricultural while most states will likely allow fostering in residential zones but there may be limits on the number of animals that can be taken in. Rescue organizations will need to be sure that the land that is being used for their operations and facilities are zoned for that particular purpose. If the rescue is not set up in the right zoning area, the organization may be forced to move a large number of animals off the premises, which could be very stressful.
A case such as this demonstrates that over time conditions in a neighborhood can change. Rescue and foster homes must be aware of the law and note that the circumstances in their neighborhood may change. While it is desirable to help as many animals as possible, the rights of neighbors nearby must also be taken into account to avoid conflict.
Five Benefits Of Volunteering At An Animal Shelter
Volunteering is always associated with something positive. Its difficult to name drawbacks to supporting helpless members of the animal kingdom. Theres no doubt youre contributing to a great cause and you will be appreciated by the community. However, lets look at the benefits this unique experience abroad may have in store for you.
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Get Your Calculator Ready
You know you have to get your cat vaccinated to keep her healthy, so you might be wondering how much all those shots are going to cost you .
Not only that, but you also might want to know which vaccines your cat definitely needs and which ones she can skip.
The Dodo reached out to Dr. Chyrle Bonk, a veterinarian working with Excited Cats, and Amy Davis, owner of My Cat Needs This, to learn more about just how much youll be spending on cat vaccinations.
Rabies Vaccinations For Dogs And Cats Are Required By Law
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Types Of Animal Shelters
You have several options when looking for adopt your kitty.
- Local town shelters. These centers are run by municipal communities and staffed by animal control officers who pick up stray and lost animals who clearly need care. Most have very low fees to adopt a cat, but do not provide veterinary services such as vaccinations, spaying, or neutering.
- Local animal shelters. Most animal shelters house kitties either in separate enclosures communal cat habitats until adoption to ensure their well-being. Some locations provide basic vaccinations for catssuch as a rabies vaccinationas well as spaying and neutering. If they don’t provide the latter service, some shelters often have a list of local veterinarians who help kitty for a nominal fee.
- Specialized cat shelters. Specialized cat shelters may take only older cats, cats whose owners have died, or cats with special needs. Some are breed-specific as well.
Each facility sets its own adoption guidelines and fees, so check with your local shelter for more information on how to adopt a cat and what you need to do before you bring her home.
H Reimbursement For Care In Cruelty Cases
When an animal rescue organization takes in sick animals from cruelty cases, they typically will need to provide the necessary health care. Some state statutes explicitly declare that a convicted defendant may be liable to those animal organizations that took custody and responsibility for the neglected animals and the costs incurred for their care. For example, Washingtons animal anti-cruelty statute says:
In addition to fines and court costs, the defendant, only if convicted or in agreement, shall be liable for reasonable costs incurred pursuant to this chapter by law enforcement agencies, animal care and control agencies, or authorized private or public entities involved with the care of the animals. Reasonable costs include expenses of the investigation, and the animals care, euthanization, or adoption ).
Furthermore, rescue groups may be able to recover those health care costs from the defendant charged with animal cruelty even if the rescue group receives donations from the community. Restitution serves two goals: to restore the victims and to make the defendant pay for the crime caused ). In Mahan v. State, the defendant had over 130 animals that were ill and not adequately cared for. Alaska Equine Rescue and Alaskan State Troopers removed the animals and placed them in foster care homes. Mahan was convicted and attempted to appeal the conviction and certain aspects of the sentence .
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A Sterilization And Vaccination
In order to curb the pet overpopulation issue and decrease the amount of homeless animals, many state statutes require shelters and animal rescue organizations to sterilize all animals before they can be released for adoption. A majority of the states have a spaying and neutering requirement that applies to both shelters and other releasing agencies . One example is the Colorado Pet Animal Care Facilities Act, which requires either that the animal be sterilized by a licensed veterinarian before being released or that the adopter sign an agreement to have the animal sterilized within 90 days and pay a deposit fee to the shelter or rescue, which will be refunded upon receipt of proof that the sterilization procedure was completed .
Proper Vaccine Handling And Administration
In order to be effective, vaccines must be stored and administered correctly. Following manufacturer directions not only preserves efficacy of the vaccine, it makes it easier to obtain manufacturer support in cases of vaccine failure or adverse reactions. As in private practice, date of vaccination, vaccine type, manufacturer and serial number should be entered into a permanent medical record. At minimum, vaccine type and date must be recorded for each animal and the dates of use for each batch recorded by serial number in some central location in case of adverse reactions.
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Foothills Animal Shelter Provides Free Dog Vaccinations On Saturday
GOLDEN, Colo. The Foothills Animal Shelter is providing free dog vaccinations on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The walk-up clinic will be held at the community clubhouse of the Sheridan mobile home park, 5305 Sheridan Blvd. in Arvada.
DAPPv Canine vaccine. Canine distemper and parvo vaccines will be offered free of charge through the Petco Love initiative. Low-cost rabies and Bordetella will be available for $20, Jefferson County pet licensing for $20 and microchip ID implants for $35.
A Petco Love vaccination initiative is providing 1 million free pet vaccines to animal welfare partners, including Foothills Animal Shelter.
The wellness of our community pets is extremely important to Foothills Animal Shelter, said Jon Rogge, Director of Veterinary Services at Foothills Animal Shelter. Thanks to Petco Love we can offer these vaccines free of charge, keeping owned dogs healthy and in their homes, right where they belong.
About 30% of pets do not receive preventative care. Parvovirus and distemper can be deadly in dogs and are preventable with simple vaccines, according to Foothills Animal Shelter.