Immunization persuasion 

August is Immunization Awareness Month and you may have noticed the Cutie Crew in the pictures. These special friends are getting a feature this month because they are all current residents who have suffered from a disease, illness, or ailment that could have been prevented with early immunizations – early being the keyword! Puppies and kittens should get their first vaccinations at 8 weeks old, followed by vaccination boosters every 4 weeks until they are 20 weeks to be fully protected. It is crucial to finish the entire vaccination series, as skipping any of the series may leave your pet with incomplete protection, as well as vulnerability to many not-so-fun diseases and illnesses. Not only do we keep our pets safe by maintaining their immunizations, we protect ourselves as they prevent disease transmission between animals and humans. 

Prevention outweighs a cure

When it comes to our pets’ health, and wallets, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure – essentially, it’s easier and more cost effective to stop something from happening in the first place than to repair the damage after it has happened. When pets are surrendered to the SPCA, their immunization status also determines how quickly we can get them out in front of the public and find them a new furever home. Cats that are not vaccinated and have an unknown sourced bite wound have to quarantine for 4 months for their safety and others. 

Resources

We understand that with immunizations, as well as any other medical care, can come a hefty price tag. Rest assured, there are many resources available to help provide immunizations at a lowered cost. Locally, there will be a PetVet Clinic on Saturday, August 26th from 2:30 pm to 4:30 pm at 461 High St. Ellsworth, ME 04605. PetVet partners with Tractor Supply Co. to offer these clinics to the community at a lower cost.