FITCHBURG — Second Chance Animal Services vaccinated 26 cats and 70 dogs for a total of 96 vaccinated pets at Fitchburg Fire Department this weekend during the Jeffrey P. Stephens Low-Cost Pet Vaccine Clinic, which is held every spring and fall in Fitchburg. The Clinic is named after Jeff Stephens, formerly Director of Leominster Board of Health who initiated the pet vaccine clinic in Fitchburg, when he worked for the City’s Board of Health.
“We are excited to be able to offer rabies and distemper vaccinations for just $18 each” said Second Chance CEO and founder Sheryl Blancato. “We are thrilled that so many area residents brought their pets up to date on life-saving vaccines.”
An estimated 30% of pet parents do not take their pet to a veterinarian annually for preventative care putting them at risk of contracting preventable life-threatening diseases like parvovirus and distemper in dogs and panleukopenia in cats.
Recently, there have been outbreaks of parvovirus in Franklin County (Orange), and Springfield. Pets who have had the vaccine, and pets who have been spayed and neutered will live longer, more healthier lives.
Blancato added that Second Chance is grateful to the event’s organizers who have long been partners in helping to keep pets in the Fitchburg community healthy. Fitchburg joins Warren, MA by offering resident pet-owners the opportunity to register their dogs with the City Clerk, at the clinic, within the state deadline, which was March 31, with a grace period to April 30.
Dog owners in Fitchburg are urged to bring a copy of their dog’s up-to-date rabies vaccine document to the City Clerk’s office, Fitchburg City Hall, 710 Main St. Fitchburg. The cost is $15 for intact dogs; $9 for spayed/neutered dogs. This cost is waived for Fitchburg residents age 70 and above.
The next Second Chance Animal Services Vaccine Clinics will be: Saturday, May 3, 9 a.m. to 12 noon, Holden Police Department, and Saturday, May 31, 9 am to 12 noon, Auburn Town Hall. Visit secondchanceanimals.org for more information.
