Pet ownership has always been an important part of the family dynamic.

According to a 2021-2022 Spots.com survey, 84.9 million Americans have pets in their homes and 95% of American pet owners consider their pets to be family members.

Unfortunately, people love their pets like family but don’t see the need for keeping their pets’ vaccines current.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, pets are much more susceptible to catching rabies from a wild animal simply because they are smaller, outside more often, and lack the awareness to stay away.

In the U.S. more than 90% of reported cases of rabies in animals occur in wildlife. The wild animals that most commonly carry rabies are raccoons, skunks, bats and foxes. The CDC warns pet owners if a pet contracts rabies it may not be immediately apparent, making the risk of transmission to the owner or other animals more likely.

That is why Samantha Bociulis, DVM from the North Warren Animal Hospital, in Blairstown, New Jersey, partnered with We “R” Wild Pet Food and Supplies LTD in Kresgeville to hold a vaccine clinic, where prices for the vaccines are lower in cost than if you took your pet to a veterinarian.

It is important to keep pets up to date on vaccines to protect them from easily preventable, but serious and life-threatening diseases including parvovirus, hepatitis, and Lyme disease, according to Bociulis.

“The vaccines provide a strong immunity against these diseases and in many cases prevent pets from developing any signs of the disease and/or can drastically reduce the severity of the diseases. For dogs in particular, it is also important to keep shots current for boarding, grooming and training,” she said.

If the cost is a factor, try looking for shot clinics that are often held in local pet stores in the area where you live.

“The bare minimum for shots for both dogs and cats for a limited income pet owner would be a rabies vaccine and ideally a distemper combo shot,” Bociulis said.

The clinic also provided basic screening blood work for Lyme disease, heartworm disease, and two other tickborne diseases (Ehrlichia and Anaplasma) for dogs and for cats. Tests for feline leukemia virus and feline immunodeficiency virus (“Feline AIDS”) were available.

The office also offers more in-depth blood work that looks at liver and kidney function, cell counts, thyroid level, and electrolytes to provide a good picture of the pet’s systemic health.

“I am really pleased with the number of people that came to get their pets vaccinated and I hope we can hold more clinics, said Missy Beers, the owner of We “R” Wild LTD.

During the three-hour clinic 36 pets received care.