Animal Partners to host free vaccine clinic for Sussex pets

To help Sussex County pet owners who may have trouble affording or getting access to veterinary care, Humane Animal Partners will sponsor two free clinics this summer.

An animal welfare group will host two free wellness and vaccine clinics for Sussex County pet owners, the first Thursday, June 27, at the Bridgeville Goodwill.

Humane Animal Partners, which has adoption centers in Rehoboth Beach, Wilmington  and Stanton/Christiana, is sponsoring the clinics because it can be difficult for people in Sussex County to find accessible, affordable veterinary care.

The two summer clinics will be the fifth and six offered in a two-year initiative sponsored by Animals Partners, the Delaware Alliance for Nonprofit Advancement (DANA) and  PetSmart Charities. It began in 2023.

The June 27 event will run from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and offer comprehensive wellness exams and free vaccines including DHPP, FVRCP, Bordetella, and Rabies, as well as microchips and general deworming.

There is no limit to the number of pets served per household, but the clinic is first-come, first-served.

All cats must be in a hard plastic or cardboard carrier and dogs on a non-retractable leash.

If a dog requires muzzling for veterinary care, owners must bring a properly fitted muzzle and place it on their pet prior to arrival.

The Goodwill Bridgeville is at 18178 Sussex Hwy., Bridgeville.

For those unable to attend the June 27 event, another clinic will be held Saturday, Aug. 3 from noon to 4 p.m. at Seaford Senior High School at 399 N Market St. Ext., Seaford) as part of the Children & Families First Family Leadership Academy & Resource Fair.

Animal clinic series

PetSmart Charities powered this two-year initiative with a $188,000 grant, while DANA has supported the project by conducting research on Sussex County pet owners’ specific needs, and how to best deliver programs that increase access to affordable veterinary care.

Nearly 50 million pet owners in the United States cannot access even the most basic veterinary care, often due to cost and proximity, Animal Partners said in a press release.

Pets in under-resourced communities are more likely not to receive essential services such as preventative care, vaccinations, spay/neuter services, dental, and other
medical care.

Programs like the free clinics help keep pets healthy and in their own homes, said Patrick Carroll, CEO of Humane Animal Partners.

Helping pet owners keep their pets has become a focus for most animal shelters. That also helps keep animals out of shelters and places like Animal Partners to leverage their resources.

Sometimes helping a pet owner involves resources, such as a food pantry, veterinarian care and funding for expenses. Other times it can be as simple on how to handle a pet’s behavior.

Betsy Price

Betsy Price is a Wilmington freelance writer who has 40 years of experience, including 15 at The News Journal in Delaware.