Petco Love Declares March as National Pet Vaccination Month, Celebrates Success of Vaccinated and Loved Campaign

Petco Love Aims to Distribute 1 Million More Free Vaccines Through Vaccinated and Loved Initiative to Protect Pets and Strengthen Communities

SAN ANTONIO, March 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Petco Love, a national nonprofit leading lifesaving pet initiatives, proudly announces March as National Pet Vaccination Month. This designation underscores the importance of pet health and preventative care, reinforcing Petco Love's commitment to ensuring pets across the country receive essential vaccinations. Through its Vaccinated and Loved campaign, Petco Love has successfully distributed over 3 million free pet vaccines, and the organization is determined to reach even more pets in need by providing an additional 1 million free vaccines.

"Vaccinations are vital to protecting our beloved pets from life-threatening but preventable diseases," said Susanne Kogut, President of Petco Love. "Our goal is to make these critical vaccines accessible to as many pet parents as possible, breaking down financial barriers and strengthening the human-animal bond. With National Pet Vaccination Month, we hope to further raise awareness and encourage pet parents to keep their pets healthy and protected."

Dr. Whitney Miller, DVM, MBA, DACVPM, Petco's Chief Veterinarian and Petco Love Board Member added, "Preventative care, including vaccinations, is the foundation of a pet's long-term health. By making vaccines more accessible, we're helping pet parents take proactive steps to protect their pets and reduce the spread of dangerous diseases."

Through its network of animal welfare partners, Petco Love collaborates with local shelters and veterinary service providers to offer free vaccines for diseases such as parvovirus and distemper in dogs and panleukopenia in cats. These highly contagious and potentially fatal diseases pose significant threats to unvaccinated pets, particularly those in underserved communities.

Petco Love partner, San Antonio Animal Care Services (ACS), is aiming to vaccinate 1,000 pets at a free drive-through pet vaccination clinic. "San Antonio Animal Care Services is proud to partner with Petco Love to offer free pet vaccinations to our community. This initiative not only helps protect the health and well-being of pets but also strengthens the bond between pet parents and their dogs and cats. This partnership is a vital step in our mission to create a healthier community for people and their pets," said Jon Gary, Director of San Antonio Animal Care Services. The clinic is being held on March 30, 2025, from 8 a.m. until 3 p.m. at Wheatley Height Sports Complex in San Antonio, Texas. San Antonio ACS will offer free DAPPv, HCP, and Rabies vaccines as well as free microchips. Participants are asked to register in advance on the organization's website.

Petco Love's Vaccinated and Loved campaign is made possible through partnerships with organizations nationwide, ensuring that pet parents have access to lifesaving resources. Pet parents are encouraged to visit care.petcolove.org to find a participating location near them and take advantage of this opportunity to safeguard their pets' health. Vaccines distributed under this initiative are DAPPv Canine and HCP Feline vaccines in partnership with Merck Animal Health.

Pet parents can also stay up to date on all recommended vaccines for dogs and cats at more than 250 Vetco Total Care full-service hospitals conveniently located inside Petco stores, or at Vetco Vaccination Clinics regularly held at most Petco locations.

As March marks National Pet Vaccination Month, Petco Love urges pet parents to prioritize their pets' well-being and join in the movement to prevent disease before it starts. For more information on Petco Love's mission and vaccination campaign, visit Petco Love.

Media Contact: Crystal Bugary, Petco Love, media@petcolove.org

About Petco Love
Petco Love is a life-changing nonprofit organization that makes communities and pet families closer, stronger, and healthier. Since our founding in 1999, we've empowered animal welfare organizations by investing nearly $410 million in adoption and other lifesaving efforts. We've helped find loving homes for nearly 7 million pets in partnership with Petco and organizations nationwide. Our love for pets drives us to lead with innovation, creating tools animal lovers need to reunite lost pets, and lead with passion, inspiring and mobilizing communities and our more than 4,000 animal welfare partners to drive lifesaving change alongside us. Is love calling you? Join us. Visit PetcoLove.org or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, X, Threads, and LinkedIn to be part of the lifesaving work we lead every day.

About Merck Animal Health
At Merck, known as MSD outside of the United States and Canada, we are unified around our purpose: We use the power of leading-edge science to save and improve lives around the world. For more than a century, we've been at the forefront of research, bringing forward medicines, vaccines and innovative health solutions for the world's most challenging diseases. Merck Animal Health, a division of Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, N.J., USA, is the global animal health business of Merck. Through its commitment to The Science of Healthier Animals^®, Merck Animal Health offers veterinarians, farmers, producers, pet owners and governments one of the widest ranges of veterinary pharmaceuticals, vaccines and health management solutions and services as well as an extensive suite of connected technology that includes identification, traceability and monitoring products. Merck Animal Health is dedicated to preserving and improving the health, well-being and performance of animals and the people who care for them. It invests extensively in dynamic and comprehensive R&D resources and a modern, global supply chain. Merck Animal Health is present in more than 50 countries, while its products are available in some 150 markets. For more information, visit www.merck-animal-health.com and connect with us on LinkedIn, Facebook, X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram.

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SOURCE Petco Love