Penn Vet offers free vaccinations for pets on Martin Luther King Day
Scores of pets were vaccinated free clinic for dogs and cats — part of service events that took place around Philadelphia for Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
Hundreds of Philadelphia’s pets and their owners streamed through the medical rooms of Ryan Veterinary Hospital on Monday, taking advantage of free wellness exams and vaccinations as part of the Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service.
The clinic at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine dates to 2009. The clinic has operated every year since, with the exception of 2021, when it was canceled because of the COVID pandemic.
This year, the school teamed up with the School of Medicine to offer flu vaccines to pet owners.
The clinic was one of a host of service opportunities across the city and region in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. At Girard College, volunteers sorted and packed toiletry kits to distribute to people in need, among other events. Gov. Josh Shapiro and Mayor Cherelle L. Parker also spoke at the school.
At the vet clinic, at least 200 people had preregistered to bring in about 250 cats and dogs. Around 10 a.m., veterinary students Natalie Lascala, Zoe Araujo, and Kaitlyn Sudowsky were greeting their first patient.
Lanora Wells, had brought in her cat, Cleo, 2 to 3 years old with green eyes and unknown breed.
Cleo was in a surly mood.
“I’ll probably have to give her something when she goes to the vet, I suppose,” said Wells, as Cleo bit at Lascal as the student attempted to give her patient an oral exam.
Cleo put up a mighty fight but, ultimately, surrendered and received her vaccines.
“That’s definitely not the worst cat I’ve ever seen,” Lascala said after Wells and Cleo had left the room. “She was very stressed out.”
The clinic vaccinated pets for rabies as well as a combination vaccination for a variety of diseases including distemper, a viral illness that can cause severe central nervous system problems; parvovirus, a highly contagious disease that can cause GI issues; and feline panleukopenia, a potentially fatal disease.
Harry Naylor, of Southwest Philadelphia, came with 8-year-old son Harry Jr. and 15-year-old daughter Diem, who brought their two pitbulls, Lady, 3, and her son, Tito, 1.
Naylor, a supervisor at World Flavors, a Bucks County-based food seasonings company, took the day off work to come in. This was the first time the two dogs were spending extended time together since they got into a little scrap in the Naylors’ basement a few weeks ago.
“I think Tito’s still upset about that, though, as you can see,” Naylor said as the younger pit barked at his mother.
“She’s been a pretty good dog — pretty good with people, Naylor said. “I’ve never had problems out of her.”
Kaitlyn Krebs, a Penn vet professor who was spending her first year volunteering at the clinic, said the reaction from patients was fantastic.
“Being able to bring their pets to the clinic is not something everybody is able to do on a regular basis and be able to come to Penn Vet and get top notch care in the clinic here and not worry about how they’re going to have to pay for it is something that a lot of people are very, very appreciative of,” Krebs said.