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Pooches and the Pandemic: Vaccine clinics aren’t just for two-legged animals

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By Michelle Meehan Schrader

“So what are you doing today?” my husband asked over pancakes, as our one-eyed Shih Tzu, Captain Jack, and 20-year-old cat, Malcolm, circled the breakfast table for crumbs.

“I’m volunteering at a drive-thru vaccine clinic,” I said. “I’ll be taking pictures and interviewing people for a blog.”

“Well, maybe you can get yourself a shot while you’re there. It’s been a few weeks since your first one. Aren’t you due?”

That’s when it hit me. My husband was talking Covid-19. Not rabies.

It’s a sign of our times that Mark would be confused. I quickly set him straight.

“It’s a low-cost vaccine clinic for dogs and cats,” I told him. “These days, people can hardly afford their own medical care let alone their animals’.”

The event was held at the Belleville Area Humane Society, where I proudly serve as a member of the board of directors. Full disclosure: Animal welfare is close to my heart. My beloved Captain Jack came from the shelter, as did our family diva, a feisty Chihuahua named Lola.

And so it was I spent a beautiful Saturday afternoon, scurrying up and down a long line of cars, talking to people about their pets. The humans wore masks. The dogs panted and barked. The cats tried hard to look aloof.

Clients included an overweight, bladder-challenged dachshund mix and a droopy-eyed bloodhound who couldn’t stop sniffing the ground.

A pair of little, white pups – Tink and Baby Gaga – quivered adorably as they peered out a car window.

“They’re both Chihuahua mixes,” said their owner Danny Sabo of O’Fallon. “I inherited Baby Gaga from my granddaughter. And somebody found Tink by the side of the road.”

Maybe Tink and Baby Gaga should meet Merferd, a handsome white pit bull who rode a few cars behind them in line.  “We got him during Covid so he never got to socialize,” Tiffani Hadeler of Belleville said, stroking the big dog’s head.

As it turned out, lots of BAHS alums visited the clinic, including Shelby – a happy-go-lucky, shaggy, mixed breed pooch – who celebrated her 11th birthday with a rabies shot.

All tolled, 53 animals were vaccinated. Many were also micro-chipped.

“Last year, with the pandemic, people had trouble getting in to see their vets,” explained BAHS community outreach manager Jorden Guldner. “So they used our low-cost clinic as a way to stay current on their vaccinations.

“A lot of people are struggling financially so low-cost clinics help them out. Keeping families together with their pets is an important part of what we do.”

When I returned home that afternoon, my husband didn’t have to ask me how the clinic went. He knew by the smile on my face – and the fur on my  jacket – that I’d had a great day.

rescue = a work of heart

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Last week was an exciting one for BAHS.  Our animals have been adopted so fast recently that we found ourselves practically empty.  Knowing that many animals in the St. Louis metro area still need to find their forever homes, we immediately reached out to our rescue partners to see how we could help.

We ended up bringing 37 animals to BAHS last week- 23 in one day! Twenty-two kittens, five cats, and ten dogs are new members of the BAHS family.  This is three times our average weekly intake!

Our staff worked tirelessly to get these pets ready for foster homes and adoption.  Every animal that is adopted from BAHS gets vaccinations, a heartworm or FIV/FeLV combo test, dewormer, a microchip, any necessary medications, and is spayed or neutered. 

This is an incredible example of a community coming together to help animals in need.  A special thank you to our partners in rescue, CARE STL, Clinton County Animal Control, and St. Clair County Animal Services for helping us to save these precious lives! 

Thank you to the adopters who cleared us out and the fosters who have stepped up to help care for these animals. 

Thank you to Archford Capital Strategies for their Archford Angel’s project that is providing foster support, including needed supplies for the animals while they are in their foster homes.  And finally, thank you to Petfinder, for the grant that funded the intake of all the kittens this week.

Please Note:

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Effective Tuesday, March 17th, the Belleville Area Humane Society will be utilizing an “Appointment Only” Adoption Process.

The health and safety of our team members and animals is our top priority. Therefore, we are limiting exposure and following sanitatino procedures as recommended by the CDC.

To make an appointment or for questions, please leave a message and we will get back to you as soon as possible. 618-235-3712.

Thank you and stay safe.

Dog Allergy Information

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 Do you suffer from pet allergies? Are you afraid you might have to give up your dog on account of your allergies? If so, we can help! Follow the advice bellow to reduce allergy-causing dander in your home and on your pet:

  • Wash your pet weekly in lukewarm water using a dander removing allergy shampoo to reduce pet dander.
  • Have someone without pet allergies brush the pet outside regularly.
  • Vacuum and dust frequently using a vacuum with a HEPA filter.
  • Clean pillows, clothing, curtains, cushions, and pet beds often.
  • Do not allow your pet in your bedroom to give your body a break from allergen exposure.

   

   Here are some dander-removing products to try: Allersearch, Allerpet D (contains gluten), Four Paws Magic Coat, Nature’s Miracle, and SheaPet.