Brandywine Valley SPCA Offers Free Canine Influenza Vaccines – NBC10 Philadelphia

Animal shelters in Delaware continue to see an increase in sick dogs. Now there is an organization that wants to address the problem.

The Brandywine Valley SPCA announced Tuesday that it will be offering free flu and distemper vaccines in response to an outbreak of respiratory illness in dogs in the state.

The organization said the vaccines will be administered at the Brandywine Valley SPCA Animal Health Centers in New Castle, Dover and Georgetown, Delaware.

On Friday, July 12, the Delaware Department of Agriculture placed restrictions on the movement of shelter and rescue dogs due to an outbreak of canine respiratory infections.

Since then, several dogs in the Delaware community have tested positive for canine influenza. Dogs have come to shelters with symptoms of sneezing, coughing and runny noses.

The Brandywine Valley SPCA said last week it had taken drastic measures to stop the virus by vaccinating all dogs that enter — and everyone who enters — against canine influenza.

According to the organization, the free canine influenza vaccines are made possible by local support from loyal BVSPCA supporters and animal welfare activists Tatiana and Gerret Copeland through Reggie’s Fund.

“While this action goes above and beyond our usual intake protocols and represents a significant financial investment in the dogs that come into our care, we felt it was a necessary step to protect them and the community from further spread,” BVSPCA CEO Adam Lamb said in a press release. “We are grateful that, now with the support of Tatiana Copeland, we can offer the pet community even more protection with these free vaccines for owned dogs.”

If you are interested in having your puppy vaccinated, you can register for an appointment at one of three locations through Friday, August 9 at BVSPCA.org/flu.

According to the organization, each person is allowed to register a maximum of two dogs per appointment.

“Participants bring their dogs to the Animal Health Center for the free vaccinations. They will be scheduled for the required second booster vaccination for canine influenza at the same location at the time of the first vaccination,” the shelter said in a statement.