It’s no secret that for dog rescue times are tough. Adoptions are low and the dogs just keep coming. With over 280 dogs currently in our care, our resources are under unprecedented strain. The cost of vaccines and snap tests alone is staggering. To help offset these expenses, we’re inaugurating the Wellness Fund campaign. You can help keep our rescue dogs healthy and happy by donating to support their regular preventative care.
Preventative care is critical–and costly
Regular vaccinations are critical to keeping our dogs healthy. Vaccines help prevent infectious illness in our population and ensure a solid start for each dog in their new home. โMany of our dogs come to us from areas where parvo and other illnesses are common. Unless they arrive at our shelter with a previous vaccine record, every Rescue Ranch dog receives routine vaccinations upon intake. These include the DAPP vaccine for distemper and parvo and another for bordatella (kennel cough).
A large proportion of these doses goes to our puppy program. Puppies require multiple boosters to strengthen their immune systems, and we take preventative care seriously. Each puppy receives at least two and up to four DAPP shots, depending upon their age on intake. Ideally, puppies receive the DAPP vaccine at 5 weeks, 7 weeks, 9 weeks, 12 weeks, and 16 weeks. When they reach 12 weeks, each pup also receives a bordatella shot.
As you can imagine, the expense adds up quickly with over 100 puppies and young dogs currently in our program! We use approximately 120 doses of the DAPP vaccine and 50 doses of the bordatella vaccine every single month–that’s a cost of over $700! And that doesn’t include other supplies like syringes and needles.
Quick diagnosis is key
Snap tests are another critical tool for keeping our dogs healthy. We use two different snap tests on a regular basis. The first is for heartworm, a life-threatening parasite spread by mosquitos. We test all adult dogs for heartworm upon intake. Positives are rare but do occur, more commonly in dogs from areas near lakes or rivers. When we get a positive result, we make an appointment with our vet to begin treatment for the affected dog right away. Each heartworm test costs us $15 and we use an average of 18 per month.
On the other hand, parvo snap tests are used only when a dog or puppy shows symptoms of digestive illness. Parvo is a prevalent, highly infectious disease that is usually lethal if left untreated. Battling parvo begins with a speedy diagnosis. If a puppy presents symptoms (loss of appetite, vomiting, bloody diarrhea, or lethargy) staff quickly administer a parvo test so they know how to respond. If the results are positive, the sick puppy is isolated, littermates or playmates are quarantined, and careful treatment protocol begins. A parvo test costs $30.
Donate today to support essential preventative care
Vaccines and snap tests are critical tools for ensuring the wellness of our dogs. Please donate to our Wellness Fund today! Your generous support will help us cover the costs of essential preventative care.
Healthy, happy pups? You bet!
