Dozens flock to Butler County Humane Society for affordable vaccine clinic

March 10, 2025 Last Updated: March 09, 2025 07:58 PM Local News

David Rider, center, gets his cat and dog vaccinated by veterinarian technician Erica Daniels, left, during a low-cost vaccine clinic on Saturday, March 8, at the Butler County Humane Society. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle

Morgan Phillips

Veterinarian technician Erica Daniels searches for a microchip in a cat during a low cost vaccine clinic at the Butler County Humane Society on Saturday, March 8, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle

Morgan Phillips

Healthy happy pets

CONNOQUENESSING TWP — David Rider doesn’t have to travel far when it comes to keeping his pets up to date on their vaccinations.

The North Hills Spay Neuter Clinic staff made the essential task much easier for Rider and many others by hosting a low-cost vaccine clinic at the Butler County Humane Society on Saturday morning, March 8.

“I always look forward to it when I need to get my animals the rabies shot and stuff like that,” said Rider, a Forward Township resident who brought his mixed chihuahua Tinkerbell and a cat named Snickerdoodle to the clinic. “It’s a very reasonable price for it, and it’s always good to get them vaccinated so they don’t get in any trouble from rabies or anything else.”

Dozens of loving pet owners lined up well before the clinic kicked off at 10 a.m. That included Greg and Miranda Werling, who brought their two pit bull terriers named Kash and Georgia.

“It’s very convenient,” Miranda Werling said. “Easy to do. Keep them up on their shots so we can keep them safe.”

Staff from the humane society and the clinic worked to ensure attendees were not standing around in the freezing temperatures for too long.

“It’s not even just the convenience factor. It’s about coming out to areas where people aren’t always able to get to the veterinarian,” said Spay Neuter practice manager and veterinary technician Erica Daniels. “That way they’re able to at least get the basic care that they need at a lower cost.”

Spay Neuter’s Dr. Angharad Morgan echoed those sentiments and noted that while most vaccine clinics include only rabies inoculations, her clinics offer a wide variety of necessary vaccines.

“It’s a chance for them to get quick checkups, parasite prevention and things like that too,” Morgan said. “We like to bring it out here. Usually, we have it at Alameda Park since it’s a little bigger of an area, but it has worked out well here today.”

Similarly to other goods and services, pet vaccinations and medications have not been immune to price increases, which is another reason that low-cost clinics are beneficial.

“Veterinary medicine has become more expensive, and that’s just because of the economy,” Morgan said. “Everything’s more expensive, so we have to charge more. It’s a limiting factor for some, and I don’t want pets to not get the care they need because they can’t afford it.”

Veterinarian technician Erica Daniels gives cats and dogs vaccines during a low-cost vaccine clinic on Saturday, March 8, at the Butler County Humane Society. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle

Morgan Phillips