Animal shelter offering free pet vaccine clinics starting mid-March
– Woods Humane Society announced new monthly and quarterly free pet vaccine availability in 2026, including appointment-based quarterly clinics and monthly walk-in hours.
The nonprofit will offer more than 100 local pet owners access to free, appointment-based pet vaccinations through quarterly public clinics. The first clinics will be held at both Woods Humane Society locations on Saturday, March 14, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Additional quarterly clinics are scheduled for July 10, Sept. 12, and Dec. 11.
The organization also announced free walk-in vaccine hours at its San Luis Obispo location on the first Wednesday of each month from 2 to 4 p.m., beginning in February.
The free vaccines distributed at these events are the DAPPv canine and HCP feline vaccines. The vaccines are provided through Petco Love’s national Vaccinated and Loved initiative, which is supplying an additional 1 million free pet vaccines to animal welfare partners, including Woods Humane Society, for family pets in need.
Parvovirus and distemper in dogs and panleukopenia in cats are preventable with vaccination. An estimated 30% of pet owners do not take their pet to a veterinarian annually for preventive care. Woods Humane Society and Petco Love partnered to provide free vaccines to address access to care. Pet owners must make an appointment in advance for the quarterly clinics by visiting WoodsHumaneSociety.org/Vaccines.
To qualify for free vaccines, pets must be at least 6 weeks old, healthy, and owned. Community outdoor cats do not qualify. Vaccines will not be administered if the pet has a history of vaccine reactions or has shown signs of illness within the previous 48 hours. Dogs must be on a leash, puppies younger than 4 months must be carried, and cats must be in a secure carrier.
Optional services, including rabies vaccines, Bordetella vaccines, flea treatments, microchips, dewormer, and tapeworm treatments, will be available at low cost during clinic appointments. Services will be provided without a full veterinary exam, and payment for additional services is due at the time of booking. More information is available at WoodsHumaneSociety.org/Vaccines.
“We are thrilled to help improve access to lifesaving care year-round through our new, quarterly free pet vaccine clinics and monthly walk-in hours, with the help of Petco Love,” said Woods Humane Society CEO Emily L’Heureux. “We hope SLO County pet parents will take advantage of these free resources to ensure the health and wellness of our community’s pets.”
“Vaccinations are vital to protecting our beloved pets from life-threatening but preventable diseases,” said Chelsea Staley, president of Petco Love. “Our goal is to make these critical vaccines accessible to as many pet parents as possible, breaking down financial barriers and strengthening the human-animal bond.”
In November 2024, Petco Love’s Vaccinated and Loved initiative reached its goal of distributing 3 million free pet vaccines for family pets. The organization plans to provide an additional 1 million free vaccines. The campaign launched in August 2021 and encourages animal welfare partners to host free vaccine clinics.
For more information, contact Woods Humane Society at (805) 543-9316 or visit 875 Oklahoma Ave., San Luis Obispo, or 2300 Ramona Road, Atascadero. The organization is open daily from noon to 5 p.m., with adoption hours from noon to 4 p.m.
