Familial bonds aren’t limited to the human species—furry animal companions count too.
That’s why Pets In Need, the nonprofit that provides animal services in Palo Alto, is hosting its Pet Care Assistance Day on Saturday morning, where it will offer essential services such as vaccines, dewormers and microchips at low costs for families in need. Free supplies, including food and pet accessories, will also be available thanks to donations from community members.
“No one should have to face the heartbreaking choice of giving up a beloved pet simply because they can’t afford basic care,” CEO of Pets in Need Laura Toller Gardner said in a press release. “We’re not just protecting animal health — we’re preserving the deep, life-changing bond between people and their pets. Keeping families together is core to our mission of saving lives.”
This year marks Pets in Need’s fourth year hosting the event, continuing long-running efforts to increase vaccination and promote community health. Rabies vaccinations are legally required for dogs over the age of four months in the state of California and are necessary for pet licensing. Cat vaccination requirements vary by city, but are highly encouraged. Despite these guidelines, tight financial situations can prevent families from receiving recommended care for their pets.
“One of the things that is greatly overlooked is how important vaccines are for animals,” Medical and Outreach Manager Rose Bahamonde said. “When you’re keeping pets vaccinated, you’re keeping your community more safe from contagious diseases, so it’s really important for us to reduce barriers for pet owners, so that way these vaccines are accessible.”
Bahamonde recalled a story of a 12-year-old chihuahua, very sweet and beloved, whose owner mentioned the dog had never been vaccinated due to financial constraints. As costs for veterinary examinations and vaccinations can add up—sometimes to hundreds of dollars—families without the financial bandwidth have little choice but to prioritize more urgent expenses, like rent.
Pets in Need aims to “meet people where they are,” Bahamonde said. The rabies vaccine, normally $20, will be $6 at the event. Other vaccines will be discounted by over 20 percent, made possible by donations to the organization. The event saw over 160 pets and 110 families last year, with numbers on the rise over the past two years.
The June 21 event will take place from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the nonprofit’s Palo Alto shelter, 3281 East Bayshore Road.
“Our goal is always to advance our no-kill legacy and to save as many lives as possible,” Director of Behavior and Medical Services Laura Birdsall said. “Usually, you look at that in terms of saving as many lives as possible. How do we rescue them? How do we adopt them out? But really, a huge component of that is, how do we keep the animals that are already in homes, in the homes with the families that they have.”
Consequently, community medicine is an “arm” of Pets in Need. Founded in 1965 in Redwood City, the nonprofit expanded to Palo Alto in 2019. The two locations operate on different models: While Redwood City is a rescue, Palo Alto is an open intake shelter, meaning it must take in all strays and surrenders in its jurisdiction. Together, the organization boasts a live release rate of 97%, seven percentage points higher than the minimum threshold needed to be classified as a no-kill shelter, according to the nonprofit.
This year’s event coincides with the animal shelter’s anniversary, celebrating 60 years of saving lives.
“It really is not just a sheltering organization, but a humane care organization,” Birdsall said. “What [a no-kill shelter] identifies is the resources that are dedicated to making sure that the animals have the opportunity to find their next home on their journey. To be able to find that hopefully forever home that they will be in for the rest of their lives.”
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