Petco Love and Cincinnati Animal CARE Distribute Free Dog Vaccines in Cincinnati Area

As Part of Petco Love’s Vaccinated and Loved Initiative, Cincy CARE Provides Free Vaccines to Pet Families in Hamilton County

CINCINNATI, OH (March 9, 2026) — Cincinnati Animal CARE, the Hamilton County animal shelter, is partnering once again with Petco Love during March’s Vaccinated and Loved initiative to provide free and low-cost vaccinations for Cincinnati-area pets.

In addition to its weekly Thursday vaccine clinic at the shelter, Cincinnati Animal CARE will host a pop-up low-cost vaccine clinic for dogs on March 28 in partnership with Community Matters at its community center in Price Hill — one of the top jurisdictions for stray animal intake in Hamilton County. The clinic will be walk-in only, with no appointments required.

At the March 28 clinic:

• Hosted at Price Hill’s Community Matters: 2104 St Michael St, Cincinnati, OH 45204
• Time 10 am-2 pm 
• Free DHPP vaccines for dogs, courtesy of Petco Love
• Free microchips will be available for the first 100 pets, courtesy of Best Fence Cincinnati
• Bordetella and Dewormers vaccines will be $5
• Rabies vaccines will be $10
• Pet owners will need to show current state–issued ID 
• All animals must be leashed 
• First come, first served 
• This clinic can serve dogs only, but cats are welcome at the weekly vaccine clinic on Thursdays at the Colerain shelter. (3949 Colerain Avenue, 45223) 

The free vaccines are made possible through Petco Love’s national vaccination program, Vaccinated and Loved. The free microchips are generously sponsored by Best Fence Cincinnati, a locally owned fence company committed to supporting animal welfare in the community.

Petco Love has provided four million free pet vaccines and counting to participating animal welfare partners, including Cincy CARE, for family pets in need. Cincy CARE puts these free vaccinations to work through its weekly free and low-cost vaccine clinic at the shelter every Thursday from 1–3 p.m., as well as through targeted community pop-up clinics in neighborhoods with the highest stray dog rates.

The Vaccinated and Loved campaign highlights Petco Love’s ongoing commitment to combat preventable yet deadly diseases by distributing free DHPP and FVRCP vaccines to participating partner organizations, including Cincy CARE, to administer in their communities. These free vaccines ensure cost does not stand in the way of pets’ health and support families facing financial hardship who might otherwise be unable to afford preventive care.

DHPP, which protects dogs against Parvovirus and Distemper, and FVRCP, which protects cats against Panleukopenia — among the most prevalent deadly diseases affecting pets — are preventable with these simple vaccines. As Petco Love distributes free pet vaccines, survey data from pet parents who attended free vaccine clinics show that only 38% reported their pet had received a similar vaccine previously. This data highlights the critical need for free pet vaccines in communities like Cincinnati and Hamilton County.

The free vaccines distributed through the Petco Love Vaccinated and Loved initiative include DAPPv Canine and HCP Feline vaccines. Through this national effort, Cincy CARE aims to vaccinate 4,800 pets annually. A complete list of free and low-cost vaccines available at the Thursday clinic is available online at: https://cincinnatianimalcare.org/services/low-cost-vaccine-clinic/

“Petco Love’s partnership allows us to bring lifesaving vaccines directly to pet parents at no cost,” said Jessica Grimes, Senior Shelter Manager. “Access to preventive care is critical. When we remove financial barriers, more pets stay protected — and that benefits our entire community.”

Survey data from pet parents who attended free clinics also highlights how free pet vaccines open the door to ongoing veterinary care. This is especially true for financially strained families facing cost barriers to pet care and not yet connected to routine preventive services.

“For nearly half of the pet parents we surveyed at free clinics powered by Petco Love, these events are how they make sure their pets get vaccinated,” said Petco Love President Chelsea Staley. “For families who haven’t yet established a veterinary care routine due to financial constraints or other access barriers, free vaccine clinics are often the very first step they take — where they first connect with trusted veterinary guidance. It’s more than just a single shot. It’s about preventing disease in the long term, protecting communities, and opening the door for families and pets to a lifetime of care.”

In February 2026, Petco Love’s Vaccinated and Loved initiative reached a significant milestone of distributing four million free pet vaccines for family pets. The campaign launched in 2021, encouraging participating Petco Love animal welfare partners to distribute free vaccines in their communities.

For more information about the shelter’s vaccine clinics, contact Cincinnati Animal CARE at [email protected]. Learn more about Petco Love’s lifesaving impact at PetcoLove.org.

About Cincinnati Animal CARE, the Hamilton County animal shelter

Cincinnati Animal CARE is Hamilton County’s only open stray-intake animal shelter and a rapidly growing organization committed to progressive, lifesaving practices. Since opening in 2020, the shelter has maintained a save rate of over 90%, achieving no-kill status while handling thousands of animals each year. CARE has completed more than 25,000 adoptions and provides both animal sheltering and dog warden services. The organization is powered by a dedicated team of staff, volunteers, and fosters; supported by national partnerships; and focused on community-based solutions that keep pets and people together. We do things differently—because we CARE.

About Petco Love

Petco Love is a life-changing nonprofit organization that makes communities and pet families closer, stronger, and healthier. Since its founding in 1999, the organization has invested more than $430 million in adoption and other lifesaving efforts and helped find loving homes for more than 7.1 million pets in partnership with Petco and organizations nationwide. Petco Love leads with innovation, creating tools animal lovers need to reunite lost pets, and mobilizes its more than 4,000 animal welfare partners to drive lifesaving change. Is love calling you? Join the movement at PetcoLove.org or follow Petco Love on Facebook, Instagram, X, Threads, and LinkedIn.