Last week, the ASPCA Humane Law Enforcement department hosted a ‘Paws and Police’ vaccine event at the NYPD Police Service Area 4 in Lower Manhattan, providing free vaccinations to both dogs and cats as well as nail trimmings to dogs.

Running from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., we saw an incredible turnout with our veterinarians vaccinating over 170 animals and 54 dogs receiving nail trims from our grooming specialist.

“The ‘Paws and Police’ events offer a valuable opportunity to connect with the community and provide essential services to pet owners in New York City,” explains Ana Hernandez, ASPCA’s senior manager, Community Engagement. “Many community members have shared that this is the first time their pets have received vaccinations in years, mainly due to the high cost of veterinary care. Providing this free service makes a significant difference in the lives of both pets and their owners.”

By helping pet parents get their pets the care they need, we’re not only keeping their pets safe, but other animals in the community, too.

“Vaccinations obviously benefit the individual pet by keeping them safe from serious infectious diseases. But vaccinating large numbers of animals in a community goes a step further, decreasing risk for even the unvaccinated animals in the neighborhood,” explains Dr. Elizabeth Berliner, an ASPCA veterinarian who administered vaccines during the event. “Keeping pets healthy also means less suffering for their people — no one wants to see their pet get sick with a vaccine preventable disease.”

Left: A dog’s overgrown nails before trimming. Middle and right: Client’s nails after trimming, and a post-appointment cuddle with their with pet parent.

Dogs and cats ranging from puppies and kittens to seniors not only received care, but pet parents were provided with additional information on how to keep up with their pet’s care and groom them at home. Many were also given essential resources on how to get pets spayed/neutered.

“Community clinics are such a great opportunity for pet owners to connect with veterinary professionals, talented groomers, pet food pantries and other essential resources like spay/neuter — and honestly seeing the neighborhood turn out for these events is really fun and rewarding for all of us,” adds Dr. Berliner.

Pets enjoy treats while they receive care.

This event was the seventh ‘Paws & Police’ event the Humane Law Enforcement team has hosted this year with a total 1,182 pets vaccinated across the events.

“These events have also provided opportunities internally for our staff to volunteer in the field,” explains Erin Earley, ASPCA’s senior director, Community Engagement. “Not only does this allow for our Humane Law Enforcement department to provide more vaccines to pet owners in need, but it also allows for staff who may not normally cross paths in their day-to-day tasks to work alongside one another by providing access to veterinary care as one team.”

In addition to the Humane Law Enforcement team members, our Community Medicine, Shelter Medicine Services, ASPCA Animal Hospital staff and NYC-based team members from our Development team also volunteered during this event. They helped check clients in, handed out critical information, assisted the veterinarians and groomer, and made sure the event was running as smoothly as possible. The support from 37 different volunteers at this event allowed for four different vaccine stations to meet the high demand for veterinary care from the community.

“Having never been to a vaccine event, it was really impactful seeing all the ways in which we help these communities, and I felt lucky to be able to support our critical work in this way,” says Chloe Ferney, a content manager on the Development team. “Meeting clients face-to-face and bringing them some holiday cheer was really special, and I look forward to volunteering at more events!”