Planned PEThood of Georgia's Free Pet Vaccine Clinic Serves More Than 650 Pets in Record-Breaking Gwinnett County Event

More than 650 cats and dogs received veterinary care at Planned PEThood of Georgia's FREE pet vaccine clinic on Saturday, October 24, at Best Friend Park in Norcross. It was the largest outreach event in the organization's history.

The outdoor clinic offered free vaccinations, microchips, flea and tick prevention, spay and neuter vouchers, and pet supplies. Organizers had planned to serve 400 animals. Hundreds more pet owners showed up.

The first owners arrived at midnight to hold their place in line. Many more came by at 5 a.m., five hours before the clinic opened. At one point, the line stretched out of the park and down the sidewalk along Jimmy Carter Boulevard.

The turnout showed how much this community cares about keeping its pets healthy, and how hard routine veterinary care is for many households to afford.

Behind Every Pet Is a Family That Cares

All day, pet owners shared what they were up against: living on disability income, paying large medical bills for their children, or getting by after losing the household's main earner.

One mother recently lost her husband in an unexpected accident. Her three cats have become a source of comfort for her children as the family learns to live without him. With money tight, free veterinary care was real relief.

Her story shows why preventive care is about more than vaccines. It keeps pets healthy, eases the strain on family budgets, and helps people hold on to the animals they love when times are hard.

Many families had been to earlier clinics and came back. When affordable options exist, they use them.

250 Spay/Neuter Vouchers Distributed

Planned PEThood also distributed 250 spay and neuter surgery vouchers. Thanks to funding they will secure through a competitive grant by the Georgia Department of Agriculture's Dog and Cat Sterilization Program, all 250 spay/neuter vouchers will cover the full cost of surgery, making the procedures completely free for pet owners who redeem them.

Many people said they were grateful to finally have an affordable way to get their pets sterilized.

Spaying and neutering prevents unplanned litters and brings health benefits for pets. By making it affordable, Planned PEThood tackles pet overpopulation at its source and stops suffering before it starts.

The organization expects strong voucher redemption because the event was close to its Duluth wellness clinic, where the community can get affordable veterinary care year-round.

A Community Effort with Lasting Impact

Events like this are only possible with community support. Planned PEThood's free vaccine clinics are 100% funded through charitable donations, business sponsorships and grants.

Saturday's clinic was funded and supported by Subaru of Gwinnett through the Subaru Loves Pets initiative, Angels Among Us Pet Rescue, Petco Love, and private donor Faith Pescatore. Subaru of Gwinnett and Angels Among Us Pet Rescue also provided supplies and giveaway items for pets and their families, and by the end of the day, nearly all of them were gone.

Veterinary professionals, Planned PEThood staff, and volunteers gave their time and skill to make it happen.

2860 Buford Hwy, Bldg F Ste 2
Duluth GA 30096

Planned PEThood of Georgia is a 501(c)(3) animal welfare nonprofit with 16 years of lifesaving impact. Based in Duluth, the organization delivers mission-driven services that support pets and the communities they live in across Metro Atlanta and Northeast Georgia. Planned PEThood was voted Best of Gwinnett County for 2025 in the Animal Rescue category.

Through donor support, Planned PEThood of Georgia addresses the root causes of pet overpopulation by expanding access to care and preventive services. Its work helps keep dogs and cats healthy, keeps animals with their families, reduces shelter intake, and prevents suffering before it begins.

Core programs include low-cost spay and neuter surgeries delivered both at its Duluth location and through its mobile unit, in addition to affordable veterinary care, free vaccine clinics, trap-neuter-vaccinate-return (TNVR) for community cats, humane education, and pet foster and adoption services.

Planned PEThood of Georgia has earned Charity Navigator's highest 4-star rating and Candid's Platinum Seal of Transparency, independent recognition of strong financial management, accountability, and transparency. For 990s, Impact Reports and Strategic Plans, visit PEThoodga.org/reports.

This release was published on openPR.