ASPCA Vaccine Clinics Provide Long-Term Impact on Pet Health

Every Wednesday and Friday afternoon, ASPCA Community Veterinary Clinics in Queens, the Bronx, Brooklyn and Miami, Florida, open their doors to community members whose dogs and cats need vaccines.

During a recent event in Queens, the ASPCA Community Veterinary Clinic by The Rachael Ray Foundation™, welcomed some clients and their pets for the first time.

Viviana S.’s young grey-and-white adult cat, Luna, was the day’s first patient. Luna had recently given birth to four kittens. Viviana was also seeking help with trap-neuter-return services for strays in her neighborhood. During a physical exam, Luna was approved by veterinarian Dr. Evelyn Cintron for her upcoming spay surgery, which took place at the clinic several weeks later.

Dr. Evelyn Cintron prepares to vaccinate Luna.

Alexandra H. and her 5-year-old son, Adriel, brought their friendly 12-week-old puppy Tiana, who weighed 6.7 pounds. She received her rabies and distemper shots, as well as dewormer.

Alexandra was referred to the clinic by residents in her nearby building. She says that Tiana hasn’t gone outside yet.

Dr. Cintron vaccinates Tiana, who is distracted by a tray of yummy soft cheese provided by Michele Plata, a licensed veterinary technician, right.

“That’s a good point,” says Dr. Cintron. “Sometimes people forget to have their dogs vaccinated before being introduced to the outdoors. People get a new puppy, and they’re excited to take it to the park, but that can put new pets at risk. Alexandra did the right thing.”

Understanding Vaccines

Vaccinating pets has long been considered one of the easiest ways to help them live healthier lives.

Vaccines help prepare the body's immune system to fight the invasion of disease-causing organisms. Vaccines contain antigens — which look like the disease-causing organism to the immune system — but they don't cause disease. When the vaccine is introduced to the body, the immune system is mildly stimulated. If pets are then exposed to the disease, their immune systems are prepared to recognize and fight it off entirely or reduce the severity of the illness.

Luna, before and after receiving her vaccines.

In addition to vaccines, the ASPCA Community Veterinary Clinics provide basic veterinary services such as physical examinations, in-house diagnostics, microchips, spay/neuter surgeries, humane euthanasia and treatment of minor illnesses. Most services are provided free of charge for eligible clients.

By The Numbers

The ASPCA Community Veterinary Clinic by The Rachael Ray Foundation™ is the fourth Community Veterinary Clinic the ASPCA has opened since 2019. The first clinic opened in Miami, followed by clinics in the Bronx and Brooklyn. The clinics have collectively served more than 100,000 cats and dogs since then, making veterinary care in these communities more affordable and accessible. Since 2012, the ASPCA has also operated several mobile veterinary clinics throughout New York City, which have hosted 10 vaccine clinics so far this year.

Yadhira M. and her mother, Flor, brought their dogs, Princesa and Rocco, to the Queens Community Veterinary Clinic by The Rachael Ray Foundation™ for vaccines.

In 2025, as of August 30, the Queens clinic has served 1,813 pet owners, followed by 2,648 in the Bronx and 2,942 in Brooklyn. These numbers represent all visits, not just those for vaccines, according to Niki Culma, program data specialist for the ASPCA’s Community Medicine team.

The Queens clinic has also seen its largest number of pets in 2025 — 11,329 in total — which includes 8,688 cats and 2,641 dogs. Cats also outnumber dogs in Brooklyn, which has seen 10,277 pets — 6,921 cats and 3,356 dogs. In the Bronx, cat numbers are also higher — 3,857 — than dogs — 2,889 dogs, for a total of 6,746 pets.

“We’re reaching thousands of underserved pet owners each year,” says Dr. Lori Bierbrier, senior medical director, eastern region, for Community Medicine. “By doing so, we’re helping improve the health and welfare of dogs and cats in these communities.”

Clinics with Benefits

The vaccine clinics efficiently serve their basic function, and each pet’s brief exposure to veterinary staff sometimes opens the door to unknown, larger issues.

ASPCA veterinarians diagnosed a life-threatening wall hernia in Soki, above, during a routine visit for vaccines.

“We’ve caught a lot of serious things during routine vaccine clinics,” says Dr. Cintron, recalling a life-threatening abdominal wall hernia in a dog named Soki that was flagged by veterinarians during a visit to the Bronx clinic. The following day, Soki’s hernia, as well as a pyometra, was repaired, and she was spayed at the ASPCA Animal Hospital.

“Had she not come to our clinic, Soki could have died,” Dr. Cintron adds. She and other veterinarians examine each pet to make sure there are no systemic diseases.

Dr. Cintron examines a shy cat in its carrier while Michelle assists.

Wednesday and Friday vaccine clinics run from 1 to 5 p.m. and can accommodate more than 50 clients. Mobile vaccine clinics are also hosted periodically throughout the five boroughs by the ASPCA’s Community Medicine team. At a recent Bronx mobile clinic at Franz Siegel Park, 96 dogs and cats received essential vaccinations over a three-hour period. Vaccines at many of the events are provided to owned pets at no cost by Petco Love.

“All pets get a treat to distract them while they’re being vaccinated,” says Dr. Cintron. “For dogs, it’s soft cheese, and for cats, Churro. And, if they want to stay in their crates, that’s fine, too. We meet them where they are.”

Click here for more information about the ASPCA’s veterinary services.