Cove pet vaccination clinic hits record high 

Special to Leader-Press

Pet owners of cats, dogs and even a ferret lined up literally for miles for the City of Copperas Cove Animal Control Facility’s quarterly pet vaccination clinic.

“Traffic was backed to at least 7th street from the high school parking lot,” Copperas Cove Animal Control Supervisor David Wellington said. “We had 347 signatures which represent cars. People had as many as six or seven animals in their vehicles. I think the biggest thing about this shot clinic is it was $20 for everything.”

The vaccination clinic provides a venue for discounted yearly vaccinations for pets such as rabies and distemper. Vaccines for Bordetella and flea and heartworm medication were available at an additional cost. The clinic was open to the public including those outside of Copperas Cove.

“It was bigger than what I expected. We usually treat about 300 animals,” Wellington said. “At this clinic, we treated 667. The veterinarian said this was the biggest one they had ever done. They were super excited.”

More than two dozen veterinary and animal shelter staff along with volunteers from the Copperas Cove Citizens Fire Academy and Copperas Cove Five Hills Ambassador Kaydence Roberts whose platform of service is Kindness to Animals executed the event.

“I was happy to see that they were all getting their needed vaccinations that were put on hold because of the pandemic,” Roberts said. “Even though it was hot and the cars stretched for miles everyone was so polite and patient. Even all the animals got along.”

Wellington said Roberts has volunteered for the animal shelter for five years despite being allergic to animals.

“Kaydence does an excellent job with anything that we ask her to do,” Wellington said. “For the clinic, she worked with pet owners, helping them stay in their cars and kept them in small groups handing out stuffed animals for their pets. She is always pleasant to work with and such a great volunteer.”

Wellington said he was grateful Copperas Cove could host the event for the community.

“The veterinarian said people from Waco, Mexia, Hamilton and other areas asked if they needed to be from Cove to get their pets vaccinated,” Wellington said. “Belton cancelled theirs and didn’t have one. I think this one would have been bigger but the advertising was out for only 10 days as we worked to find a location that would keep everyone safe. Everyone was wearing his mask and it was outdoors.”

The veterinary staff and volunteers stayed until every pet was treated, pushing the event well past the clinic’s 7 p.m. ending time.

“The last pet was vaccinated just past midnight at 12:28 a.m. It was 1 a.m. by the time we got all of the equipment loaded up and finally finished,” Wellington said.

The Copperas Cove Animal Control Facility hosts the pet vaccination clinic three times a year in February, June and August with the next clinic scheduled on August 19.