How Youngstown pet owners can take advantage of low-cost vaccines

It’s essential to keep pets healthy with routine check-ups and vaccines. But sometimes, the cost of regular veterinary check-ups can be overwhelming.

Pet owners can get free wellness checks for their dogs and cats while helping students in the Youngstown State University Pre-Veterinary Society get hands-on experience.

Free wellness checks for pets

Every April, the organization holds a low-cost wellness and vaccine clinic for the Youngstown community’s pets in collaboration with Buster’s Brigade.

The Marjorie Hartman Family Foundation Pet Clinic is happening from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on April 23 at Stambaugh Stadium.

Students gain hands-on experience

The students are partnered with seven local veterinarians to lead them in performing wellness checks and giving any necessary vaccines.

Christina Costarella, who worked as a veterinarian for animals of all sizes, now serves as the advisor for the university’s pre-vet society and helps organize the clinic.

“The community can bring their animal in. Cats have to be in cages and dogs have to be on leashes,” Costarella said. “[Pets] will get a free wellness exam that the students of YSU are going to help the veterinarians out with where they learn how to give an exam. And the community gets a free exam as part of the deal. “

Low-cost vaccines for cats and dogs

Through the clinic, she said the students will also learn to administer vaccinations available at low costs, like “heartworm testing, feline leukemia testing, and parasite checks.”

“We want to reach out to the community members that can’t afford this care any other way,” Costarella said. “It’s just a really good opportunity for them to have their animals looked at with no hidden fees. “So it’s just a really good opportunity for people to get their animals examined, which is just good preventative medicine and maybe start them on de-worming protocols.”

Eastern Gateway Community College students will also attend the clinic to learn how to give wellness checks.

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