There are more than 730,000 pets living with Houston families who love them, but can’t always afford veterinary care. In our 3 Houston clinics alone, Emancipet sees 70,000 visits each year. Even with seeing tens of thousands of pet visits at our clinics annually, there’s more work to do in providing affordable access to low-cost veterinary care for pet families in Houston.
On Sunday, April 19, 2026, along with our partners at the City of Houston’s BARC Animal Shelter and Adoptions, we hosted our first-ever large-scale drive through vaccine clinic called Pet Wellness Day. This event was rooted in our mission, focused on providing Houston pet families with the vaccines and microchips they need to stay healthy and stay together, free of charge.
“Keeping pets healthy and connected to their families is one of the most effective ways to support our entire community,” Jarrad Mears, shelter director at BARC, said. “Through partnerships like this, we’re bringing essential services directly to Houston residents, helping prevent illness, reducing shelter intake, and ensuring more pets stay where they belong.”
Another Shot at Health
Thanks to generous donations from our partners at Elanco and PetPlace, we served over 400 pets in Houston! That’s hundreds of pet families who were provided with vaccines that defend against diseases like rabies, parvo, and feline leukemia or provided the microchips that they need to reunite with their pets in some of the most stressful moments in any pet parent’s lives. And we couldn’t have done this without the support of our sponsors and partners like Elanco.
“At Elanco, we believe that access to preventive care is vital for fostering healthier, more active animals and communities,” said Lee Thomas, Senior Director, Brand and Impact Communications at Elanco. “By providing free vaccinations for Emancipet’s event, we show our support to the veterinarians on the frontline so they can continue enhancing the quality of life for pets and their owners in Houston. We are proud to collaborate with Emancipet and the City of Houston’s BARC Animal Shelter to make healthcare more accessible and affordable for everyone.”
Feeding the pets, and hearts, of Houston
This event didn’t stop at offering free microchips and vaccinations to the dogs and cats of Houston. We were also joined by the Houston Humane Society, who joined us on site to host their pet food bank. Thanks to their initiative, over 4,500 pounds of food was distributed during the Pet Wellness Day!
“We are always grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with local organizations to better serve communities facing hardship,” shares Sue Curtis, Pet Resource Manager for Houston Human Society. “Events like Pet Wellness Day are essential in connecting pet owners with the resources they need. Houston Humane Society is committed to keeping pets and their families together. By engaging with new community members, we aim to ensure they are aware of available resources and know where to turn for assistance.”
Relive Houston’s Pet Wellness Day
Looking Ahead
With over 400 pets seen on Pet Wellness Day and almost 300 vouchers for in-clinic vaccines distributed for those that we couldn’t serve at the event, we were proud to be able to fill a need for our community. But the work doesn’t end there!
“Every pet family deserves access to high-quality veterinary care, regardless of their financial situation,” Cheryl Katon, chief executive officer at Emancipet, said. “At Emancipet, we believe cost should never stand in the way of veterinary care for our cats and dogs. Pet Wellness Day is one way we’re bringing affordable services directly into the community in Houston, helping keep pets healthy and supporting the people who love them.“
Stay tuned to see where we take Pet Wellness Day next.
Thank you to our sponsors for their support!
