Animal Welfare Professionals

We are looking at some reform measures at our local shelter. Some of the recommendations include vaccination and microchipping of animals upon intake. This shelter currently does neither. They intake about 900 dogs and 1000 cats on a yearly basis. What would the yearly cost of these vaccinations and microchips be? What grants/alternate funding opportunities are available? 

There are many options available out there. I have found that most companies are willing to make great deals with shelters. I have a bogo free deal with my vaccine rep. Our microchips usually run between $4.50 and $7.50 each depending on sales available.  

Most of the veterinary supply companies (MWI, Henry Schein, etc.), have special shelter pricing for vaccines.  FVRCP runs around $1.58 per dose, DHPP $2.48 and Bordetella right around $2.50.  Of course this depends upon the company.  Zoetis has a good shelter program as well.

We use both Avid chips (4.95) and 24 Petwatch chips ($7.50).  As we use Petpoint, the 24 Petwatch chips are automatically registered upon adoption or RTO.

I just learned about a new free price comparison tool that will help you find out which of your vendors has the lowest price on what you're looking for. You do already have to be signed up with the vendors such as Zoetis, Patterson, Henry Schein, MWI, but once you are, you simply log in to www.vetcove.com - enter all your log in info to the various vendors and then search for what you're looking for such as rabies or FVRCP. It will pop up the brand and price from each vendor. During my consults I often find that shelters are overpaying for items but never knew because they didn't have time to make a bunch of calls to see who had the best deal at any given time. Vetcove.com does this for you at no charge.

Also, you may want to look into Found Animals for microchips. They are $4.95 and there is always free registration so you can update your contact information as much as you need to (no annual fees or charges down the road like with some other chip companies). As long as you aren't in a contract for your shelter software that requires you purchase a certain brand of chip you should be able to buy whatever you want.

I hope this helps!