Low Cost Vaccine Pop Up Clinic Serves 145 Dogs & Cats

This past Sunday seen scorching temperatures, this didn't deter pet lovers from attending a low cost pop up clinic for dogs & cats at the city's town center.

This is the second clinic hosted by the organization in Bolingbrook, having hosted an inaugural clinic in July of 2023. "Mayor Mary Alexander Basta is a huge supporter of her residents with pets, understanding the challenges some face in obtaining care for their beloved animals and when we called she threw her support behind us once again. ", said K9 Enrichment Initiative, Executive Director Cynthia Lynn. "The Mayor's office presented us with a $1500 grant towards purchasing the supplies and vaccines for the event, allowing us to offer the service to residents for only $10.00, free to Link card holders. Petco Love Foundation provides the Distemper/Parvo and HCP vaccines for free as part of their #Let's Get Vaccinated mission, having provided 3 million vaccines to partner organizations across the nation, like K9EI. We have only one exclusion, dog breeders, otherwise everyone's dog is welcomed to our clinics", further explained the executive director, "we're here to help, not judge".

The village offered the Town Center location, which worked out perfectly providing tents, tables, chairs and electric for our set up. People are often amazed at our pet "m.a.s.h." clinics where dog and cats are administered Distemper/Parvo, Bordetella, Feline HCP, Rabies and Microchips in pop up tents equipped with medical supplies. "We have a lot of infracture gear and then we bring in loads of food and supplies for giveaways", explained lead volunteer Christina Gonzales who manages the registration desk and kept things moving smoothly.

The clinic was supported by 14 volunteers, with 4 professional certified vet techs and the Medical Director of Veterinary Emergency Group, (VEG) Dr. Christine Kilpatrick. Cynthia Lynn stated, "This is VEG's first time partnering with the organization and Dr. Kilpatrick and her two ER Vet Tech's brought fresh enthusiasm to the clinic that day, we are looking forward to a continued partnership".

In asking longtime volunteer, Vaide Rapovilucci who is also an 3 time adopter from the organization why she keeps volunteering, she had this to say, "I am an animal lover, I know people love their animals and if we can provide low cost vaccines to keep animals with their family's, I am here to put in the work. We can not rescue our way out of the current animal crisis, we need to be proactive and keep pets in homes."

K9 Enrichment Initiative/K9EI Rescue returns indoors to host the next clinic, they have been running the past 3 months out of the Salvation Army Community Center in Joliet 1:00pm to 5:00pm on September 29, 2024.


K9 Enrichment Initiative is a 501c3 non-profit, founded in May of 2015, a foster based rescue located in the Plainfield, IL area.

To learn more about K9 Enrichment Initiative and their programs visit them on the web at www.k9ei.dog To volunteer you can inquire at info@k9ei.dog The organizations social media accounts are Facebook @K9EI4LIFE and Instagram at @k9enrichment