Borough bows out of shot business

MAT-SU -- If you rely on the Mat-Su Borough staff to keep your pet's shot record current, it may be time to find a veterinarian or get comfortable enough with needles to do it yourself.

The Mat-Su Borough, as of Monday, will no longer offer some of its low-cost vaccinations to borough dog and cat owners. Canine parvo/distemper and feline distemper/leukemia vaccines will no longer be offered on a walk-in basis to the general public, according to information from the shelter. Rabies vaccines and microchips will still be available and animals moving through the shelter will still be vaccinated.

Mat-Su Borough Animal Care and Regulation Chief David Allison said the decision to stop offering walk-in shots is in large part of an effort to encourage people to develop a relationship with their veterinarian.

"We're changing the way we do business," Allison said. "We're trying to get people more involved with their animals."

Part of the decision, he said, relates to a recent decision to bring a vet on staff at the shelter. Some in the veterinary field, he said, are nervous that bringing a veterinarian on borough staff will allow the borough to be in competition with them. That's not the case, Allison said, and the change in the vaccination policy is partially evidence of that. To further curry a spirit of participation with area vets, he said, the borough is planning meetings with local vets to discuss areas of overlap and find ways to work together.

"Is it a concern?" Allison asked, when discussing talk about competition. "Yes, and one that we're looking to alleviate."

Another concern, Allison said, is that people won't vaccinate their pets if the walk-in vaccinations are no longer available. At the borough shelter's counter a list of local veterinarians, specialties and contact information is available, and Allison said staff will have information discussing the benefits of vaccination available for those who stop by the shelter. Low-cost options are available, he said, and people can do their own vaccinations through local stores if they choose to.

Although animals must, according to borough code have current rabies shots, shots for other illnesses are not mandated. Allison said he's hoping local vet clinics will offer more low-cost shot clinics, and the borough will continue to offer the shots at clinics held in outlying areas. One such clinic, Allison said, is planned at the Sunshine community on Dec. 13 at the community ambulance hall. Offering the shots at remote locations, he said, is less of a conflict, as some in the area rarely get a chance to see a veterinarian. With the borough's decision to scale back its shot offerings, Allison said he's hoping others in the field step up to the plate.

"I think everybody is starting to get on the same page now, to do what's best for the animals," Allison said. "We're all in the same business -- we just do different things, have different niches."