Topics: Animal Care Community Engagement

    Annual Penn Vet Clinic Delivers Preventive Care to Hundreds of Philadelphia Pets

    January 22, 2026
    By: Martin J. Hackett
    Two veterinarians examining a cat wearing a red beaded collar, one holding the cat while the other checks its neck.
    Veterinary students Lauren Pursel, V'28, left, and Audrey Griffith, V'27, attend to Pickles during the day's Wellness and Vaccination Clinic at Penn Vet's Ryan Hospital.

    Faculty In This Story

    David E. Holt

    David E. Holt, BVSc, DACVS

    Professor of Surgery (CE)

    David Holt graduated with a Bachelor of Veterinary Science from the University of Sydney in 1983 and worked in private practice until 1985. He completed an internship at the University […]

    The Ryan Hospital at the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Veterinary Medicine (Penn Vet) hosted the 16th annual Dog and Cat Wellness and Vaccination Clinic on the Martin Luther King, Jr., Day of Service. The Clinic is the School’s largest community service event, providing veterinary care to pet owners who may not otherwise have easy access to veterinary care. Penn Medicine and CHOP also provided health screenings and free influenza vaccines for pet owners, making this a true “One Health” event.

    Nearly 220 pets were vaccinated, and Penn Vet students, faculty, and staff volunteered to participate in this year’s Clinic. Since its inception in 2009, the Clinic has vaccinated more than 3,700 pets.

    Veterinary students prepare vaccines.
    Veterinary students Carolyn Blackman, V’29, left, and Sophia Daly, V’29, prepare the day’s vaccines for the hundreds of pet dogs and cats who were registered for the Wellness and Vaccination Clinic.
    Veterinary student in gray scrubs talks with a clinician in blue scrubs about examining a dog who is on a table.
    Fourth-year veterinary student Alaina Duessel, V’26, discusses the physical exam of a family pet with first-year veterinary student Jayla Harris, V’29, during Ryan Hospital’s annual Wellness and Vaccination Clinic.
    Veterinary students in blue scrubs smile for the camera.
    Veterinary students, L to R, Katie Mina, V’28, Kirstin Schwasnick, V’28, Madeline Stewart, V’29, and Hannah Auten, V’27, prepare a supply of flea and tick prevention during Penn Vet’s annual Dog and Cat Wellness and Vaccination Clinic on the MLK Jr., Day of Service.
    Large curly haired dog gets examined on the floor of an exam room.
    Veterinary student Julie Rosta, V’26, checks the heart and lungs of a family pet during Ryan Hospital’s Wellness and Vaccination Clinic.
    Veterinary students microchip an orange cat.
    Veterinary students microchip a pet cat during Ryan Hospital’s Wellness and Vaccination Clinic. A significant advantage of microchipping is its permanence, ensuring pets can always be identified and returned to their owner.
    Veterinary students help a black dog.
    Veterinary student Zoe Araujo, V’27, left, performs a wellness exam during Penn Vet’s 16th annual Wellness and Vaccination Clinic on the Martin Luther King, Jr., Day of Service.

    “The Clinic was a wonderful opportunity to connect with our local Philadelphia community that may not otherwise have access to routine care for their pets,” said Professor of Surgery David Holt, and faculty sponsor for the event. “By offering vaccinations and preventive care, we reduced the incidence of preventable infectious diseases, such as rabies, and improved the overall health of our pet population.”

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    About Penn Vet

    Ranked among the top ten veterinary schools worldwide, the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine (Penn Vet) is a global leader in veterinary education, research, and clinical care. Founded in 1884, Penn Vet is the first veterinary school developed in association with a medical school. The school is a proud member of the One Health initiative, linking human, animal, and environmental health.

    Penn Vet serves a diverse population of animals at its two campuses, which include extensive diagnostic and research laboratories. Ryan Hospital in Philadelphia provides care for dogs, cats, and other domestic/companion animals, handling more than 30,000 patient visits a year. New Bolton Center, Penn Vet’s large-animal hospital on nearly 700 acres in rural Kennett Square, PA, cares for horses and livestock/farm animals. The hospital handles more than 6,300 patient visits a year, while our Field Services have gone out on more than 5,500 farm service calls, treating some 22,400 patients at local farms. In addition, New Bolton Center’s campus includes a swine center, working dairy, and poultry unit that provide valuable research for the agriculture industry.