American Humane Society Hosts Inaugural Pet Wellness Clinic in Belle Glade

BELLE GLADE, FL – American Humane Society, the country’s first national animal welfare organization, recently hosted a free pet wellness clinic in Belle Glade, with support from Mars and PEDIGREE Foundation.

167 pets from 106 families were brought to Belle Glade Library, where veterinarians from Banfield Pet Hospital and VCA Animal Hospitals provided a range of services, including wellness exams, vaccinations, flea and tick prevention, and microchipping. Over 350 life-saving vaccines were administered at the clinic, including rabies and species-specific combinations.

The wellness clinic brought accessible pet health care to the community, equipping local pet parents with the tools and resources they need to prepare in the event of a natural disaster and safeguard the health and well-being of their cherished companions. Unfortunately, pets often get lost during natural disasters. Pets with microchips have an increased likelihood of being returned home because, while ID tags may fall off or become unreadable over time, microchips provide permanent and accessible information about the pet’s family and where to reach them.

“This clinic reflects American Humane Society’s deep commitment to helping families keep their pets safe, healthy, and cared for, especially in communities vulnerable to natural disasters,” said Dr. Robin Ganzert, President and CEO of American Humane Society. “South Florida is home to our Animal Sanctuary and one of our offices, so we are especially proud to bring this vital service to a community where we live and work. We are grateful for the support from the PEDIGREE Foundation, Mars, Banfield Pet Hospital, VCA Animal Hospitals, Zoetis and the Belle Glade Library for helping us make a meaningful difference in the lives of pets and the people who love them.”

Each furry friend received a free VIP (Very Important Pet) goodie bag filled with food, leashes, bowls, and healthy treats.

“We were proud to support American Humane Society’s free pet wellness clinic in Belle Glade, FL alongside PEDIGREE Foundation, helping local pet parents access critical care and resources to stay prepared for disasters and emergencies,” said Annette Jennings, Director of Global Community Engagement and Corporate Giving for Mars. “At Mars, we’re committed to strengthening the communities where we live and work, and we are honored to partner with American Humane Society to bring this vital resource to families in need.”

“At PEDIGREE Foundation, we believe that every dog deserves a loving home and the care they need to live healthy, happy lives,” said Deb Fair, Executive Director of PEDIGREE Foundation. “We’re proud of our longstanding partnership with American Humane Society to support impacted communities during a natural disaster and to deliver essential veterinary services and resources to pet families across the country. Events like the Belle Glade wellness clinic are a powerful example of how collaboration can remove barriers to pet care.”

The overwhelming response from the Belle Glade community highlights the need for accessible pet care services and the importance of collaboration among local organizations.

For more information about future events and how you can support the American Humane Society’s mission, please visit AmericanHumane.org.

About American Humane Society

American Humane Society is the United States’ first national humane organization and the world’s largest certifier of animal welfare, helping to verify the humane treatment of more than one billion animals across the globe each year. Founded in 1877, American Humane Society has been at the forefront of virtually every major advancement in the humane movement to rescue, care for and protect animals. For more information or to support our life-changing work, please visit www.AmericanHumane.org, follow us on Facebook, X and Instagram and subscribe to our channel on YouTube for the latest breaking news and features about the animals with whom we share our Earth.

About PEDIGREE Foundation
We believe every dog deserves a loving, forever home. PEDIGREE Foundation is an independent 501(c)(3) non-profit organization working to help end pet homelessness. Nearly 3.1 million dogs end up in shelters and rescues every year, and nearly half never find a home. The foundation was established in 2008 by Mars Petcare, maker of PEDIGREE® food for dogs, to help increase dog adoption rates. We’ve awarded more than 6,300 grants and over $14 million to U.S. shelters and rescues that help dogs in need. Since launching our Canadian grant program in 2022, we have provided $345k CAD to local shelters and rescues in need across Canada, as well as $20k CAD in Disaster Relief. At PEDIGREE Foundation, we’re working toward a day when all dogs are safe, secure, cared for, fed well and loved. See how you can help at PedigreeFoundation.org.

About Mars, Incorporated
Mars, Incorporated is driven by the belief that the world we want tomorrow starts with how we do business today. As an approximately $55bn family-owned business, our diverse and expanding portfolio of leading pet care products and veterinary services support pets all around the world and our quality snacking and food products delight millions of people every day. We produce some of the world’s best-loved brands including ROYAL CANIN®, PEDIGREE®, WHISKAS®, CESAR®, DOVE®, EXTRA®, M&M’S®, SNICKERS® and BEN’S ORIGINAL™. Our international networks of pet hospitals, including BANFIELD™, BLUEPEARL™, VCA™ and ANICURA™ span preventive, general, specialty, and emergency veterinary care, and our global veterinary diagnostics business ANTECH® offers breakthrough capabilities in pet diagnostics. The Mars Five Principles — Quality, Responsibility, Mutuality, Efficiency and Freedom — inspire our 150,000 Associates to act every day to help create a better world for people, pets and the planet. For more information about Mars, please visit mars.com. Join us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube.