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Community Corner

Pet Perks

Low cost options for keeping our pets healthy.

We love our pets and want the absolute best care for them, but there’s nothing wrong with saving money in the process too. Raising a furry one can add up.

According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), the cost of caring for a dog annually can range anywhere from $580 for a small dog to $875 for a large dog, with the biggest cost factor being the amount of food consumed. Costs for cats are somewhere in the middle, averaging $670 a year.

There are a number of lower cost options for vaccinations and maintenance care that can whittle those costs down a bit. VIP Petcare Services offers low-cost mobile clinics every Saturday from 10-11:30 a.m. at on Hamilton Avenue in Campbell, and on Sundays from 4-5:30 p.m. at in Campbell. Through this mobile clinic, cat vaccinations are $19 each, and dog vaccinations range from $11 to $25. Other services include feline leukemia tests for $26, heartworm tests for $23 and microchipping for $39.

Find out what's happening in Campbellwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The Silicon Valley Animal Control Authority (SVACA) also offers low-cost veterinary services for residents of Campbell, Monte Sereno and Santa Clara. The clinic is open 9-10 a.m. every first and third Friday of the month. Vaccinations for cats and dogs are $15. Microchipping is also available for $35 during clinic hours and between 11 a.m.-4 p.m., every day except Monday.

The Humane Society Silicon Valley also offers low cost vaccinations and pet care services. An annual Bordetella vaccine to protect against kennel cough for dogs is $25, Rabies vaccines for dogs and cats are $20 and heartworm tests are $40. Specifically for cats, the feline distemper vaccine runs $25, the feline leukemia virus (FeLV) vaccine is $25 and FeLV test is $35. Microchipping services for both cats and dogs are $45 or $25 during a spay or neuter surgery.

Find out what's happening in Campbellwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

And the Pet Food Express store on 1152 Blossom Hill Road in San Jose has a complete VIP Wellness Center. The center is open on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. and offers physical exams for $40, vaccinations and more services at reduced rates.

Pet of the Week

This week’s pet in need of a home is lovely Marina, a 2-year-old tortoiseshell cat. She has a sweet personality and will contentedly purr on your lap. Adoptions at the Humane Society Silicon Valley (HSSV) include spaying services, vaccinations and microchips.

For more information about Marina and other cats available for adoption, visit the HSSV website.

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