Planned PEThood Brings Free Preventive Care to 228 Pets in Northeast Georgia

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Winterville, GA — September 21, 2026

Planned PEThood of Georgia brought free preventive veterinary care to Northeast Georgia on Saturday, September 19, serving 228 pets at a free, community vaccine clinic at Pittard Park in Winterville. The clinic provided care to 166 dogs and 62 cats, helping pet owners access essential services that can keep pets healthy and prevent problems before they become crises.

Funded by Georgia Lighting and individual donor Faith Pescatore, the free vaccine clinic welcomed residents of Athens-Clarke, Madison, Oglethorpe, and surrounding counties, with no county identification required.

Throughout the day, Planned PEThood’s team provided a range of preventive services, including:

• 1-year rabies vaccinations
• Distemper/Parvo vaccines for dogs
• FVRCP vaccines for cats
• Microchips
• Flea and tick prevention

For the 228 pets who received care, these services represent more than vaccinations and microchips, they are an important investment in keeping pets healthy and helping them remain safely at home.

Community outreach clinics are a key part of Planned PEThood’s prevention-based approach to animal welfare. By bringing free and affordable veterinary services directly into communities, the organization helps remove some of the financial and geographic barriers that can make routine veterinary care difficult to access. Providing care early can help prevent minor health concerns from becoming emergencies and reduce the likelihood that families will face the difficult decision to surrender a pet because they cannot access or afford needed care.

“Prevention is at the heart of everything we do,” said CJ Bentley, CEO of Planned PEThood of Georgia. “When we can bring essential veterinary services directly into a community, we have an opportunity to make a meaningful difference for both pets and the people who care for them.”

Planned PEThood is especially grateful to the medical staff, employees, and volunteers who worked together to make the clinic possible. From providing veterinary care and keeping the clinic running smoothly to welcoming pet owners and helping with every detail behind the scenes, their time and dedication made it possible to serve 228 pets in a single day.

Planned PEThood also extends its thanks to Georgia Lighting and Faith Pescatore for helping make this outreach event possible and to the Northeast Georgia community for welcoming the team.

To learn more about Planned PEThood’s programs, upcoming outreach events, or volunteer opportunities, visit www.pethoodga.org or email outreach@pethoodga.org.

Read the press release.