Pet owners wait in line outside of the Butler County Humane Society building for the vaccine clinic on Sunday, March 1. Sol McCormick/Butler Eagle

CONNOQUENESSING TWP — With the cost of pet care rising higher, the Butler County Humane Society is offering ways to make some of those bills a little lighter.

The humane society opened its doors at 10 a.m. Sunday, March 1, for the first vaccination clinic of the year. The clinic is open to both cats and dogs and offers vaccinations, microchips, pest prevention and more.

Sami Lovich and Melissa Marzullo brought their four dogs for their annual rabies vaccine. Lovich said she prefers the clinic over going to the vet because it’s cheaper and more modular.

“When I go to the vet, you have to get the checkup. Here, you can just get the vaccines you need and pay for just that,” she said.

Marzullo added the cost of care has only grown over the years, making opportunities such as this one of the most accessible ways for pet owners to take care of their furry friends.

Sami Lovich holds the leash to her dog, Daisee, while waiting in line outside of the Butler County Humane Society building for the vaccine clinic on Sunday, March 1. Sol McCormick/Butler Eagle

Emma Garris — volunteer, foster and adoption coordinator for the humane society — said the organization sees its clinics as one of the ways it can show appreciation to the community that supports it.

“Our clinic is a way for us to give back to the community. We bring the vets here and they offer vaccines and microchips and mini-exams, just some things that we can’t provide in house,” she explained.

She said affordability is a strong tenant of the clinic, especially as cost of care has continued to rise.

“We have packages of vaccines for both cats and dogs. It’s expensive in itself just to make a vet appointment just to get a vaccine. So this is kind of a one and done thing and then you come back next year,” Garris said.

Gizmo, left, and Ruby wait in line outside of the Butler County Humane Society building for the vaccine clinic on Sunday, March 1. Sol McCormick/Butler Eagle

She said the humane society tries to alleviate both up-front and long-term costs a pet owner may confront in the hopes of making things more affordable for them.

“We also do a pet food pantry alongside the vaccine clinics. The pantry is on the last Thursday of every month. We do this to help provide basic care,” she added.

The humane society holds multiple clinics each year. For 2026, future clinics will be from 10 a.m. to noon on June 21, Sep. 13 and Nov. 8.

Daisee sits next to her owner, Sami Lovich, while waiting in line outside of the Butler County Humane Society building for the vaccine clinic on Sunday, March 1. Sol McCormick/Butler Eagle