Arizona Humane Society says pet vaccine hesitancy drives surge in preventable diseases

PHOENIX (AZFamily) — The Arizona Humane Society says growing vaccine hesitancy among pet owners is driving a surge in preventable diseases, with parvo cases leading the increase.

The organization has seen a twofold increase in cases over the last two months. In November alone, the Humane Society recorded four times as many canine parvo cases as it did during the same period last year.

“There’s some evidence that concerns over administering vaccines to people or pets is rising, and for us it’s an enormous concern,” said Dr. Steven Hansen, CEO and president of the Arizona Humane Society.

Hansen said this represents the largest number of dogs with parvo the organization has ever seen. Nearly all sick pets arriving at the humane society are unvaccinated, and the issue extends beyond parvo to include canine distemper and rabies cases.

“We got more and more animals that are not getting vaccinated,” Hansen said. “The cost to the pet is their life.”

A study led by Boston University found that over 50 percent of pet owners surveyed exhibited vaccine hesitancy. Hansen argues that vaccines are critical to preventive healthcare and worries that continued skepticism could pose serious health problems for pets.

“We’ve had these vaccines for decades. They’re very effective. They’re very safe. Please get your dogs vaccinated,” Hansen said.

The Arizona Humane Society offers vaccines for as low as $27 for pet owners concerned about cost. The organization recommends consulting with a veterinarian for questions about vaccines or how they work.

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