Feb. 7—The High Plains Humane Society (HPHS) is going to be vaccinating all dogs and cats that enter the City of Clovis Animal shelter. The agreement comes after Clovis City Commissioners voted to partner with the Humane Society at their most recent regular meeting Thursday.

"We see the need, and we offered to do it because it's needed," HPHS Vice President Gaye Cooke said.

According to the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), the city agrees to allow HPHS, its employees, agents and volunteers, to provide safe and appropriate vaccinations to dogs and cats entering the Animal Shelter, and to utilize the Animal Shelter to administer vaccinations, store vaccines, and store any associated equipment or supplies.

While the MOU had been in discussion for quite some time, Deputy Chief of Police Trevor Thron said this decision could help limit the spread of disease throughout the shelter.

He explained the vaccines would be DA2PP for dogs to prevent Distemper, Adenovirus Type 2 (Hepatitis), Parvo, and Parainfluenza. For cats, the vaccine is called FVRCP which prevents the same, but more cat-related diseases.

Cooke said it costs HPHS $10,000-$12,000 a year to do the vaccinations. She added that the Best Friends Animal Society has offered to provide a refrigerator to store the vaccines, along with $4,000 for start-up.

"We're thrilled this is all happening," Cooke added. HPHS is donating everything and will not receive any profit.

In addition to the approval of the MOU, the city was also seeking to return to mandatory spay and neutering. This went away in October of 2021 after local veterinarians were no longer able to provide these services for animals adopted.

Now, however, HPHS has been working with retired veterinarian Dr. David Hudson, who has agreed to provide low cost spay and neuter to those being adopted out of the shelter.

This is a passed resolution, but the start date is unknown.

"We're very thankful he [Hudson] is putting on this program," Thron said. "It offers lower costs for our area, and it will hopefully help lower the number of strays."

No matter the size or gender, prices are: $190 per dog, to include microchipping, shots, spay and neuter, rabies and wellness visits. The cost for cats is $90 for the same services.

Cooke said the HPHS is always looking for volunteers. For that information along with details on free vaccination clinics for the public, visit the High Plains Human Society Facebook page.