By Anne Marie Amacher
The Catholic Messenger
DAVENPORT — Father Rudolph Juarez walked through the parking lot of St. Anthony Parish and the sidewalk along Main to Fourth streets blessing dogs in celebration of the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi. The pets and their owners were waiting in line for the “Vax and Wags” free vaccine clinic for dogs Oct. 5.
The Humane Society of Scott County in Davenport and Quad City Animal Welfare Center in Milan, Illinois, administered 180 rabies and 180 distemper/parvovirus vaccines. St. Francis of Assisi Pet Ministry of St. John Vianney Parish in Bettendorf organized the event. St. Anthony Parish Pastoral Associate John Cooper distributed cups of water for dogs as the morning heat rose. He had not expected so many people to attend.
St. John Vianney Parish has helped at St. Anthony Parish’s McAnthony Window for years through its bicycle distribution and with collections taken to purchase bus tokens for the window’s guests, Cooper said. One McAnthony Window volunteer contacted pet ministry founder Kim McCool of St. John Vianney after noticing the number of guests with dogs. McCool began a monthly St. Francis giving table at St. Anthony. The table offers dog and cat food, bowls, leashes, collars and more, McCool said.
She observed a number of guests with dogs during the monthly giving table event and decided to speak with Quad City Animal Welfare about bringing its mobile clinic to St. Anthony. “Their largest mobile event was 75.” With funds from St. Francis of Assisi Pet Ministry, the clinic offered up to 200 doses each of the two vaccines. McCool said the early turnout surprised her.
A guest named Aubreona learned about the clinic on Facebook. Her dog, Gumball, received both vaccines. A little yelping after one vaccine shocked Aubreona but she said her dog was fine. “It’s been a long morning,” she said, adding that she was grateful for the free vaccines. As the guests left, they received Information from the Humane Society and Animal Welfare Center about the vaccines.
Father Juarez said he never expected so many people to come to the clinic. “I knew it would happen. That St. Anthony’s would go to the dogs,” he laughed.