Driving Out Parvo to help dogs in Huntly

Waikato District Council and Anexa Vets are excited to announce their first Driving Out Parvo event – a vaccine drive event providing free parvovirus vaccines and microchips in Huntly.

The drive-through event will be taking place from 10am to 2pm on Saturday 20 September at Te Whare Awhi, 14 Fraser Street in Huntly.

Parvo is a highly contagious virus found in dogs that is extremely life-threatening and very expensive to treat.

The virus can live in the environment for over to a year, meaning that any unvaccinated dogs visiting homes or areas where an infected dog has been, are at risk of getting sick, and continuing the infection cycle.

Fortunately, the virus is preventable with a simple vaccination.

Council’s animal control education and engagement officer Zoey Jackson co-desgined the event with Anexa Vets.

“We are delighted to be able to offer this event to whaanau who are in genuine need and may not be able to afford this care,” she says.

Parvovirus is an ongoing issue within the district, with the number of cases on the rise in recent years, according to Anexa veterinarian, Dr Barbara Cater.

“Over the last six years, our Anexa clinics in Ngaaruawaahia, Te Kauwhata, and the former Huntly clinic have seen 107 cases of parvovirus – and that’s just within our own clinics,” she says.

“For 2025 up to the end of July, parvo cases have already increased by 244.7% compared to the whole of 2024.”

Attendees will also be able to enjoy a free barbecue on the day, along with prizes, dog product samples, and other goodies.

All dogs over six weeks old are welcome, as long as they are healthy, non-aggressive, on a lead, and are not pregnant.

The event is open to all Waikato district residents, so ensure you bring along proof of address, such as a utility bill or ID.

No bookings are needed to attend on the day.

ENDS