SAN FRANCISCO — On Monday, a long line of dogs gathered on a street in San Francisco to receive complimentary vaccinations aimed at addressing an outbreak of a highly contagious disease that can be lethal if left untreated.

As part of a cooperative initiative between the San Francisco SPCA, San Francisco Animal Care and Control, and various other local organizations, dog owners were able to obtain vaccines against parvovirus and other illnesses in the Tenderloin neighborhood.

Andre Baylor brought his 10-year-old Chihuahua, named Troy, to participate in the program. Concerned about the potentially fatal nature of the virus, he expressed his determination to protect his pet. “This was free, so I thought I’d take advantage,” said Baylor. “He’s my best friend.”

According to Jessica Bogosian, the director of community medicine programs at the San Francisco SPCA, parvovirus targets the stomach and intestines of dogs and spreads through direct dog-to-dog contact, as well as via contaminated feces and environments. Common signs of the illness include vomiting and diarrhea.

“It’s crucial to understand that parvo is nearly entirely preventable with vaccinations,” Bogosian stated.

The free vaccination clinics provided a range of services including distemper and parvo vaccinations, flea treatments, deworming, and microchipping, along with food and supplies for pets. The SPCA expected to help up to 100 dogs on that day and plans to organize a second clinic.

Recently, there has been a notable increase in parvovirus cases in the San Francisco area, but Bogosian mentioned that this illness can affect communities nationwide.

“I’ve worked in the field for over 20 years, and I’ve encountered it in urban settings, rural areas, and nearly everywhere in between,” she noted.

In 2022, state and federal health officials conducted an investigation into a parvovirus outbreak in Michigan, which resulted in the deaths of at least 30 dogs, most of whom were unvaccinated.