Gwinnett County Animal Welfare announced October 1 that it is launching a series of free pet vaccine clinics this fall, made possible entirely by a legacy donation from the estate of the late Stephen J. Helman. The first clinic is set for Wednesday, October 7, from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Bill Atkinson Animal Welfare Center, 884 Winder Highway in Lawrenceville.
“We are incredibly grateful to Mr. Helman for this generous gift and its lasting impact on Gwinnett’s pets and their families,” said Nicole Love Hendrickson, Chairwoman of the Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners, in the county’s announcement.
What's Included
Each clinic offers onsite microchipping along with one-year vaccines: rabies, Bordetella, and DHPP for dogs, and rabies and FVRCP for cats. Staff will also be on hand with spay/neuter resources and consultation for owners looking to get a pet fixed elsewhere in the county’s network. Every service is free to Gwinnett County residents.
The Schedule
Clinics are scheduled on alternating Wednesday evenings and Saturday afternoons through the end of the year: Wednesday, October 7 (4–7 p.m.); Saturday, October 17 (noon–3 p.m.); Wednesday, November 4 (4–7 p.m.); Saturday, November 21 (noon–3 p.m.); Wednesday, December 2 (4–7 p.m.); and Saturday, December 19 (noon–3 p.m.). The county says additional clinics are already being planned at various locations for 2027, suggesting this will become a standing resource rather than a one-time event.
How to Register
Preregistration is required, and each clinic is capped at roughly 200 dogs and 100 cats, with a limit of three animals per household per visit. Walk-ups will be accommodated on a space-available basis once preregistered slots are filled. Dogs must arrive on a non-retractable leash, and cats need to be in a secure carrier. Residents can register and find full details at GwinnettCounty.com/PetVaccine, or reach Animal Welfare directly at 770-822-3200 or [email protected].
For anyone new to the county, or weighing a move here, it’s a small but telling detail about how Gwinnett runs its animal services — a donor’s gift turned into a recurring, no-cost benefit for every pet-owning household in the county, administered out of a single welfare center in Lawrenceville rather than scattered across a patchwork of nonprofits. Vet visits for routine vaccines typically run $75 to $150 per pet at a private clinic in metro Atlanta, so a family with two or three animals stands to save real money simply by planning around this schedule.