WESTWOOD, N.J.—Westwood Regional Veterinary Hospital, newly opened at 346 Kinderkamack Road, wants your dog current on Lyme disease vaccine—so it’s offering the service for free.
A standard Westwood Regional Veterinary Hospital vaccination visit includes a comprehensive physical exam, a blood test for Lyme and other diseases, and the inoculation itself.
If the dog has not been inoculated, a booster shot is required—and this is offered for free as well. The vaccine is good for a year. Sorry, cat owners: no such vaccine has been developed for kitty.
The single service normally costs $202.36. With the booster shot, an owner’s total out of pocket cost for one pup would be $352.36.
According to Borough Council President Ray Arroyo, “Even if just half of our registered dogs were presented for the initial and booster service the aggregate dollar value of savings for Westwood residents would be $107,117.44.”
Arroyo, who met with pet hospital officials and Councilmember Beth Dell, who is the liaison to the Board of Health, added, “That’s real money back in the pockets of our residents— money to keep local businesses healthy—while the Westwood Regional Veterinary Hospital keeps our pets safe from Lyme disease—for free.”
According to Dell at press time, 608 dogs are licensed to Westwood residents.
This isn’t the first hospital partnership Westwood enjoys: among its local works, Hackensack University Medical Center/Meridian Health at Pascack Valley donated a senior van and, per statute, offers free physical exams to new Westwood Volunteer fire Department members.
Westwood Regional Veterinary Hospital opened in January, promising “anything for any pet, anytime” and diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up in one location—fully 36,000 square feet and three stories.
Among its offerings are 24/7 general practitioners and 24/7 emergency care, rehabilitation services, a luxury pet resort, nutritional counseling, DNA testing, and a 24-hour pet pharmacy.
It even takes walk-ins and makes house calls, “especially helpful for large pets such as horses,” the hospital’s website says.
Its Pompton Lakes location has been serving the community since 1978.
Arroyo said he and Dell met with Westwood Regional Veterinary Hospital COO Keith Harris and president Dr. George Cattiny Jr. to discuss how the hospital might best stand out as a good neighbor.
He said the hospital was excited to help the borough tackle the effects of a growing deer and deer tick problem, and that other offerings are in the works.
“They have quite an operation there. I was floored. I left there wishing I was a dog,” Arroyo told Pascack Press July 24.
Ticks bite pets too
The New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife warns that several species of ticks are found in New Jersey. In addition to being an unwelcome parasite on people, pets, and wildlife, ticks can transmit certain diseases such as Lyme Disease and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever.
Harris told Pascack Press on July 26 that this May in the Garden State 21,203 pets were tested for Lyme disease. Of these, 1,884—or approximately 10%—tested positive.
He said that at this latitude the tick problem is a growing problem not only for pets but also for the humans who love them.
“The compliance rate is usually very small. Most pets aren’t protected at all. We see what we’re doing as community education and protection, and that’s better than any advertising,” Harris said.
The free vaccine and related services are available through Sept. 15. For an appointment call (201) 351-3697 or visit wwrvh. You’ll need to present your dog’s current license/tag on arrival.