By Jonathan Cramer

The Junction City/Geary County Animal Shelter, a nonprofit located in Junction City, has been selected as a recipient of the Apoquel grant by Zoetis, a prominent name in pet healthcare. This grant will empower the shelter to administer Apoquel, a relief solution for allergies, to approximately 100 dogs within the local community. The timing is notable as the grant aligns with Itchy Pet Awareness Month in August.

Allergic itch, a condition marked by dogs excessively scratching, chewing, and licking, can lead to severe consequences if left untreated. These include persistent discomfort, pain from scratching-induced skin damage, hair loss, redness, sores, and even secondary bacterial or fungal skin infections, disrupting both the dogs’ and owners’ daily lives.

Among the chosen grant awardees across the US, the Junction City/Geary County Animal Shelter stands out as one of ten nonprofit organizations. This initiative forms part of Zoetis’ celebration of the decade-long success of Apoquel, a remedy that has been prescribed over 13 million times for effectively combating allergic itch and inflammation caused by atopic and allergic dermatitis in dogs.