Charleston Animal Society breaks Guinness World Record

Charleston Animal Society announced it broke the Guinness World Records title for most pledges received for a 24-hour pet vaccination campaign along with numerous South Carolina animal records. Hundreds of families attended the 24-hour VAX-A-PALOOZA event at the North Charleston Coliseum & Performing Arts Center to get almost 2,000 pets' lifesaving vaccinations including Rabies, Distemper, and Parvo.

“With this World Record, the Lowcountry showed just how much people here truly love their animals,” said Joe Elmore, CAWA, CFRE, Charleston Animal Society president and CEO, in an organizational release.¹ “We will always remember that it was here in North Charleston, South Carolina, where hundreds of families turned out to vaccinate and microchip their pets while setting a World Record.”

According to the release,¹ this event was organized under the Animal Society’s No Kill South Carolina statewide initiative and brought 30 veterinarians, 230 support staff, and volunteers to help administer care to those who attended. The event began on February 17, 2023, at 7 PM EST and ended on February 18, 2023, at 8 PM EST.

At the end of the event, VAX-A-PALOOZA broke the Guinness World Record title with 2,226 pledges verified by the Guinness World Records Official Adjudicator from the United Kingdom, breaking the previous record, which was 1,867 pledges. Along with the Guinness World Record, VAX-A-PALOOZA also broke the following South Carolina records¹:

1. Most animals vaccinated in a single event
2. Most animals microchipped in a single event
3. Most animals registered in a digital lost and found system in a single event
4. Most veterinarians participating in a single event

“We want to thank all of the veterinarians, volunteers, and staff, who showed up today, rolled up their sleeves, and provided preventive lifesaving care to 2,000 animals,” expressed Elmore. “These veterinarians, support staff, and volunteers, from throughout South Carolina, North Carolina, and as far away as Boston, allowed VAX-A-PALOOZA to break a GUINNESS WORLD RECORD title and demonstrated the magnitude of what we can accomplish working shoulder-to-shoulder for the benefit of animals and the families who love them.”¹

Along with vaccinations, pets were microchipped, owners received emergency grab’n go kits for emergencies, and registered for Petco Love Lost.

Reference

Charleston Animal Society leads effort to break Guinness World Records™ title for animals. News release. Charleston Animal Society. February 27, 2023. Accessed March 2, 2023. https://charlestonanimalsociety.org/37054-2/