My capstone project examines the geographic and social factors that influence canine heartworm disease in Hillsborough County, Florida. Using intake data from the Hillsborough County Pet Resource Center and geospatial mapping in ArcGIS, the study plotted the intake origins of heartworm-positive dogs from 2021 to 2024. These data were layered with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Social Vulnerability Index (SVI), which highlights communities that may face increased barriers to accessing resources. By viewing these datasets together, the project provides a visual and qualitative understanding of where heartworm cases concentrate in the county and how those patterns relate to socioeconomic factors, transportation limitations, household structures, and access to veterinary care.

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The results show a clear overlap between areas with high rates of heartworm-positive dog intakes and neighborhoods with elevated social vulnerability. Communities such as the East Lake-Orient Park area, Ybor, the Palm River-Clair Mel area, Gibsonton, and parts of Plant City consistently appeared as regions where limited financial resources, transportation challenges, and systemic barriers may make preventive veterinary care more difficult to access. For many pet owners, cost remains the most significant obstacle to obtaining heartworm prevention, but additional challenges, including language accessibility, also play a role.

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My capstone presentation highlights the importance of targeted, community-specific public health strategies. By identifying where both vulnerability and disease burden are highest, shelters and local organizations can more effectively direct resources such as free or low-cost heartworm testing, prevention programs, bilingual outreach, and mobile veterinary services. While my presentation is based on qualitative interpretation, future research incorporating statistical modeling and clinic-location assessments may further clarify the relationship between social vulnerability and disease risk. Ultimately, this presentation advocates for a more proactive and equitable approach to companion  animal health, emphasizing the importance of meeting communities where they are.