Chagas disease affects humans and animals worldwide. Infections in dogs is increasingly being recognized in the southern United States where kissing bug vectors occur, and these bugs have been identified in 27 states! Summer is the peak time of activity for kissing bugs, and many dog owners from the south have noticed kissing bugs in recent weeks, often seeking help from veterinarians for understanding the risks. Dr. Sarah Hamer, MS, PhD, DVM, DACVPM provides an introduction to her webinar in which she discusses Chagas disease as well as highlights from recent studies of naturally-infected dogs and kissing bugs collected from dog environments.