Thousands of dogs, cats, ferrets vaccinated at MCHD weekend rabies clinics in Mobile

MOBILE, Ala. -- Every month, the Mobile County Health Department’s veterinarian provides hundreds of residents with low-cost vaccines for their dogs, cats and ferrets at a variety of locations.

Between July 2013 and June 2014, the MCHD Rabies Officer provided 2,292 rabies vaccines to domesticated pets, health records show. The state of Alabama tasks local Health Department’s with providing rabies vaccinations to pet owners for a variety of reasons.

Rabies is a virus that attacks the central nervous system. It is transmitted from infected mammals to man and is fatal once symptoms appear. Symptoms of rabies include unusual behavior, irritability, headache, fever, inability to eat or drink, balance problems, circling, seizures, coma, and, finally, death. All warm-blooded mammals, including humans, are susceptible to rabies.

Exposure to rabies may be minimized by eliminating all stray cats and dogs; having pet dogs, cats and ferrets vaccinated; staying away from wild animals, especially those acting abnormally; and not keeping exotic or wild animals as pets, health officials said.

Here’s a list of the weekend rabies clinics have been planned for cats, dogs and ferrets on Saturdays during the month of August in Mobile County:

·         12:30 - 2:30 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 2, Mobile Animal Shelter, 855 Owens St.

·         1:30 - 4 p.m., August 9, Pet Supplies Plus, 803 Hillcrest Road

·         10 a.m. - 2 p.m., Aug. 16, Prichard Animal Shelter, 2402 Rebel Road 

The cost of the rabies vaccine is $10 per pet, except at Pet Supplies Plus, where the cost is $8. Only cash is accepted at the Saturday rabies clinics, health officials said.